Cable Asylum: REVIEW: DIY by Chris VenHaus Neotech NEP-3001 (UPOCC) Cable by oofer

Model:	Neotech NEP-3001 (UPOCC)
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$93.02/meter
Description:	Power Cable used with FIM 302 & 303 connectors (UPOCC with gold plating)
Manufacturer URL:	DIY by Chris VenHaus
Model Picture:	View

Review by oofer ( A ) on January 18, 2007 at 23:38:35
IP Address: 216.110.206.186

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Replacing a VH Audio Flavor 4 with Furutech Rhodium plugs is a difficult, heartless job. The Flavor 4 power cord caused my system to open up radically in a former bout of audiophile obsessional upgrading. It is a great power cord, definitely a top tier cable.
My amp, a highly modified PS Audio HCA-2, seems more sensitive to tweaking than previous amps I have owned. I had to do away with brass cone footers in favor of DH Large ceramic cones, for instance. A while back the Flavor 4 cord won a shoot out with several highly respected cables from LAT, Cardas, DH Labs, Shunyata.
Anyway, I noticed when I mounted a shielded DIY cable based on Chris' Flavor 1 recipe to my pre-amp good things happened to the sound, difference being the use of FIM UPOCC connectors. My mind started ruminations that led to the rationalization that I should try the same with the amp. Shielding is something I had shied away from. I thought about using the same type of cable I had used on the pre-amp, but a UPOCC alternative had showed up in new class of raw cable Chris had started selling. He had both Neotech and the Oyaide bulk cables. I choose to try the Neotech NEP-3001 for no particular reason. I cannot comment on the difference between these cables.
The Neotech NEP-3001 arrived. Upon inspection it did not have the tinned OFC shield claimed in literature not only on the VH Audio site but others as well. It DID have, however, a AL-Mylar shield with a drain wire as shown in the illustration available on the VH Audio site if you click on the cross section picture of the cable. It also came pre-covered in a really nice black tech-flex like covering with a gold strand diamond design woven in. Nice finish. The cable is semi-stiff.
I have been using the FIM 302 IEC and 303 plugs for all my cables for a while now. They are also made with UPOCC copper with a gold plating for all contacts. I like their sound, and the thought of carrying through with a UPOCC cable appealed.
The preparation of the cable involves all the common sense techniques used for cable construction. Careful cutting of the outer sheath, separating out the individual conductors, careful striping of the insulation to not nick the wire and also to leave just enough wire exposed to make the internal connections clean and solid, securing the tech-flex-like covering with black electrical tape to prevent unravelling, and continuity testing the cable for shorts and proper polarity. The whole job took less than an hour. And it is advisable to double check the continuity testing, just in case. I have made it a practice to also use a GFIC outlet when I first load power cables with something simple like a light bulb, again just in case.
The cable was broken in using a 15 amp heater in my garage for over a week. Ah well, it was a good excuse to overheat the garage for a while anyway!
Upon hooking up the newly minted and conditioned power cord, I heard the following characteristics. The lower mid range became cleaner and more evident in my music. The bass seemed to develop more ability to slam when called upon. I had expected the treble to take a hit, but I was wrong. Everything was just cleaner, more clear and even better balanced.
Folks, we have a clear winner here, at least for my system. Everything the Flavor 4 had done, the Neotech was doing, only better, in my opinion. And the lower-mid's and upper bass sounded like they had joined the party.
My amp is a class D amp with a lot of digital switching going on. I hypothesize the shielding helped. I also have to give it up to the UPOCC wire. Every time I have used this material, my system's sound has improved. First in the FIM plugs and now in this cable.
I can recommend this cable for the application for which I have used it. I won't say this will work for every situation, but for my particular set of variables, I will say this cable bested a champion power cable, and it was a gamble that paid off.

Product Weakness: Expense. Cable is semi- stiff; so be sure to allow for extra bending room and footage.
Product Strengths: Very high quality materials and manufacture. Impressive covering. Great Sound

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	PS Audio HCA-2 (modified by Reference Audio Mods--way worth it) + DIY Neotech NEP-3001(UPOCC) Power Cord( from VH Audio) with FIM 302 & 303 UPOCC connectors
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	PS Audio PCA-2+HCPS + VH Audio DIY Flavor 1 (made in the flavor 4 fashion) with FIM 302 and 303 UPOCC connectors.
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	see oofer's system in Inmate Systems
Speakers:	see oofer's system in Inmate Systems
Cables/Interconnects:	see oofer's system in Inmate Systems
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	classical, Jazz, Folk,
Room Size (LxWxH):	15 x 20 x 16
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Month
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Expense. Cable is semi- stiff; so be sure to allow for extra bending room and footage.
Product Strengths:	Very high quality materials and manufacture. Impressive covering. Great Sound