Acrolink 7N-PC4030 Purosangue power cable

Introduction

The 4030 has enjoyed great commercial success, thanks to its reasonable cost and great performance. Availability in bulk-wire form has also left audiophiles free to express their creativity with custom lengths and terminations. Looking back at my old articles, I first wrote about the 6N-P4030 in 2008, followed by the 7N-P4030II, Anniversario and Leggenda in 2011, 2017 and 2020, respectively. 

Evolving over the years, the Purosangue sounds significantly different from the Genesis model. It is therefore timely to introduce the 7N-PC4030 Purosangue. In Italian, puro sangue means pure blood. 

Let’s have a look at the cross-sectional view of the Purosangue and the Leggenda, which precedes it.

PUROSANGUE 

From Acrolink's official website.

LEGGENDA

From Acrolink's official website.

Like the Leggenda, the Purosangue is a 10 AWG power cord based on 7N purity D.U.C.C. copper wires (Live and Neutral) and 4N copper conductors (ground).

Visually, the biggest differences are the change from the glossy cream PVC outer jacket to matte black Polyolefin, and the striking blue Duralumin connectors in a shade similar to Blu Tour De France (I saw what you did there Acrolink!).

Internally, the single silk thread running in the center of the Leggenda now fills the space between the outer jacket and the conductors. 

The connectors share a similar design to the plugs used in Acrolink’s flagship Mexcel range save that they are shorter and omit the carbon fiber sleeve. Like the plugs used for the Leggenda, the Beryllium copper blades are Rhodium and Silver plated. 

Purosangue (top) vs Mexcel 8N-PC8100 (bottom).

  

In Use

The Purosangue has a similar diameter to the Leggenda, and is just a shade thinner at 14.7mm  diameter (vs. 15.7mm). It is also more flexible, but in practical applications, the cables route and handle similarly.

The black Polyolefin outer jacket scuffs more easily compared to the PVC material used for the Leggenda. From experience with other Acrolink models, it will become a bit sticky in Singapore’s tropical weather over time, and the cable lettering rubs off easily too. 

No stress here except for the lettering.

Sound

The Purosangue was tested in both my main and secondary setup. In my main setup, the cable was used with a Conrad Johnson ART27A power amp, and a Gustard A26 DAC. In the secondary setup, the Purosangue was connected to a Schitt Aegir power amp. The sonic differences were more stark in my main setup while the Schitt Aegir seemed less sensitive to power cord changes.

Tonally, I found the Purosangue quite close to neutral, with a slight bias towards warmth. The signature Acrolink strengths are there in spades, with extended and silky highs and refinement across the frequency spectrum. The Purosangue distinguishes itself from earlier models with a tight and propulsive bass, much improved dynamics and a sharper edge. The forceful bass reminded me of some of the Mexcel models, but in a lesser dose. The extra bass weight, together with the denser tone makes this the warmest sounding 4030 variant to date. 

Midrange performance is smooth and fluid like the Leggenda, but with more detail and expressiveness. The image size of vocalists is tighter and more focused than the Leggenda but not as pinpoint as the Anniversario. If the Leggenda could be said to be voiced like a tube amp, then the Anniversario would be likened to a good class A/B solid-state amp, and the Purosangue, a class A solid-state amp.         

   

Compared to the Leggenda and Anniversario (both terminated with Oyaide AP/C 004 plugs), the Purosangue sounds quicker, more dynamic and with higher tonal contrast. The soundstage is more deeply layered, which gives superior perception of depth and dimensionality. Returning to the Anniversario and Leggenda confirmed that the two older cables sounded spatially flat in comparison.

An Acrolink Mexcel 8N-PC8100 Performante power cord served as the final comparison. The Mexcel was superior in every way, but I was impressed at how much fight the Purosangue brought to the ring. It wasn’t a first-round knockout, and the Purosangue kept the Performante on its toes for a few rounds before deciding to surrender. The Mexcel’s low noise floor, dynamic power and microdetail was something that the Purosangue couldn’t match. However, value-wise, the Purosangue wins hands down.

