Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Black Sand Cable Silver Reference MK IV Cable by the analog kid

Model:	Silver Reference MK IV
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$499.00
Description:	Power Cord with Wattgate Connectors
Manufacturer URL:	Black Sand Cable
Manufacturer URL:	Black Sand Cable

Review by the analog kid ( A ) on September 05, 2006 at 11:11:33
IP Address: 71.206.105.208

Add Your Review
for the Silver Reference MK IV

It's been YEARS since I've posted here, as the last time I posted a cable review I was promptly (and spuriously) flamed as a "shill" - regarding my rave review of early model Bogdan IC's (kind of funny, I suppose, now that Bogdan is an established cable company). Anyways, with my main system pretty stable (for the first time in years), and not enough money to make a BIG change, I've been playing with power cords for the last year. Ran across Black Sand's advertising on Audiogon, and thought I'd try them out. I should stress that I am NOT a electrician or an engineer - just a fanatical audiophile - but it still seems to me that power cords are pretty basic with few degrees of freedom in the design: you've got connectors, cord, solder, and sheathing. It also has long seemed to me that many companies (that shall remain nameless) take stock Belden cord, add cheap connectors, slap their famous and recognizable names on fancy sheathing, and charge BIG bucks. So, I was smitten with Black Sand's rhetoric on their website - specifically, their argument that parts matter, and thought I'd give one a try.
My "cords of comparison" are many, including: Cardas Golden Power Cord, Nirvana Cord, Tekline (various makes - my old fave bang/buck cable), and Synergistic Master Coupler. Nothing TOO outrageous, but basically a bunch of cables that either new or used fall into the same financial range as a newly purchased Silver Ref Black Sand Cable.
Upon arrival, I found the cord to be beautifully hand-made, with nice, thick sheathing. No hint of "DIY" here, as was mentioned (criticized) in other postings regarding Black Sand. The packing concerned me a little, though - simple cardboard box and plastic baggy - additional padding might have been nice, especially seeing as it's traveling from Canada (if the box gets jabbed with something, it could easily damage the cord).
Plugging it into my Marsh A400s, I let it cook for an hour (the cable was supposedly burned in at the factory, but I let it sit awhile anyways), then fired up my Basis. I was struck immediately that everything sounded BETTER. Specifically, more inner detail, more 3-dimensionality, more transient speed, more natural warmth. You know, just BETTER. It didn't fundamentally change the character of my system, just improved it all around. For example, spinning one of my standard test-grooves - Classic Records 1-sided 45 RPM pressing of Miles' "Kind of Blue," specifically, "So What," the things that LEPT out at me were (1) the improvement in cymbal sound (very important to me, in fact, a total litmus test, being a percussionist), and (2) the resonance of the saxes. Whereas I've never really enjoyed Cannonball's solo on the track, I now found it listenable and enjoyable.
After a full day of cooking, the cable sounded even better, to the point where I said "that's it, my search is done." I promptly ordered a second one, and decided to sell my others (well, MOST of my others - I'm keeping my Teklines). This week, I got my second Silver Ref, and plugging it into my Great Northern Sound modded ARC SP-14, found all the same improvements - taking my system to an even higher level. This was also verified by my best "audio buddy" in town here in East Lansing - he and I have a friendly "competition" between systems - and after hearing the cables, HE decided it was time to switch HIS cables to Black Sand.
So, to wrap up (WAY too verbose already, sorry), what can I and can't I say? Well, I CAN'T say "these are the best cords ever" - to play off of the Buddha's chiding of his follower Ananda, "have I HEARD all cables? have I TRIED all cables? Do I KNOW all cables that ARE YET TO COME?" No. And I have never (nor will I ever, given that I'm a professor) be able to afford mega-buck cables to A/B. What I CAN say is that these power cords are the finest that I have heard WITHIN MY SYSTEM. To get specific, they are more transparent, dynamic, natural sounding, and refined than the Cardas, the Nirvana, and the Synergistic. Their closest bang/buck comparison is Tekline, which I still love (and am keeping, for my office system). And regarding the Black Sand detractors (I read the Violet review and responses posted awhile back), don't know what to tell you, other than try them out for yourself, and see what you think. I did, and I'm keeping them. Oh, and as a final note (two notes, actually), (1) I haven't heard other Black Sands, so I don't know how they compare, and (2) shortly after buying the Ref IV, they released the Ref V - haven't heard them, so don't know what difference the Oyaide makes over and above the Wattgates that are on mine. Thanks for reading, and best wishes.

Product Weakness: None I've noticed yet in terms of sonic or build quality, but better packaging would be appreciated - just worries me to know that my $500 power cord is traveling from Canada in a single-layer, thin cardboard box.
Product Strengths: Build quality, bang/buck ratio, transparency, transient speed, natural tone and warmth

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Marsh A400s
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	GNSC Reference ARC SP14
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Basis 1400/Origin Live RB250
Speakers:	Aerial 7b
Cables/Interconnects:	Nirvana SL
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Rock, Female Vocal
Room Size (LxWxH):	22 x 11 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	RPG Diffusors
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 Month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster HTS5000
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	Home audition

Product Weakness:	None I've noticed yet in terms of sonic or build quality, but better packaging would be appreciated - just worries me to know that my $500 power cord is traveling from Canada in a single-layer, thin cardboard box.
Product Strengths:	Build quality, bang/buck ratio, transparency, transient speed, natural tone and warmth