Shunyata Venom 3 power cables
BlueFox
Posts: 15,251
Except for my two amps, earlier in the year I upgraded all my stock power cords to Pangea AC14SE, and the power conditioner to Pangea AC9. I did not do the amps because they (Cambridge-Audio 840W in bridged mono mode) have IEC19 (20 amp) connectors, and Pangea does not offer that type of cable.
Last week I received a new catalog from Music Direct, and they had a Shunyata Research Venom 3 cable with a 20 amp connector for $125. So, I ordered two. Incidentally, the December 2010 issue of the absolute sound reviewed 13 power cables under $500, and said the Venom 3 was the ringer in the group by performing at nearly the same level as the more expensive cables.
When I installed the Pangea cables each one made a positive improvement in the sound. I expected this because the cables went onto the source gear, and that is where a small change can become a big change down the line. On the other hand, I was really not expecting much from upgrading the amps.
Wrong again!
The Venom 3 power cables on the amps are great. The quiet passages are darker, while everthing else is clearer, more precise, detailed, etc. It is hard to put into words, but the improvement is very audible. For $125 a cable, this is a good ROI in sound quality.
To be honest, I am constantly amazed how the little tweaks done to the gear have made such a huge improvement in sound quality. The Mapleshade brass footers for vibration elimination, the MIT interconnects, and the Omega-Mikro Planar V speaker cables reviewed last week have all allowed me to get more music from my gear.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109752
Now instead of thinking of upgrading the gear I think in terms of upgrading the cables. That is how big a difference cable upgrades have been. I have come to feel that anyone who ignores the obvious benefits of cable upgrades is depriving themselves of really hearing how good the music can be. Of course, they are saving a few dollars, but, for me, the benefits have been worth every penny.
Last week I received a new catalog from Music Direct, and they had a Shunyata Research Venom 3 cable with a 20 amp connector for $125. So, I ordered two. Incidentally, the December 2010 issue of the absolute sound reviewed 13 power cables under $500, and said the Venom 3 was the ringer in the group by performing at nearly the same level as the more expensive cables.
When I installed the Pangea cables each one made a positive improvement in the sound. I expected this because the cables went onto the source gear, and that is where a small change can become a big change down the line. On the other hand, I was really not expecting much from upgrading the amps.
Wrong again!
The Venom 3 power cables on the amps are great. The quiet passages are darker, while everthing else is clearer, more precise, detailed, etc. It is hard to put into words, but the improvement is very audible. For $125 a cable, this is a good ROI in sound quality.
To be honest, I am constantly amazed how the little tweaks done to the gear have made such a huge improvement in sound quality. The Mapleshade brass footers for vibration elimination, the MIT interconnects, and the Omega-Mikro Planar V speaker cables reviewed last week have all allowed me to get more music from my gear.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109752
Now instead of thinking of upgrading the gear I think in terms of upgrading the cables. That is how big a difference cable upgrades have been. I have come to feel that anyone who ignores the obvious benefits of cable upgrades is depriving themselves of really hearing how good the music can be. Of course, they are saving a few dollars, but, for me, the benefits have been worth every penny.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Post edited by BlueFox on
Comments
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If you didn't do an ABX test with them it's all in your head.
I jest, of course. Thanks for posting your findings.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
The Venom 3 power cables on the amps are great. The quiet passages are ‘darker’, while everthing else is clearer, more precise, detailed, etc. It is hard to put into words, but the improvement is very audible.
I had the same experience when I replaced the stock power cords on my Parasound amps w/ the Venom3s - definitely worth every penny.Dali Optikon 1Mk2
NAD D3020 V2
Schiit Bifrost 2/64
..the rest are headphone setups.
