Nola Concert Grands

[MylesBAstor]

It is absurd (and sick) when looking at the price. I use a Silver Circle 5.0 Isolation transformer but have my Odin power cord directly from the wall to the amp. It works best that way. The rest of my equipment is fed via the Silver Circle 5.0. With 3 days under my belt with the Odin Power Cord I am committed to buying one, but need to get the $$ to do it. In this case, it will be just one and just for the REF75. I am convinced. I could get away with their shorter length but the "gurus" tell me that the 2.5 meter is the "optimal" length.

Were you using David's Vesuvius 2 AC cord on the SC 5.0 PLC before you switched to Nordost? What differences did you hear between the two cables?

It is fascinating and at the same time paradoxical to me that an AC cord should have an impact on a PLCs???

 

[mep]

Were you using David's Vesuvius 2 AC cord on the SC 5.0 PLC before you switched to Nordost? What differences did you hear between the two cables?

It is fascinating and at the same time paradoxical to me that an AC cord should have an impact on a PLCs???

Myles-I must admit that I'm surprised you are surprised. If people think they can hear the difference between regular fuses and audiophile fuses (not to mention the 'directionality' of a fuse), why would you be surprised that the PC that is feeding the PLC wouldn't make a huge difference?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Myles-I must admit that I'm surprised you are surprised. If people think they can hear the difference between regular fuses and audiophile fuses (not to mention the 'directionality' of a fuse), why would you be surprised that the PC that is feeding the PLC wouldn't make a huge difference?

No, I'm not questioning that there's sonic differences among AC cords (and many especially make the sound worse with big amps!).

But don't you think that the PLC would take care of all the AC line problems and obviate the need for "special" AC cords? But the ears don't lie. Same thing went for the VPI SDS. Although it changed the sine to square wave to drive the motor, the AC cord feeding the PLC still made a difference.

 

[rbbert]

Myles-I must admit that I'm surprised you are surprised. If people think they can hear the difference between regular fuses and audiophile fuses (not to mention the 'directionality' of a fuse), why would you be surprised that the PC that is feeding the PLC wouldn't make a huge difference?

I'd guess Myles isn't expressing surprise at what other people say they can hear, he's expressing surprise at what he is hearing?

 

[mep]

No, I'm not questioning that there's sonic differences among AC cords (and many especially make the sound worse with big amps!).

But don't you think that the PLC would take care of all the AC line problems and obviate the need for "special" AC cords? But the ears don't lie. Same thing went for the VPI SDS. Although it changed the sine to square wave to drive the motor, the AC cord feeding the PLC still made a difference.

Myles-There are all kinds of things that I personally think shouldn't make any difference in how something sounds, but it doesn't preclude rabid believers from believing what they are hearing and who am I to argue? I'm still coming to grips with $400 wall receptacles vice hospital grade receptacles and the whole power cord and PLC thing. I owned the SDS when I had my TNT, but I never experimented with the PC. Maybe I left something on the table (pun intended) by not switching out the PC for a PC that cost more than the SDS.

 

[mep]

I'd guess Myles isn't expressing surprise at what other people say they can hear, he's expressing surprise at what he is hearing?

That's not how I read what Myles said.

 

[Priaptor]

Were you using David's Vesuvius 2 AC cord on the SC 5.0 PLC before you switched to Nordost? What differences did you hear between the two cables?

It is fascinating and at the same time paradoxical to me that an AC cord should have an impact on a PLCs???

Yes I use the Vesuvius with the SC. According to David for SC the SC is really an isolation transformer meant to provide the power when the amp needs it and better than and "strict" PLC. He recommends a SC per amp (which I can't afford) and had all my equipment plugged into it. It was Carl who recommended I plug the REF75 direct into the wall and leave the rest plugged into the SC.

I use Sain power cords for my system. I also was never a "huge" believer in power cords being such an important component BUT when I tried the Odin direct from the REF75 to the wall, it was the best combination with a wider deeper soundstage and much more space. Bass was the cleanest I have ever heard on this system. This was not a placebo effect. I really don't get fooled by this stuff and was very skeptical before I tried it. I also found the Odin didn't give the sonic benefits in other parts of the chain as it did direct to the REF75 into the wall. It was like a different amp.