Technically, the Purosangue significantly betters its predecessors. Audiophiles sensitive to brightness may prefer the more organic sound of the Leggenda, but the Purosangue should be a good upgrade for most 4030 owners.  

Conclusion

If you want close to Mexcel performance, but don’t wish to spend that kind of money, this should be at the top of your shortlist. The Purosangue compromises little and should fit comfortably in most systems. It’s nice to see that Acrolink continues to push the boundaries of performance for its more modest models. 

Thank you X-Audio for arranging for this review.  

Acrolink 7N-PC4030 Purosangue power cable

Promotional Price

1.5m factory terminated cable - S$980

Bulk wire - S$250/m

X Audio 

201 Henderson Road

#06-13/14, Apex@Henderson

Singapore 159545

http://xaudio.sg

  

William Eikos Ultra-Litz Field Cable Review

Introduction

William Eikos was founded by William Funnell-Pilcher. Speaking to Bill, I was impressed with his vast experience and knowledge on audio-related matters, and his passion for music. He started work in the hi-fi industry in the 80s and was responsible for developing a variant of the Spica TC-50 for the United Kingdom market. I recall the moment I first saw and heard the TC-50 (yeah, I’m that old). The triangular wedge-like speaker had little bass, but offered the most amazing staging and imaging I heard at that price point. He also worked with Pioneer UK to develop the Precision range. We reminisced about old times, gems like the A400 amplifier (my first proper amplifier) and the usual things that vintage audiophiles like to talk about.    

The subjects on review here are the Ultra-Litz Field Cables. Bill explained that he developed them to pair with his Aurigen loudspeaker, after determining that available cables on the market curtailed performance. 

Leather case for the cable split.

Description

The Ultra-Litz Field Cables are definitely something different and are an out-of-the-box approach to cable design. William Eikos explains on their website that they believe that conventional cable insulation (usually petrochemical-derived plastics such as Teflon and foamed insulation) hurt the sound by distorting AC signals. Similarly, solder and strand interaction are also cited as sonic issues afflicting the competition.   

Litz cables consist of many fine wires that are individually insulated to prevent skin-effect and strand interaction. Put simply, higher frequency signals travel at the surface of the wire where the smaller cross-sectional area presents greater resistance. By using individually insulated conductors, current flows equally through each strand.  

In the case of the line-level cables, you have 750 strands of litz wire for each leg (and 8000 strands for the speaker cable). Each strand is less than half the thickness of a strand of hair. Great care is taken in assembly of the cables, including attention to reduce oxidation and avoid the use of solder. The RCA cables are terminated in solderless WBT Nextgen plugs and the speaker cables utilise a special solid silver spade connector custom-made for William Eikos that are connected to the wire strands using high-pressure crimping.

For sake of brevity, I am grossly oversimplifying the various processes applied. Do head over to William Eikos’ website for a more detailed read. 

The unboxing experience was also unique, with the cables packed in re-usable cloth bags and a refreshing freedom from environmentally-damaging packaging. The wool felt jackets were chosen not just for their near-ideal dielectric qualities, but also damping of micro-vibrations. William Eikos cites the use of felt in pianos, pipe-organs and other musical instruments as an example. Other natural materials like leather and silk are also used in construction of the Ultra-Litz cables. 

During installation, I found that the RCA plugs did not fit PCB-mounted RCA sockets, or any tightly spaced jacks for that matter. Removing the felt socks would be necessary in such a case. Otherwise, everything went smoothly. 

The felt socks can be removed for tight spaces or for tightening the plug screw collar.

Sound Quality

It may be helpful to explain what these cables do not sound like. First up are cables that create a sonic impact from the get-go, much like the brightest display panel in the shop. Then you have the cables that provide an obvious bump in their tonal balance. Instead of taking you out with a sucker punch, the Ultra-Litz cable impresses you over the long-term with their naturalness and musical flow. I would describe their tonal balance as soft-neutral - with a full and weighty bass, and even-handed presentation. There is a realistic presentation of music with a balance between the leading-edge and fade, avoiding the sharp and incisive presentation of some other cables.

