PS Audio Discussion Forum

Hi everyone!

I’ve recently purchased a new AC-5 power cord which I’m currently feeding my PWD with. The overall performance improved noticeably, sound stage and depth are outstanding, but yet there’s one thing troubling me.

I’ve experienced a subtle lack of upper frequencies; somehow they’ve mysteriously become slightly muffled as if there was a small “blanket of fog” covering them. Since I know even power cords need their break-in time, will “the fog” clear up after the break-in time?

Any comments or hints are very welcome.

John, indeed cables take a while to break in as you know but here’s my guess.  I am guessing that the old cable you had restricted some of the lower frequencies and sounded bright because of it - and you either adjust your system to compensate or got used to the sound.  Now, you put in the AC 5 and it sounds less bright because nothing’s restricted.  I would let it continue to break in and re-position my speakers a little bit to get the treble you want and you’ll be in heaven.

Hi Paul!

Thank you very much for answering.

I’ve just ordered a PWT along with another AC-5 and an AC-10 from my local dealer. The AC-10 will feed my Quintet Power Center, the AC-5 cords will feed my PWT and PWD.

Excellent!  Please let me know what you think and how it sounds!

Hi Paul,

I picked up my new gear yesterday evening. Awesome sound quality right out of the box! Sonically the best Transport/DAC I’ve ever had.

BUT: The first thing driving me is that the PWT does neither respond to the remote control nor touch panel properly. Sometimes I have to press an RC-button or touch a panel icon several times to enable its desired function, sometimes it doesn’t work at all!

I’ve tested almost every distance and angle, changed batteries, tried my second RC, called both the RC and PWT bad names, all to no avail. Even my daughter’s cheap $100 player comes with a fully functional RC. Is this a software bug (desperately begging for an update) or is it a defective unit?

The second thing driving me completely is that the PWT does not play some of my CDs correctly, that is, the unit suddenly stops during a song and keeps playing a part of it (let’s say, six or seven seconds) endlessly. All of my CDs are in mint condition. Again, is this a software bug (screaming for an update) or a defective unit?

###Edit: Just contacted my local dealer a couple of minutes ago (Friday afternoon in Central Europe) and he said he’ll send me a new unit. His assumption is that my unit could be a defective one.###

Hi Paul

Would a critical link fuse be a more noticeable improvement over the AC-5 for the PWD?

Thanks

Did the AC-5 improve any in the highs after more break in time? I have a similar take on the AC-3 although the bass is good i swapped it for a Statement Sc and the synergy was finally realized in my system.

AudioFury - 21 February 2010 05:11 AM

Did the AC-5 improve any in the highs after more break in time?

There is an improvement, but I think my AC-5 cords now really benefit from being fed by an AC-10, which seems to be an extremely good power cord.

What was used before the AC-10? I’m torn between it and another Statement Sc to replace an older Plus cable for my Quintet.

In our testing the AC-10 smoked the old Statement SC. It’s widely considered the best bang for your buck in our current lineup.

AudioFury - 21 February 2010 04:56 PM

What was used before the AC-10?

Former line-up: AC-5 into Power Quintet into CD-player via non-detachable cable / PWD via AC-5. Current line-up: AC-10 into Power Quintet into PWT via AC-5 / PWD via AC-5. Since I’ve got active studio-monitors (KRK VXT 8), I use my PWD both as DAC and pre-amp. Very nice!

By the way: I’ve got special fuses for my monitors, and I’ve ordered these fuses for my PWT and PWD.

In the end sounded like things opened up a bit with the switch to the AC-10 from the AC-5?

Correct. In my opinion, even more than a bit.

John Cuillins - 19 February 2010 07:06 AM

(...) my local dealer (...) said he’ll send me a new unit. (...)

Just got my new unit, seems to be all right; warming up at the moment.