Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Chris VenHaus DIY Cables DIY Mains Power Cables Cable by Squidboyw

Model:	DIY Mains Power Cables
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$0
Description:	DIY Mains Power Cables
Manufacturer URL:	Chris VenHaus DIY Cables
Manufacturer URL:	Chris VenHaus DIY Cables

Review by Squidboyw ( A ) on May 25, 2002 at 09:58:46
IP Address: 198.185.10.2

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Baseline: I have a reasonable home system - (The Mighty) B&W 808s fed by Krell MDA 300 monos thru a tri-wire config of Krell, The Path speaker wire. Purist colossus connects the amps to a Krell KBL. Front end are VPI 19 Mk3 into dual Krell KPAs (balanced)(Purist again),Benz Glider, Dual CS5000 (for 78s)(Krell Cogelco Black), Shure cart, Krell KPS20i (Purist again), modified Revox A77 (Cogelco Black), and Kenwood tuner (MIT 330). System is powered by 3 dedicated 20 amp circuits - one to each amp and the third, thru a Tice PowerBlock & Titan, serves the front end. Various dots, bearings and footers/pods provide damping and isolation. Power cords were Transparent.
After assembling the materials, the first two power cords built were the stripped down coax/high preasure airhose type, for the amps. When these cords were swapped into the system, the most noticeable change was the increased clarity / lower background noise. The next four cords built were grounded front end type. These were applied first to the pre-amp, then the phono amps, then the CD player. At each step, the change, noted with the power amps, continued to be similar, along with an increase of resolution of detail. Groups of singers were no longer one mass, but single individuals combining their voices. Placement within the soundstage was much more defined, and refined for all performers. The sonic character of the recording space (if present in the recording) was much more evident. The density of objects within the soundstage increased. If there was any musical fatigue in my system, it is long gone; replaced by a somewhat compelling need to spin "just one more LP" (which is pure BS - I spent way too much time that night as well as all my free time for the next week listening to music, due to these power cord changes).
Since this time, I have produced a number of additional cords,including some for ungrounded components. In every case, there has been a significant improvement in the sound of the equipment. I also assembled a collection of other well regarded, and often praised, power cords. Various configurations were tested/compared across 3 different systems, and the results always favored the Chris V design over those others.
Construction notes: Chris states to remove the tape holding the 12 ga ground wire before applying shrink tubing; I didn't and it didn't seem to matter. I have tried both Marinco and Hubbel (Hubel?) male ends, and prefer the Marinco - the Hubel was much more difficult to attach when constructing the air hose version, and at least here, Marinco can be obtained for less money. Strange as it may seem, cords sound better after about 20 hours of use, not much change after that.

Product Weakness: Cord can be stiff, promotes additional consumption of record cleaning and CD treatment supplies, raises cane with "free time"
Product Strengths: cost Vs Performance, ability to match length of cord to application, cost Vs similar products

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Krell
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Krell
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Krell/VPI /Revox/Kenwood/Dual
Speakers:	B&W
Cables/Interconnects:	Purist / Krell Cogelco /MIT
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all except German opera
Room Size (LxWxH):	12 x 15 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition:	100 plus hours
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Tice
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

Product Weakness:	Cord can be stiff, promotes additional consumption of record cleaning and CD treatment supplies, raises cane with "free time"
Product Strengths:	cost Vs Performance, ability to match length of cord to application, cost Vs similar products