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Please note "very carefully". This is a thread to discuss my personal and direct findings and observations having used a "power cable".
I recently purchased two Unity Basic Link Power Cables from Omer as a means of discovering the "potential" benefits of the aftermarket power cable debate.
Appearance / Build quality: These cables though the least expensive in Omer's line are incredibly well built, and use high quality components. There is also a weight to the product that suggests quality.
Ease of use: Though not likely a category one may comment on when purchasing a cable, it is worth noting that the components used on these cables had a very solid grasp of the fittings plugged into. The stock cables used over several products didn't quite have the same grip, though the Unity grip is not so firm that you have to pull the plug's out of the socket with any challenge.
Sound: I used these power cables on my receiver, on a power amp, a dvd player, and cd player. My Yammy 1500 receiver was the only unit that actually came with an apparent high quality cable, but it's all in the sound right!
I wasn't originally able to notice any obvious sound difference between using these cables in any of my components, but wondered if I had been tainted by the recent "science camp rhetoric" on CAM over the past several weeks. I held on for a few days in order to give the cables a fair try.
The breakthrough moment. On the 3rd day, I was playing some ligher acoustic music and sensed something was different. I could not put my finger on difference, but knew something had changed. I went back to some heavier tracks and again couldn't really hear a difference, but after going back to acoustics and vocals, again noticed a difference. I won't go into boring Audiophile rhetoric because that's just not me, but I can say the effect of having my receiver hooked up via a Unity cable was similar to a past experience I had with a good power conditioner. The noise floor seemed to have changed. The quieter periods seemed more quiet, and the detail within the acoustic guitar had extra detail. I played my wifes favourite song with the new cable and she indicated the "ocean" sound in the background seemed to be more apparent. (I had also thought the same....but didn't want to comment on it)
Using the Unity cable with my DVD player appeared to offer little to no change, until I put in Jurassic Park. I also played "North Shore" (the wifes!!!) in order to compare the "dinosaur" ground shaking step sounds, and the waves in "The North Shore". I sensed a little more depth in the base, but not sure if this product could offer this type of change in sound. I will also say the picture seemed to be of higher quality. Again, not sure if this is possible, however I'm in a condo and power quality is not always the highest based on time of the day used.
Using the cable on my NAD CD Recorder, I couldn't notice a difference in sound that I could easily determine. This is a very fine CDP to begin with, so wasn't sure I'd hear a difference.
Going back to acoustic and vocal sound the following day, I again noticed how quiet and clear everything sounded. I connected the factory cable once again and played all the same tracks. I can only describe the differnce heard as being similar to a very powerful radio station that is set 1 tick off of the station channel. Though it still sounded good, the acoustic and vocal effects were very slightly less pronounced.
As a side: I also used the cable to perform non-audio related functions. I boiled a kettle, steamed baby bottles through our bottle cleaner, and last but not least, decided to hack an old clock radio I onwed that was falling apart and connected this cable to it....not an easy task but did so by dummying up some wires.....(please do not try this at home).
Kettle: Stock cord - 3 minutes 15 second boil using cold water from fridge to 6 cup level. Unity - 2 minutes 38 seconds using above criteria.
Bottle cleaner: Stock cord - 12 minutes to complete. Unity cord - 12 minutes to complete (however 1 of the bottle tops melted - however noticeably hotter to the touch). These were done on two separate days so not one after the other.
Clock Radio - Stock cord - everything worked. Unity cord - time display was slightly brighter, and the alarm was louder. ??? I can't figure this out myself, but my wife even comment that she could hear it in the living room and could not in the past.
End result: I'm throroughly enjoying the sound these cables offer in my system. I now have 1 on my receiver, and 1 on my DVD player. I'm now re-visiting each of the vocal and acoustic type cd's I have in my collection.
Should these cables sound different? Not sure......
Do they sound different to me! Yes.
The fact that they impacted the performance of my kettley, bottle warmer and clock radio (which I have now had to throw out - I'm no electrician) all makes me feel as though power cables can make a difference.
Great product Omer!
By the way, I actually met Omer on the way back from Ottawa last week on a business trip and he's a "great guy". We had a great chat and it's nice to meet the man behind the product. He's a bit of a comedian actually, but truly passionate about his businesss and industry.
While there, I did have an opportunity to listen to a set of his Unity speakers using the Fostex full range driver. He played some Jack Johnston and I was amazed at the sound available from this speaker. They sounded great and it was based on some average electronics being used (by Omers's admission), so can't imagine how good they might sound if played through some finer SS or Tube based equipment.
Omer...pleasure doing business with you, and I'm sure there will be further purchases from you in my future.
Thanks for reading.
_________________
Life's too short to make waves. I've seen the light.
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