High Performance DC cable for MSB DAC by Angus Leung and Westminster Lab Takes My System to Another Level

Mobiusman

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
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I am both excited and embarrassed by an error I innocently made, by using only one of Westminster Labs power cord for my MSB Reference DAC. This is not an excuse, but rather an explanation. As a relatively new stroke victim recovering in ways that I never could imagine, and still have some balance issues 10 months post stroke, I do not like having to get into tight places where I have to assume weird postures. As a result I did not realize nor remember that I have two connectors between my MSB power supply and the MSB audio chassis, one for analog and one for digital,, because I wanted to get out of the awkward space behind my rack before I fell into my equipment and do who knows what damage to my somewhat valuable equipment. I already had this experience knocking over my 77" LG OLED tv which landed on my amps and totally missed my Von Schweikert Audio Ultra 9's. by inches..

I still stand by everything I wrote, and saw that a review in Mono and Stereo reviewing the same cable with a Select 2 and two power supplies hooked up properly produced much the same findings, except that they described it better than I diid, focusing on the nature of the impact and its believability and sonic accuracy.

So I now have an opportunity to potentially produce even more benefit with this amazing cable as I am about to replace the second MSB cable with a second Westminster Lab cable, that I mistakenly assumed was sent to me assuming I had a Select 2 with two power supplies. So now I will get a better idea of its potential, despite the fact that I have no idea which cable , digital or audio, I replaced. I do not expect to double the improvement, but who knows? I will keep you posted and apologize to everyone who has read this post for my error in this area of new awareness on the audio front.

I do not know if the mental health benefit I have experienced so far will change and hopefully increase, but my guess is it will only improve, and for me what I have gained on this front was by itself worth the effort associated with this process. I now have a better understanding of the interplay between my enjoyment of listening to music and improving my post stroke negative impact on my mood..

Another benefit has been is that this process has initiated a friendship with Gary Leeds,, the US importer for Westminster Labs, which has also helped me feel more connected with others, something I lost following my stroke.. So to put it another way, I much better understand the role listening to music through a good system is, at least for me, is a very powerful tool in shaping my being, which was so severely negatively altered by my entire illness.

If there is such a thing as a "joy index" from listening to one's audio system, I think I have found a major aphrodisiac for my medical scenario. I would love to hear how this amazing audio product impacts audiophiles without the medical problems I unfortunately have and hear what it has done for them on both the music and state of mind level.

Thank you again Angus, Gary and Steve. This has done at least as much for me as everything else my large team of doctors have done. . I also forgot to mention that the impact on bass is huge in ways that I am still trying to grasp, although in synch with the rest of the sonic spectrum..
I have inserted the second Westminster Labs cable into where the remaining MSB cable was and can only say that after about half an hour the sound improvement is totally beyond anything I could have guess or anticipated.. The sound shift is a main event because all aspects, I mean nothing is missed, massively altered and dramatically clearer and provocative. The grab from this is beyond anything I have ever felt from audio. Talk about addicting. It is essentially impossible to resist!. I swear, I am not exaggerating!
 

gds7368

VIP/Donor
Jan 9, 2015
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I am both excited and embarrassed by an error I innocently made, by using only one of Westminster Labs power cord for my MSB Reference DAC. This is not an excuse, but rather an explanation. As a relatively new stroke victim recovering in ways that I never could imagine, and still have some balance issues 10 months post stroke, I do not like having to get into tight places where I have to assume weird postures. As a result I did not realize nor remember that I have two connectors between my MSB power supply and the MSB audio chassis, one for analog and one for digital,, because I wanted to get out of the awkward space behind my rack before I fell into my equipment and do who knows what damage to my somewhat valuable equipment. I already had this experience knocking over my 77" LG OLED tv which landed on my amps and totally missed my Von Schweikert Audio Ultra 9's. by inches..

I still stand by everything I wrote, and saw that a review in Mono and Stereo reviewing the same cable with a Select 2 and two power supplies hooked up properly produced much the same findings, except that they described it better than I diid, focusing on the nature of the impact and its believability and sonic accuracy.

So I now have an opportunity to potentially produce even more benefit with this amazing cable as I am about to replace the second MSB cable with a second Westminster Lab cable, that I mistakenly assumed was sent to me assuming I had a Select 2 with two power supplies. So now I will get a better idea of its potential, despite the fact that I have no idea which cable , digital or audio, I replaced. I do not expect to double the improvement, but who knows? I will keep you posted and apologize to everyone who has read this post for my error in this area of new awareness on the audio front.

I do not know if the mental health benefit I have experienced so far will change and hopefully increase, but my guess is it will only improve, and for me what I have gained on this front was by itself worth the effort associated with this process. I now have a better understanding of the interplay between my enjoyment of listening to music and improving my post stroke negative impact on my mood..