 

[caesar]

Caesar,

Your suggestion is most logical. I too have been doing that for most of my "audiophile life". In fact, I was also plugging my amps into my Silver Circle 5.0 as it is an isolation transformer and should mitigate the energy issues we have here in FL and allow for whatever power requirements are needed by the amp at any time. It was ONLY after taking delivery of the Concert Grands that it was recommended that I plug the REF75 direct into the wall and ONLY after I was given a loaner Odin power cord that it was recommended that I use it direct on the amp and plug it direct into the outlet, which as I said is the Rhodium Furutech. In this situation I have compared alternatives and can vouch that Carl's recommendation is the one that works for my system. It again flies against logic and I too would have believe that the Odin should be used to the Silver Circle and my secondary cords from the Silver Circle to the components BUT in my system that is not the best scenario. I am a believer in power cords but have never witnessed such as difference among power cords as what I now hearing. It is pretty remarkable. Stupidly expensive and now that I have heard it, how do I go back?? I am right now demoing a 2.5 meter cable which many claim is the "right length" for "based on physics" but the 1.25 meter for me would be somewhat affordable "based on economics" since the list price for the former is 16K and the latter is 11K, last I looked. Anyone have experience as to differences in lengths and the "correct and recommended length" a power cord should have??

Priaptor, I sincerely empathize with you. One of the dilemmas I have in this hobby is whether to listen to new gear or not. Part of me wants to hear what's possible in a system. I assume that I can delay gratification and save money toward those items that I want. But the reality is that temptation sets in. I know as a kid, I was able to delay gratification, per the video below. But with this hobby, it's a different matter. After getting new speakers fairly recently, I promised my wife: no other purchases. But just this week, I get a new amp to try. Luckily, the shape of the box and the timing coincides with diapers we get regularly delivered from Amazon... "Honey, can you please bring the diapers in?" But I do feel kind of dingy...But...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9UfY_94sKU

I almost find it easier to just have a hard no to trying new stuff until you can afford it...

As to your comment regarding the power cord recommended length, I am not sure whether it's the winding geometry specifically, or the absorption material they use, or the combination of these 2, but there is probably some optimal length for the cord to absorb the electric schmutz and grime your amplifier is throwing back into the electrical system. If the cord is too short, it probably can't take out as much of it. Just a guess...

PS. In some of your old exchanges with Valin on his site, you call him Noj. From what I recall, this means "knife" in Russian. Anything to this? Sorry for being nosy.

 

[MRJAZZ]

No, I'm not questioning that there's sonic differences among AC cords (and many especially make the sound worse with big amps!).

But don't you think that the PLC would take care of all the AC line problems and obviate the need for "special" AC cords? But the ears don't lie. Same thing went for the VPI SDS. Although it changed the sine to square wave to drive the motor, the AC cord feeding the PLC still made a difference.

+1 on this as well. Can't tell you how many times with various quality tables (BRINKMAN BALNANCE, VPI HRX, CLEAR AUDIO MASTER REF, that just changing out the PC, to the motor driving the controller, made a noticeable difference (for the better.....
CHEERS.........

 

[Priaptor]

Priaptor, I sincerely empathize with you. One of the dilemmas I have in this hobby is whether to listen to new gear or not. Part of me wants to hear what's possible in a system. I assume that I can delay gratification and save money toward those items that I want. But the reality is that temptation sets in. I know as a kid, I was able to delay gratification, per the video below. But with this hobby, it's a different matter. After getting new speakers fairly recently, I promised my wife: no other purchases. But just this week, I get a new amp to try. Luckily, the shape of the box and the timing coincides with diapers we get regularly delivered from Amazon... "Honey, can you please bring the diapers in?" But I do feel kind of dingy...But...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9UfY_94sKU

I almost find it easier to just have a hard no to trying new stuff until you can afford it...

As to your comment regarding the power cord recommended length, I am not sure whether it's the winding geometry specifically, or the absorption material they use, or the combination of these 2, but there is probably some optimal length for the cord to absorb the electric schmutz and grime your amplifier is throwing back into the electrical system. If the cord is too short, it probably can't take out as much of it. Just a guess...

PS. In some of your old exchanges with Valin on his site, you call him Noj. From what I recall, this means "knife" in Russian. Anything to this? Sorry for being nosy.

Caesar,

My wife no longer asks. She doesn't even shake her head anymore. She knows better. When she saw the Micros "morph" into the Babys and the Babys "morph" into the Concert Grands I didn't hear a peep. I guess that is what happens well past the "diaper stage" that you are in now.

I hear you about wanting to try just one more thing. I can honestly say, I am NOW very content. Other than a few changes to location of my listening and maybe a little more room treatment, I am just about there. First time I can literally, without the aid of alcohol, sit for hours on end and JUST LISTEN.

The cookie video is hilarious and so telling of all of us OCD audiophiles.

The Noj was just a friendly reversal of his name. He calls me Rotpair in our exchanges and I call him Noj. We have a very symbiotic relationship. He was very surprised when he heard that I had purchased a pair of Q1s but not very surprised when he heard I sold them.

 

[Elliot G.]