The textured and full bass provided the necessary authority and scale when required, while retaining plenty of detail when listening to instruments like double bass. I noticed that the vocals enjoyed a subtle degree of projection, providing a more intimate presentation. The Ultra-Litz cables did not sound overly bright or airy in the upper frequencies. Metal percussion instruments sounded clean and crisp, but presented in a gentle way that seamlessly blended with the midrange. Although these cables are highly resolving, they served up fine detail in a subtle and unforced manner. It’s all there for you to discover, but more like the way colour and details are presented to the eye, as opposed to a photo post-processed for visual pop.    

From an imaging and soundstaging perspective, the Ultra-Litz threw a wide soundstage, with very good image height and depth. The sonic images were somewhat larger in size compared to my usual cables, with a beguiling energy imparted to voices and instruments, as well as the acoustic space around them. This lent a rare quality of dimensionality that eludes most other cables on the market and is one of the key sonic strengths of the Ultra-Litz cables. 

Trying the interconnects and speaker cables separately, I found both to have an equal contribution to sonic performance. I did have some misgivings that using both together would result in too much a good thing, but this proved to be unfounded. Using the cables together built upon their collective strengths and achieved a higher level of performance.

I found the Ultra-Litz cables to excel in reproducing acoustic instruments like the piano and string instruments which were portrayed with stunning realism. However, the full bass tone would not be my choice for EDM or other types of fast music where there is a need to sound tight and pacey.  

Conclusion

The Ultra-Litz Field Cable set new standards on how natural sounding a cable can be. The elephant in the room would be cost. These cables are very expensive indeed. Detractors may argue that these costly cables should be perfect in every way. My own experience is that no such perfection exists, except as conjured up by creative copywriters. Give these cables a listen and let your ears decide.

William Eikos Ultra-Litz Field Cable

http://williameikos.com

Price : USD 9,000 - 1.0m RCA cable pair. USD 11,200 - 1.0m XLR cable pair. USD 19,625 - 2.5m speaker cable pair.

Voodoo Labs VL WITCHCRAFT™ Speaker Cable Grid

Introduction

Once in a while, an audiophile product will come along and grab your attention. In this case, these speaker cables from Voodoo Labs will make you scratch your head and exclaim, "What the Meow is going on?" 

Voodoo Labs sounds like research into the paranormal, instead of the paramagnetic. They claim that their products are based on patent-pending technology. While I don't assign much weight to that, they licensed their technology to Audionet for their GAUSS footers. And Audionet certainly know more than a thing or two about audio! 

Description

The Speaker Cable Grid consists of 6 individually insulated conductors (3 each for positive and negative) that pass through a hexagonal spacer. The cable conductors are made of tinned-OFC copper sheathed in oiled cotton dielectric and look very familiar (Hmm, maybe from somewhere far north of Hamburg, where Voodoo Labs is based?) The hexagonal spacer is meshed, with each cable passing through a specified hole. The center of the spacer is adorned with a cat design, which happens to be Voodoo Labs' logo. Each cable has 3 spacers, and each spacer has its own turbine-shaped footer. Now, kits, cats, sacks and wives, how many were going to St. Ives? The bare wire ends are twisted together, which sounds best according to Voodoo Labs. If that doesn't suit you, I'm sure you can speak to them about installing plugs of your choice. 

Since the cables move freely through the mesh holes, you can slide the spacers according to your needs. The footer is friction fit and can be removed if required. Installation is either tricky or seamless depending on your setup. In my case, it was the former as the complex routing (most of which was in airspace) resulted in the footers being placed on the speaker or near the amp. I can imagine that installation would be perfect in the scenario where your amplifier and speaker binding posts are close to ground level. 

According to Voodoo Labs, the footers are designed to avoid the smear caused by cables lying on the ground, where they are affected by different materials of varying permeability and permittivity. The material used is an Aluminium-Magnesium alloy (cleverly called AlMgTy!) which aims to achieve magnetic permeability and permittivity as close as possible to air. The general theory of the design (the footer and spacer) is to prevent electromagnetic harm to the signal as much as possible. 

Sound Quality

During the switch from my usual speaker cables to the Voodoo Labs, William Whey of Audiosound asked whether I changed the volume knob. I knew why he asked - the volume appeared to be much louder! 

