Text and Photos by Juan C. Ayllon “Clearly, you’re not an engineer,” a friend texted via Facebook Messenger when I wrote that I was reviewing a premium set of power cables. The notion that power cords can make a difference in a high fidelity sound system is polarizing. Those disagreeing argue if there’s hundreds of feet of copper wire between the power pole and your equipment, what’s an additional six feet of expensive cable going to matter? But, Paul McGowan, co-founder and CEO of PS Audio, claims the paradigm of powered equipment being at the end of a long power chain is incorrect. (McGowan) “It’s in the middle of the AC circuit (think of an AC circuit like a loop where the equipment is in the middle, the AC source at the opposite end),” he asserts. “Our equipment is both inductive and noisy. In fact, chances are good the point where the AC comes out of your home’s wall is the noisiest environment in your home—an environment hostile to good sound.” (Ibid) He elaborates: "This is why shielding your power cables is so important. Thing is, power supplies might look good in a schematic but that’s about the only place. If the equipment grounds (which are tied directly to the AC plug ground) are noisy then there’s sonic trouble. What we hope for is to shield and deliver as unfettered and clean power as possible to our equipment." (McGowan) An acquaintance of mine, Angus, is a retired engineer who restores and makes preamps and other electronics for fun. He used to be an adamant non-believer, but after some protracted comparative listening, he's changed his mind. He now believes that even with well-shielded power cables, there are perceptible differences. For those who disagree, read no further. But for those open to the possibilities, pull up a chair in the man cave and listen with us. From Poland with Love Last year, a visiting speaker builder left me some prototype power cables made by Witek Kaminski, a Poland-based architect who makes power cables and other accessories in his side business, WK Audio, to try out. I noticed right away that they facilitated a bolder, more detailed presentation, but were sharper sounding than I’d like -- with the exception of a pink cloth covered one he’d custom made for our friend; it was a little smoother sounding, so I used it for some months on my Lampizator DAC (Digital to Analog Converter, which converts 0s and 1s to analog signal for playback), while another fed power into my subwoofer. Eventually, they went bye-bye and several months later, Kaminski sent me his production model “TheOne” and “TheTwo” (which will appear in another review) power cables. Setting Up Prior to their arrival, Witek emails the following instructions: TheOne seems to be quite stiff...but it is also very plastic! If you want to give him a shape that you need, please spend some time on it and do it step by step and slowly. Don't do any nervous movements or quick bends because you can break the cable! Try to put it into large arches with a large diameter and try not to twist it more than 180 degrees. If for example the rotation of the plug is incorrect, start again from the beginning. Don’t rotate the plug! TheTwo is more flexible and more damage resistant. Arriving coiled in its box, TheOne resembles a Cyborg snake. Roughly ¾” thick, it is quite stiff, but malleable. Following Witek’s advice, I bend it over my thigh in a large, shallow arc, then work it inch by inch, maybe 10 degrees at a time, to the shape I need to plug it into the socket and my DAC. TheOne is primarily composed of solid-core oxygen free copper wire with 6mm thick cross sections, which accounts for a lot of its stiffness. Interspersed with the wire are neutral veins of an unspecified material. Dubbed “the racing veins,” they have an original weave. The cable is shielded on several dozen different layers mostly of “...a material that dampens vibrations.” (Pacuta). In his February 2009 review of TheOne, reviewer Wojciech Pacuta elaborates on the issues of vibration and the shielding/dampening material: “Due to high currents of very different intensities, the conductors forming the cable generate a high intensity electromagnetic field and repel or attract. Generally, they vibrate. And these vibrations re-induce parasitic currents.” The material used to dampen vibrations is applied by hand in successive layers, crisscrossing one another at 90 degrees. (ibid) The finished cable is sheathed in black mesh and an anodized aluminum damping ring CNC engraved with the WK Audio insignia sits near the IEC connector, helping dampen vibrations further. Unlike the prototypes, both TheOne and TheTwo come with high end Furutech IEC connectors and AC connector plugs (TheOne uses the FI-28 M (R) High End Performance Power Connector and FI-28 M (R) High End Performance IEC Connector). Presto! The harshness is gone; what’s left is a marvelous and unadulterated, detailed presentation. For three glorious weeks, my wife and I listen with TheOne plugged into my DAC, enjoying the enhanced soundstage in music, TV shows and movies channeling from my Usher Mini Dancer Two speakers (technically, I listen to jazz, rock, blues and electronica, while my wife, an avowed jazz