Introduction
The PC 4030 is the workhorse of the Acrolink power cord range, being affordable and offering great performance for the money. Available in off-the-reel form, you can choose to terminate it with the plugs of your preference.
I had previous written about the original 6N PC-4030, 7N PC-4030 II and the Anniversario. The Leggenda is the latest version of the PC 4030. Let's see whether this is destined to be the stuff of legends.
Description
The Leggenda uses the same copper conductors as the Anniversario - 50 strands of 0.37 mm diameter strands of 7N DUCC copper for the Live and Neutral conductors, and 4N copper for the Earth conductor. However, squalene oil is applied to each strand of copper. Squalene oil is a popular ingredient in skin-care products, and it's use for Audiophile products is not new. Furutech and Nanotec have been using squalene in some of their products for many years, albeit with added precious metal particles suspended. I sincerely hope no sharks were harmed in the production of these cables - shark liver is a rich source of squalene and is a traditional harvesting source.
Otherwise, the Leggenda is physically similar to the Anniversario. It is as flexible and easy to handle, despite being slightly thicker (the Leggenda's jacket has a diameter of 15.7 mm, vs 14.7 mm for the Anniversario). The shield is a thin copper foil, with a fine drain wire that is designed to test your dexterity and skill as a cable ninja. I terminated a 1.5 m cable with Oyaide A/P 004 plugs, with the drain cable attached at the AC outlet end. I happened to also have the Anniversario on hand, terminated with the same plugs.
Sound Quality
Squalene treated cables have a polished and wet signature to them, and the Leggenda exhibited a similar tone during the first few days of run-in. Unlike Nanotec and Furutech cables, the Leggenda has a more agile feel, with a less intense golden glow. The tone continued to lighten and stabilised after a few weeks of use (including a few days with dedicated burn-in devices).
The Leggenda has a balanced tone, much like the Anniversario, with an even hand throughout the frequency range. Once fully run-in, the effect of the squalene is very subtle and best described as a natural sounding flow between notes. If you found the Anniversario too dry, and the older 6N and 7N versions of the 4030 too wet, this is probably just right.
I also found the Leggenda to have more push and dynamic contrast. Bass had that little bit more power and authority, while music had a more incisive edge to it. In a way, the Leggenda moves closer in quality to the top-drawer Mexcel series, although it lacks the level of quietness of Mexcel cables. Typically improvements of this nature come at a price - forcefulness requires a trade-off from musicality and midrange smoothness. The fact that Acrolink managed to avoid this is a certain indicator of fine audio wizardry.
Resolution wise, this has a slight edge over the Anniversario, with better retrieval of micro details, and a more expressive midrange. Soundstaging is also wider, although this may be component dependent. It is very noticeable when used on my amplifier, but less so with my Melco NAS / streamer.
One key difference is vocal reproduction. The Leggenda has more midrange presence, with slight warmth and an innner glow. As mentioned earlier on, this is done without any smoothing over - the human voice remains communicative, expressive and detailed.
The evolution of the 4030 range is an interesting one. The 7N-4030II in my view, remains the most musical albeit coloured cable. It has the silkiest high frequencies, with very prominent air and decay. The Anniversario has the most "studio-like" tonal balance with a drier and more analytical presentation. The Leggenda sits squarely between the Anniversario and 7N-4030II, with a judicious mix of both of their strengths.
Conclusion
Taste will very much determine which 4030 model is your pick. The Leggenda is my pick and caters best to my taste. Considering that the price increases over each model have been very modest despite large strides in improvement, the Leggenda is an unequivocal Best Buy. Outstanding performance at a great price - that is definitely the stuff of legends !
Price : TBD
X-Audio Pte Ltd
Bukit Timah Plaza
1 Jalan Anak Bukit #01-01S
Singapore 588996
Tel : 6466 4624
What do you mean “inner glow” 😂
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