The Voodoo Labs cast a very wide soundstage with great dimensionality. The tonality of these cables was firmly in the musical camp - a grainless presentation with full and wet bass notes. The midrange in particular remained expressive with good texture and nuance. High-frequencies had a natural fade which struck a good balance between air and long-term listenability. If you like a natural yet detailed presentation, these are really a worthwhile addition to your shortlist.  

I liked these cables very much for their well-tuned presentation and low-noise floor. Their warm-neutral tone could work well in taking some bite out of aggressive systems. On the downside, they aren't the most propulsive or hard-hitting cable around. Mr. Usual Cable had a more linear and tighter bassline, but otherwise, Mr. Meow had it licked in every other way. The MSRP of Mr. Usual is similar to Mr. Meow, so I consider this to be a fair catfight.    

Conclusion

Many audiophiles will outright dismiss the Voodoo Labs on account of its high price and seemingly pseudo-science claims. I actually think there is good logic and reason to its design, but here's one suggestion that will have most of the objectivists running for the door - give them a listen!

A big thanks goes to William Whey of Audiosound Singapore, a brand ambassador of Voodoo Labs.

Voodoo Labs VL WITCHCRAFT™ Speaker Cable Grid - USD 10,634 / 2m pair

http://voodoolabs.myshopify.com

 

Acrolink 7N-PC 4030 Leggenda Power Cord

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     

Mont Audio Cable and Accessories

Introduction

Mont Audio was founded in Auckland, New Zealand. It follows a familiar story - a group of Audiophiles set out to create their own products, after being dissatisfied with off-the-shelf components. 

Their products are named after famous landmarks in New Zealand. Their tagline ? Pure, Natural, Simple, Elegance - a magnificent piece of New Zealand in every creation. 

I found their products to be reflective of their tagline - natural materials are used where possible, and the packaging is thoughtful to the environment while providing adequate shipping protection - no over-the-top aluminium flight cases or massive wood boxes here. 

A quick look through their website shows a variety of products centered around cabling and accessories, with an amplifier reported to be in the pipeline.


Arapuni PC-1 Audiophile Grade Power Cable

The Arapuni PC-1 is a very natural looking power cord, with laser-engraved Walnut sleeves, and a braided cotton outer cover. Arapuni is the oldest running renewable hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River in the North Island of New Zealand. Mont Audio hopes that the PC-1 will deliver power to your rig as cleanly as it was sourced from the Waikato River.

Both the Live and Neutral cores are made out of 3.298 square mm of 5N purity LC-OFC copper, while the Earth core is made out of 3.463 square mm of the same type of copper. The inner cores are insulated by polyethylene and natural cotton filler. The cable is fully shielded with both Aluminium foil and OFC braid. The conductor size of the PC-1 is close to AWG 12 based on my calculations.

Flexibility is good, and pricing is modest for a cable of this level of construction. Predictably, the PC-1 is all about wholesome goodness, and the sonics are precisely that, coupled with a coherent and balanced presentation. 

The PC-1 avoids giving undue emphasis to any part of the frequency range. As a result, Audiophiles looking for sonic fireworks or tone controls are unlikely to be pleased. Tonally, you could say that the PC-1 is neutral with a slight tilt towards warmth. Compared to the best of breed, the PC-1 trades off some bass power, high-frequency extension and fine resolution. In view of it's price range, this is to be expected. 

Notwithstanding the shortcomings mentioned, this is a cable that has has a beguiling sense of flow and naturalness. You could listen for hours on end without feeling fatigued nor bored. As an interesting counterpoint to this presentation, the PH-1 is a very different kettle of fish. 

Arapuni PH-1 Premium Ultra Silver Hybrid Audiophile Grade Power Cable

To be continued ...

Arapuni SH-1 Chatham Premium Silver Hybrid Speaker Cables

The SH-1 is similar to the hybrid PH-1 powercord, with a blend of 5N purity LC-OFC conductors, and the same conductors plated in silver. These conductors are insulated in polyethylene, with natural cotton filler used in the main cable body. The overall wire gauge is 13 AWG. 