Another benefit has been is that this process has initiated a friendship with Gary Leeds,, the US importer for Westminster Labs, which has also helped me feel more connected with others, something I lost following my stroke.. So to put it another way, I much better understand the role listening to music through a good system is, at least for me, is a very powerful tool in shaping my being, which was so severely negatively altered by my entire illness.

If there is such a thing as a "joy index" from listening to one's audio system, I think I have found a major aphrodisiac for my medical scenario. I would love to hear how this amazing audio product impacts audiophiles without the medical problems I unfortunately have and hear what it has done for them on both the music and state of mind level.

Thank you again Angus, Gary and Steve. This has done at least as much for me as everything else my large team of doctors have done. . I also forgot to mention that the impact on bass is huge in ways that I am still trying to grasp, although in synch with the rest of the sonic spectrum..
About 8 years ago a dealer brought high end cables (Nordost Odin 1) to my house as a demo, and initially changed only ONE cable (preamp to the stereo amp).

The improvement in bass was so dramatic that I actually walked around to the back of the system to see if they turned on the subwoofer, which was not active for 2-channel. (At that time my theater and 2-channel rig shared a room/system, but now they are separated).

They did not turn on the subwoofer. I believe your findings. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience!
 
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Easy Gliders

Active Member
Oct 22, 2021
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
About 8 years ago a dealer brought high end cables (Nordost Odin 1) to my house as a demo, and initially changed only ONE cable (preamp to the stereo amp
Are you joking? Did the dealer purposely changed only ONE cable??
 

bryans

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Dec 26, 2017
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It is not about stereo or channels. Both the Select and reference come with a single power supply that powers both channels in the single digital chassis. You can also buy two mono power supplies, which most people who buy a Select do, but very few do with the Reference. A better value for sonic improvement is to buy a faster clock with 33 and 70
See post #16. The option of dual power supplies is only valid with the Select. MSB cut down on all of the available options. The femto 33 clock is standard on the Reference and Select now.
 
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Easy Gliders

Active Member
Oct 22, 2021
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
See post #16. The option of dual power supplies is only valid with the Select. MSB cut down on all of the available options. The femto 33 clock is standard on the Reference and Select now.
Yes, MSB has removed most of the options for their latest DACs. Even the Select II now comes standard with the two mono power supplies! The single power supply for the Reference DAC can not be upgraded anymore to the previously available mono power supplies. I bought the Reference DAC recently and it comes standard with the Femto 33 clock and one single power supply unit.
 
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MarkusBarkus

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Do the recent change in power supply configurations help pave the way for the DD, which includes a power supply? Perhaps it's an open question: if you add the DD, are you now using three power supplies (1 in DD and 2 in stock base) or has one ps in the stock base become redundant?
 

gds7368

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Jan 9, 2015
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Are you joking? Did the dealer purposely changed only ONE cable??
Just for an initial demo of a couple songs to show me that one cable can change the sound, which it definitely did. After those couple songs they put all the demo interconnects and speaker cables in place.
 

Easy Gliders

Active Member
Oct 22, 2021
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Just for an initial demo of a couple songs to show me that one cable can change the sound, which it definitely did. After those couple songs they put all the demo interconnects and speaker cables in place.
Changing only one interconnect between the preamp and stereo power amplifier (ie. different cables for left and right channels) would cause multiple problems including differences in phase, impedance, etc.... which will definitely change the sound of your system. Even a small difference in the length of a pair of speaker cables or interconnects should be avoided to prevent possible problems.
 

bryans

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Dec 26, 2017
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Changing only one interconnect between the preamp and stereo power amplifier (ie. different cables for left and right channels) would cause multiple problems including differences in phase, impedance, etc.... which will definitely change the sound of your system. Even a small difference in the length of a pair of speaker cables or interconnects should be avoided to prevent possible problems.
I must admit when i first read this I thought he was saying 1 set of cables. Seems like only changing a left or right interconnect would be a different experience.
 

gds7368

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Jan 9, 2015
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Changing only one interconnect between the preamp and stereo power amplifier (ie. different cables for left and right channels) would cause multiple problems including differences in phase, impedance, etc.... which will definitely change the sound of your system. Even a small difference in the length of a pair of speaker cables or interconnects should be avoided to prevent possible problems.
The two channels were receiving the same new cable. I should have clarified that. Thanks.
 
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gleeds

Industry Expert
May 29, 2018
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Russ, thanks for your excellent review of the MSB DC cable. Angus and I appreciate it very much!

Please allow me to take the heat for not knowing you're MSB Reference DAC required (2) cables (one for the analog supply and one for the digital), something I definitely should have known and missed. At any rate, Angus and I are thrilled we have improved you're already exceptional system by inserting them. So listen and enjoy, my friend!

ICU Too, Angus can be reached at Westminster Labs via the contact page on the Westminster Lab website. I have included the link below for convenience.
 