hater, enjoys occasional country, pop and, most nights, shows via our Vizio 65” 4K HD TV that’s linked via optical cable to the DAC). It’s a marvelous system already, but with TheOne plugged in, shimmery detail grips and dazzles us. The singing competition, The Voice, gives us goosebumps and, now, our goldendoodle, Liam, watches for longer stretches between obligatory tugs of war, potty breaks, chewing and naps. Mere coincidence? I dunno. However, I have a review to write and what follows are observations of the WK Audio TheOne taking turns with the Shunyata Sidewinder power cable powering my Lampizator Lite 7 DAC. Formal Listening Caetano Veloso. “Jorge De Capadocia.” Prenda Minha. FLAC 44.1 kHz. PolyGram, 1998. With the Shunyata Sidewinder, Caetano Veloso’s “Jorge De Capadocia” is a captivating and warm, balanced presentation. Caetano’s silvery vocals sound sonorous and glowing. Luis Brazil’s acoustic guitar, Ronaldo Silva’s drum kit, and Jotan Nacimento’s horn sound buttery and bold. Overall, the highs seem slightly rolled off, accentuating the midrange and bass. Swapping in TheOne, it’s the difference between pancakes and crepes; one moment, I’m taking in his concert through a Hallmark movie’s Vaseline smeared lens on a regular multiplex cinema screen and the next, I’m watching it on the huge IMAX theater screen with Laser 4K projection. Veloso’s live concert is more detailed across the spectrum, but especially in the treble range. It sounds magnificent but while some warmth remains, it’s a bit more revealing. The timbre of Brazil’s guitar, Jaques Morelenbaum’s cello and Veloso’s voice are lighter, more delicate and nuanced. Details emerge like the echo of Veloso’s voice (which sounds more nasal and vulnerable now) in the hall or the sparkle of plucked guitar strings. As such, it sounds a bit more analytical, revealing warts and all, whereas the Shunyata is more forgiving, sweetening the presentation. Diana Krall. “When I Look Into Your Eyes.” When I Look Into Your Eyes. DSD64. Verve Records. June 8, 1999. Diana Krall’s vocals on ‘When I Look into Your Eyes’ are very organic and warm -- breathy, but smoother on the highs with the Sidewinder. Her piano, the strings and the band have a certain tubey glow -- almost as if a rectifier tube replaced the Lampizator Lite 7 DAC’s silicone diode. With TheOne, details in Russell Malone’s acoustic guitar and the strings are more defined and delineated, Krall’s contralto vocals and her annunciation of consonant sounds more clearly articulated. The mid and high bass, the treble and breathiness in her voice are heightened; the timbre and decay on her piano, the metal sizzle of cymbals in stark relief of a black background is breathtaking. Dire Straits. “Sultans of Swing. Dire Straits. 44.1 kHz. Vertigo - Warner Records. July 1977. Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing” sounds natural, compelling and balanced through the Sidewinder -- as are Mark Knopfler’s vocals, his 1961 Stratocaster, Pick Withers’ ride cymbal and drum kit swinging. With TheOne, the ride and hi-hat cymbals glisten and are crisper, with the decay more pronounced and extended on the rides. I can hear the grittiness and delineated harmonics in Mark Knopfler’s patented vocals more clearly articulated. The presentation is more focused and clear sounding overall. In Conclusion Recently, my friend, Michael Laurance who writes the Shoestring Audiophile blog, dropped by to listen to my stereo with TheOne power cord plugged in. Having heard my system a handful of times, he listened for about 45 minutes. “That’s a nice little upgrade to your system,” he said with a smile. Granted, there will be doubters crying “Placebo Effect”, while others conjure perverse versions of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, with audiophiles trying to convince themselves and others that they hear something that’s not really there. Although I’m no engineer, my late father was and, in addition to passing down some of his logic, he (and my mother) engendered me with a passion for music. Sitting as a toddler on his lap, teething on his guitar while he played, watching him solder his Heathkit stereo, listening to records on his Garrard turntable and my mother playing the piano during childhood, I developed an ear which I honed singing in high school choir and, later, through formal training and making countless adjustments on the fly as a volunteer church sound technician for several years. These ears inform me that The WK Audio TheOne power cable makes a notable improvement in terms of detail and soundstage on my system and I’m good with that -- so much so that I’m keeping my review samples. The WK Audio "TheOne" retails for $1,600 and "TheTwo" sells for $600. TheOne is only available in 1.5 meters length. To find out more, go to www.wkaudio.com or email wkaudio@wkaudio.com . Associated Software and Equipment
Work Cited McGowan, Paul. “Cables Matter.” Paul’s Posts. PS Audio.com. PS Audio. 30 October 2018. Web. 7 November 2018. Pacuta, Wojciech. “Power Cable: WK Audio THE ONE.” High Fidelity.pl. No. 165. High Fidelity. 1 February 2009. Web. 7 November 2018.
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