The banana plugs are made from pure red copper with nickel-free gold plating applied. A drawback of using pure copper is the softness of the metal, and the plugs did feel a bit loose after a while. Their very simple design does allow you to re-tension the plugs easily, so this is not really a big problem in the long run. 


The SH-1 did not really like my Harbeth M30.1 speakers, sounding a little bit too dull and full. It fared a lot better with a pair of SB Acoustics Ara BE speakers. True to the family sonic signature, the SH-1 presented a weighty mid-bass with a smooth yet detailed midrange and top-end. Low frequencies have a wet presentation, with full impact and decay. I noticed that the SH-1 presented the soundstage forward, with a more intimate feel. Similar to the PH-1, this cable also had a tendency to spotlight detail, with a edge and texture to instruments and voices. Some listeners like this presentation, while others prefer a more natural approach.  

Rangitoto R1 Hifi Anti-Vibration / Isolation Feet

Named after a volcanic island in New Zealand, the Rangitoto footer is a deceptively heavy device, with each footer weighing 115 grams. Three dampening rubber rings fit into an indentation on the top and bottom of the footer. A machined indent on the top of the volcano (oops, footer) allows easy use with spikes and cones. 

The rubber rings do not fit tightly, and some superhuman effort is required to keep the rings on the bottom in place as you position the footer. Alternatively, you could cheat and apply a dab of glue, but where is the fun in that ? My partner has always remarked that audiophiles like pain and suffering. As luck would have it, one of the rings dropped off in my very tight listening room, and promptly rolled under my impossible to move amplifier placed on the floor. 

The Rangitoto must share honourable mention together with the Arapuni PC-1 power cord. Both are high performing products that offer great value for money. Most footers involve a trade off - falling into the sharp and edgy camp, or the smooth and tubby. The Rangitoto manages to clean up the sound, without losing musicality or impairing the natural flow of music. 

A set of three footers under my Devialet Expert 140 Pro did wonders ! Apart from tightening up the bass, the Rangitoto improved detail across the board, improving inner detail and intelligibility in complex mixes. It does not alter the tonality of your setup too much, so this would be perfect if you have your system nicely dialed-in and would like to extract the last ounce of information.  
  

Curious Evolved USB Cable

Introduction

Rob Woodland has had another go at USB cables - four years after the launch of the original Curious USB Cable, he has released the Curious Evolved USB Cable.

My original review of the Curious USB Cable can be found here. The premium model costs USD 550 for a 0.8 m length, compared to USD 350 for the original model. All prices include worldwide shipping.

According to Rob, "The Curious Evolved is the best we can do, and will benefit audiophiles who want the maximum performance from the computer based Audio system."

Description

Physically, the Curious Evolved has a close resemblance to the original model. The power line runs externally, and a blue heat-shrink with the model name is the clearest distinguishing mark between the two. The cable has decent flexibility and should have no issues being routed in most systems.

My set-up has changed significantly since the review of the original Curious cable. My computer audio setup consists of a Melco N1-ZH/2 audiophile NAS, paired with a Weiss INT-204 USB/SPDIF bridge. For the purposes of this review, I swapped this with a Synology DS-214play NAS and an SoTM SMS-200 Ultra streamer. This allowed me to place the streamer box much closer to my DAC, and to use the Curious Evolved without any strain being placed on the cable. I also compared the Curious Evolved with a number of USB cables I had on hand, most of which are considerably more expensive than the Curious Evolved.

Sound Quality 

The original Curious Cable is in my view a cable that addresses many common weaknesses in digital playback :- a lack of dynamics and a flat and un-involving  sound. The Curious Evolved on the other hand is destined for the very best of setups - it simply lets digital gear perform at it’s very best.

Tonally, the Curious Evolved is very close to neutral, with the slightest hint of sweetness and a subtle softness to the leading edge of notes. Make no mistake though, this is not a weak and insipid sounding cable. Music is presented with high dynamic contrast, with good saturation and impactful low frequencies. It takes less artistic licence compared to the original Curious Cable, and bass lines are as powerful, or as subtle as captured on the recording. This neutrality is applied throughout the rest of the frequencies, with a very coherent and even presentation. 