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Easy Gliders

Active Member
Oct 22, 2021
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Changing only one interconnect between the preamp and stereo power amplifier (ie. different cables for left and right channels) would cause multiple problems including differences in phase, impedance, etc.... which will definitely change the sound of your system. Even a small difference in the length of a pair of speaker cables or interconnects should be avoided to prevent possible problems.
The two channels were receiving the same new cable. I should have clarified that. Thanks.
My head must have been screwed up after reading all the reviews by Russ that he only changed one of the two power supply cables from the single dual power supplies to his Reference DAC. So when you mentioned that your Nordost dealer changed only ONE cable between the preamp and stereo amp, I somehow thought..... "ha here we go again, we have another guy who only changed ONE cable"......
 
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Mobiusman

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
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It is now more than a day since I corrected my fundamental error of replacing only one of umbilicals between my MSB DAC power supply and its audio chassis. Let me remind you that I have no idea which umbilical I replaced first, the analog or digital. But, I can say without hesitation, what a difference. Everything changed--from major sound stages changes, to improved acuity, but for me as usual it is most about believability.

On the believability front, it sets new standards for me to the point that it reaches out and grabs me, making it hard to leave a listening session, even after 5-6 hours. In less than a second in the listening chair I am into the music, even if I am not that thrilled with the music because it sounds so good that I am naturally attracted.
 

Mobiusman

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
704
560
1,655
Jersey Shore- waterside
The Adventure continues as it progressively morphs into an amazingly powerful beam of influence that is having a totally captivating multi-dimensional impact on me due to its amazing improvement of the sonic experience through my system and whatever it is doing to my "being" to help create a drive to move forward with the next stage of my life while enjoying the music and a powerful emotional surge from spending time in its beam. Quite a contrast from where I was as a being just before this experience began.

Said in a more to the point mode, something about the sonics from the insertion of the Westminster Labs cables into my MSB DAC, is causing major emotional and perceptual changes within me, and restored my love of music. It was really hard for me to think about finishing my life in the sterile environment of independent living, thinking about using my current bedroom system as my main system. Bye-bye to the bucket list dream!!

The impact of the current sonic and perceptual shifts generated by reinserting the Westminster Labs cable onto the MSB DAC have truly evolved from yesterday. The perceived space between the walls of the gap that I am flying through in my mind has just narrowed by about a foot, making this more demanding, exciting, BUT I can now see more of the detail about side wall composition. I also feel like I got a booster engine that provides much more accurate guidance and energy surges for some acrobatics, allowing me to hot rod a bit and jump up the emotional involvement and benefit. Oh I have missed that part of my personality so much! Hopefully this will become a trend.

I do not know how to convey this, but it is so liberating from the extremely empty and lost feeling I have felt for the past ten months thinking that my new life road would not be very exciting and that I would miss the many experiences I had associated with my projected retirement. Now I am living in the moment, but can see glimpses of what my future might look and feel like.

It is just remarkable how powerful the combined impact of these cables, both sonically and emotionally, from this seemingly simple system change in an off the beaten path could make such a positive multi-dimensional difference. The dramatic sonic and emotional impact of adding the Westminster Labs cables intensifies the more you sit in system beam!!

The cohesive integration of sonic bits and pieces is just remarkable, and seems to be continually evolving, which in turn massively contributes to the believability of the system, my audio holy grail.

Sorry, one of my more strange examples of what is currently going on in my head during this amazing transition. What is also wonderful are the similarities to the blooming flower sound stage I have used, except now it is having the same effect on all aspects of my being and my environment.
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I love reading about people having an epiphany when they try something new and the sonic change is so dramatic that the user can’t get up from his listening seat

I’m very happy for you Russ. Plus this is great therapy for your mind and healing body

Kudos and enjoy
 

Kingsrule

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Feb 3, 2011
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For Angus and Gary

Is there any sonic difference between the .6m and 1.2m MSB power cable?
 

gleeds

Industry Expert
May 29, 2018
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I'll allow Angus to confirm this evening (morning his time) but I suspect not. FYI, Mobiusman is using the 1.2-meter version.
 

Ultrafast69

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It is now more than a day since I corrected my fundamental error of replacing only one of umbilicals between my MSB DAC power supply and its audio chassis. Let me remind you that I have no idea which umbilical I replaced first, the analog or digital. But, I can say without hesitation, what a difference. Everything changed--from major sound stages changes, to improved acuity, but for me as usual it is most about believability.

On the believability front, it sets new standards for me to the point that it reaches out and grabs me, making it hard to leave a listening session, even after 5-6 hours. In less than a second in the listening chair I am into the music, even if I am not that thrilled with the music because it sounds so good that I am naturally attracted.
Great news!

I'm now more eager to listen to what Westminster is capable of.
 

gleeds

Industry Expert
May 29, 2018
754
1,207
235
Great news!

I'm now more eager to listen to what Westminster is capable of.
Ed, I hope to drop you a pair off at The Pacific Audio Fest.
 

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