Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Earlier this year I finally put together a music server I can be happy with. Several years ago I had a Bolder Cable Co modified Squeezebox that made an excellent transport and server, but I let it go to reallocate funds. I never had been able to get back to that quality level of sound with a standard laptop after that. The combo I hit upon came from doing some research and discussing options with some fellow AK friends in the chat room, and mapping out a plan. Now I took some bits of info from there, some from DIY HiFi, some from a manufacturer or two I know, and some from my own instincts. What I ended up with was a Mac Mini running Pure Music and Itunes, a PS Audio LanRover, the Singxer SU1 USB/SPDIF converter, Ethernet and USB cabling from WireWorld, and digital interconnect from VH Audio. This all feeds my Audio Magic Kukama DAC that I have used for several years.
In this configuration the music server sounded very nice, and it finally displaced my EAD T1000 transport. I had the convenience I wanted, good sound quality, and a neat listening room free from shelves of discs. But I had one last avenue to explore, and that was a power cord for the Mac Mini. One of my AK Chat friends relayed the positive experiences he has had, and since I do use power cords on other components, I thought it was an avenue worth exploring. Then on the traders page over at AudioCircle I came across a used MPC/Mini power cord for the Mac. I have spent more for dinner and drinks than what this cord would cost me, so I decided to give it a shot and see what happens, especially since it was the same cord my friend uses.
Well I received it two days ago, and installed it. I was a bit skeptical things would be significantly different, as the Mini is electrically fed by a PS Audio P10 AC Regenerator. I wondered how much difference a 1.5 meter cord is going to make to a computer that is just feeding a digital signal. Well the differences were immediately noticeable, and appreciated. I picked up more smaller details in a recording, such as clearer brush strokes on a drum, a clarity to Rickie Lee Jones mumbles at the end of her phrases, cymbals that had more of a metallic sheen, a larger feel of acoustic space, and a more vibrant attack to dynamic swings. Now the sound was a touch forward also, and I was thinking of turning down the Lpads on the JBL mid horn and high horn of the 4365 speakers. But I let things play for awhile, and I went back to cleaning moss off my roof. When I came back in the evening, things had smoothed out and I did not feel the need to make any adjustments. I left everything the way it is, and the tonal balance is even keeled, and just right.
I know all the arguments against power cords, and I am sure someone will toss in placebo effect, expectation bias, and maybe even delusional. But would be happy to demo for anyone who could come by how much of a change this has made. I have one more power cord I intend to replace in this system, but things are so good right now that I would let anyone listen to this system, it is 99% sorted out now. And it sounds great! I have been doing audio for a long time, and this is one of the better systems I have been around, and its the best I have owned. But on the digital side, I wouldn't have had the last building block in place if I had not taken a flyer and gave this P.I Audio Group power cord a shot. It made a very nice contribution to my system.
Regards
Mister Pig
In this configuration the music server sounded very nice, and it finally displaced my EAD T1000 transport. I had the convenience I wanted, good sound quality, and a neat listening room free from shelves of discs. But I had one last avenue to explore, and that was a power cord for the Mac Mini. One of my AK Chat friends relayed the positive experiences he has had, and since I do use power cords on other components, I thought it was an avenue worth exploring. Then on the traders page over at AudioCircle I came across a used MPC/Mini power cord for the Mac. I have spent more for dinner and drinks than what this cord would cost me, so I decided to give it a shot and see what happens, especially since it was the same cord my friend uses.
Well I received it two days ago, and installed it. I was a bit skeptical things would be significantly different, as the Mini is electrically fed by a PS Audio P10 AC Regenerator. I wondered how much difference a 1.5 meter cord is going to make to a computer that is just feeding a digital signal. Well the differences were immediately noticeable, and appreciated. I picked up more smaller details in a recording, such as clearer brush strokes on a drum, a clarity to Rickie Lee Jones mumbles at the end of her phrases, cymbals that had more of a metallic sheen, a larger feel of acoustic space, and a more vibrant attack to dynamic swings. Now the sound was a touch forward also, and I was thinking of turning down the Lpads on the JBL mid horn and high horn of the 4365 speakers. But I let things play for awhile, and I went back to cleaning moss off my roof. When I came back in the evening, things had smoothed out and I did not feel the need to make any adjustments. I left everything the way it is, and the tonal balance is even keeled, and just right.
I know all the arguments against power cords, and I am sure someone will toss in placebo effect, expectation bias, and maybe even delusional. But would be happy to demo for anyone who could come by how much of a change this has made. I have one more power cord I intend to replace in this system, but things are so good right now that I would let anyone listen to this system, it is 99% sorted out now. And it sounds great! I have been doing audio for a long time, and this is one of the better systems I have been around, and its the best I have owned. But on the digital side, I wouldn't have had the last building block in place if I had not taken a flyer and gave this P.I Audio Group power cord a shot. It made a very nice contribution to my system.
Regards
Mister Pig