By absolute standards, high frequencies do not extend as far as the very best in class, although treble is clean and clear as a whistle. Soundstaging is accurate, with appropriate width and depth. The Curious Evolved casts a noticeably deeper stage compared to the original Curious Cable that projects the stage forward.

Where the Curious Evolved really leaves it’s predecessor in the dust is resolving power and refinement. It unearths micro-detail and expressiveness in a way that eludes the original Curious Cable and presents it with class-leading power and grace. The real kicker in the equation is price - the Curious Cable is able to bring this all to the table without breaking the bank. 

Conclusion

If you liked the original Curious Cable and want to move up to the next level, this is the cable for you. If you are looking for a reference standard USB cable, this is a serious contender to consider, with excellent value too. Well done Rob !

Curious Cables
http://www.curiouscables.com

Acrolink 8N-PC8100 Performante Power Cable

Introduction

Just worked yourself to the bone saving your precious pennies for the flagship Acrolink 7N-PC9700 power cable ? The bad news is that Acrolink has launched a limited edition model, the 8N-PC8100 Performante Cable. I certainly didn't see this coming, especially so soon after the launch of the 7N-PC9700 ! Such is life, and we can only see whether this new model (limited to only 99 pieces in the world)  will dethrone the King of the castle.

Description

Acrolink has somehow managed to retrieve enough stressfree 8N copper material from it's secret vault to launch this limited edition series (the current lineup uses 7N DUCC conductors). Technically, the PC8100 is closer to the PC6700, with both using 50 strands of 0.37 mm diameter copper conductors for neutral and live conductors, as well as polyolefin, tungsten and amorphous powder as filler (the PC9700 included carbon powder). The shield is different, with the use of copper foil tape and silver plated copper braid, instead of carbon tape and enameled copper braid on the PC9700.

Visually and handling wise, the PC8100 and PC9700 are similar, with identical plugs, and flexibility (or lack thereof).

Pricing will depend on your market, but be assured that the PC8100 will cost significantly more than the PC9700. In Singapore, the local dealer X-Audio is offering this cable for S$ 5,500 (or about slightly more than US$ 4,000).

Sound Quality

Admirers of the Acrolink Mexcel house sound will not encounter any surprises - the PC8100 treats it's audience to extended and silky highs, with a refined presentation that is precise and quiet.

A concise way to describe the PC8100 is that this is the progeny of a union of the PC9500 and PC9700, with a well-struck balance that highlights the strengths of both Mama and Papa cable. The PC8100 has the well-defined strength and muscularity of a bodybuilder, and the speed, elegance and grace of a ballerina ! Click on these links to see my previous reviews of the PC9500 and PC9700.  

But stopping short at this description would be doing the PC8100 a disservice - it is able to do everything slightly better than the PC9700, with a slight edge in resolution, micro-detail and background quietness. Throw in the low frequency authority and dynamics of the PC9500, and you have it all - at a price (financially). 

Your choice of poison really depends on taste. The PC9500 has the most powerful sound, albeit with a more raw edge to it - perfect for the rockers. The PC9700 has the most laidback and sweet tone - perfect for small scale jazz and classical works, or vocals. The PC8100 takes the middle road, which is great if you listen to both ends of the spectrum, but an audition is a must - it may be too polite for the headbangers and too forceful for the pipe and slippers crowd. The level of improvement compared to the PC9700 is more evolutionary than revolutionary, and the PC9700 owners should be able to sleep soundly at night. For the prospective Mexcel purchasers sitting on the fence though, this cable is really the one to have in my view.

Conclusion

The PC8100 demonstrates Acrolink's commitment to pushing the envelope of what is possible from power cords. If you move fast, you just could be one of the lucky owners of this limited edition flagship cable. A big thanks goes out to the guys at X-Audio for making this review possible.


Acrolink 8N-PC8100 Performante Power Cord
Price : S$ 5,500 

X-Audio Pte Ltd
Bukit Timah Plaza. 
1 Jalan Anak Bukit, #01-01S
Singapore 588996
6466 2642