Caesar,

My wife no longer asks. She doesn't even shake her head anymore. She knows better. When she saw the Micros "morph" into the Babys and the Babys "morph" into the Concert Grands I didn't hear a peep. I guess that is what happens well past the "diaper stage" that you are in now.

I hear you about wanting to try just one more thing. I can honestly say, I am NOW very content. Other than a few changes to location of my listening and maybe a little more room treatment, I am just about there. First time I can literally, without the aid of alcohol, sit for hours on end and JUST LISTEN.

The cookie video is hilarious and so telling of all of us OCD audiophiles.

The Noj was just a friendly reversal of his name. He calls me Rotpair in our exchanges and I call him Noj. We have a very symbiotic relationship. He was very surprised when he heard that I had purchased a pair of Q1s but not very surprised when he heard I sold them.

so you are going to purchase the power cord you said you wouldn't?

the thing about having a great system is that it is truly hard to say I dont want it to be better. I know there is always a point at which it can be compulsive and at that point one stops enjoying the music. This is the fine line to walk.

 

[Carl]

Regarding the direct connection of the amp to the wall, we found plugging into the SC caused a dynamic limitation in the deep bass. While the SC cleaned up the mid top end generally, and worked well with input gear, with the tube amps we have used, they were better directly connecting to the wall. I doubt this effect is always audible because it is system dependent. The is not a reflection of the SC, but probably at least partly to do with inserting a transformer in series with the pole transformer. It is also not unusual that when systems get better, then what did not matter now does.

 

[RBFC]

Welcome to WBF, Carl! Tremendous speakers and great reputation. I'm sure our members have some questions for you!

Please place your title (industry affiliation) in your signature, which you may do by accessing your profile on the upper right of the screen.

Lee

 

[Priaptor]

so you are going to purchase the power cord you said you wouldn't?

the thing about having a great system is that it is truly hard to say I dont want it to be better. I know there is always a point at which it can be compulsive and at that point one stops enjoying the music. This is the fine line to walk.

NO, I didn't say I wouldn't purchase it. I said I would try it but that for all intents and purposes I am extremely happy with where my system now stands. Based on the recommendation of the designer of the speaker I have "invested" lots of cash and his generosity of lending me the power cord to try because he really believes that this power cord direct to the REF75 makes a big difference and so I tried it. As I have said before, I am open to trial, especially when someone I trust, such as Carl has proved to me by the results I am achieving based on his recommendations. I was EXTREMELY skeptical about the difference between the REF250 and the REF75 but "tried it" and found to my surprise that while the REF250s I thought was the better match with my Baby Grands, the REF75 as Carl recommended was clearly better with the Concert Grands. A nice savings actually and money able to be spent elsewhere, such as on a "power cord".

Yes, I have been skeptical not only of Carl's recommendations but others as well. As I have also said in the past as it pertains to audio gear, to quote DeNiro from the movie Heat, "never get attached to something you can't walk away from in 30 seconds", I am not going to defend my purchase on this forum or any other just because I bought it.

However, this is the first time in my long "audiophile life" I am totally content with what I have purchased, have gone through multiple iterations of systems and trials to get to where I am and while expensive, the power cord, is a small % of the total cost that I can't ignore. I never said I wouldn't buy it, I said I was skeptical that it could make such a big difference, just as I was skeptical when Carl told me to bypass the SC and plug the amp directly into the wall-on the surface it just didn't make sense, but sonically it did, at least in my system.

Lastly, while people have preferences and budgets that will guide their purchases and while I recommend people to seek out the best for their preferences within their budget, I also think it wise to listen to the designer of the main component of one's system, namely the designer of the speaker as to the system he/she believes works best.

 

[Elliot G.]

I m teasing you Sir and I hope that you keep your enthusiasm for music since this is the ENDGAME.
I'm glad that Carl has joined in as well. I am not a fan of the internet as it is but perhaps there is a chance of some facts and truth entering the conversation rather than rumor and innuendo!!!!!

 

[Carl]

I believe the question was asked about NOLA distributors in Europe.
We have distributors in Switzerland, England, France, Germany. If anyone needs specific information, we can provide it.

 

[Peter Breuninger]

I believe the question was asked about NOLA distributors in Europe.
We have distributors in Switzerland, England, France, Germany. If anyone needs specific information, we can provide it.

Welcome to WBF. It's the best audio forum on the Internet.

 

[treitz3]

Hello, Carl and welcome to the What's Best Forum! While I may have personally only heard one of your speakers to date, it was a speaker that perked my ears and made me *want* to sit down and listen.

Tom

 

[microstrip]

I believe the question was asked about NOLA distributors in Europe.
We have distributors in Switzerland, England, France, Germany. If anyone needs specific information, we can provide it.

Thanks Carl. Welcome to WBF, it will be great to read from you here.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Hi ya Carl! Good to see you here!