While this may be true, and satisfactory to most, it makes as much if not more sense to me to follow David’s logic that comparison tests drive the development of the cable. If, say, a thinner conductor sounded better than a thicker one, then follow the lead. If stacked conductors in their own dielectric were an improvement over woven ones, go that route. If a higher total gauge of said smaller conductors proved better than smaller total gauge, do it…
“I have often asserted that one should not waste their time on component and cable changes where there is a marginal improvement in sound.”
What I like about this methodology is that it yields real world application changes quickly. I have often asserted that one should not waste their time on component and cable changes where there is a marginal improvement in sound. If the difference in sound is not significant and instantly noticeable, in other words efficacious, leave it behind! This I call the “Law of Efficacy”. My method is to seek something that is distinctly different and not waste time with marginal improvements, ones where I must strain to hear the “improvement”. When a cable with a large variance in sound is heard, then I slow down and conduct longer listening tests to ascertain whether the difference is worthy of long-term consideration.
This methodology is used continually in real life, and most of the time it yields quick and reliable results. Just the other day I saw this methodology employed as my family had pictures taken for our church directory. We posed prettily, then were ushered into the viewing room (sounding disturbingly like a funeral home) where a laptop sat displaying our pictures. We judged them in an efficient but practical manner, looking at them side by side, and choosing the best. The “winner” was displayed on one side of the screen with the next “contender” shown next to it. In a matter of minutes, we selected several shots for our photo package.
We could have discussed the background reflectivity or the tint of the backdrop. We might have assessed the hue of the skin. It may have been beneficial to talk about the amount of shading on the one side of the head as it varied between the off-center profile shots. Nah! It was fairly obvious to the eye that one picture outclassed the other, so we selected and moved on in our comparisons. Only when it came down to the last couple of images did we slow down and mull them over. The majority were dispensed with quickly in favor of what appealed to the eyes.
“Why not find a system for selecting what is immensely pleasurable to the ears and work through the bulk of options methodologically and efficiently?”
The same methodology is used by Optometrists to assess vision and write a prescription for new glasses or contacts. Very few grumble, “Their method made horrible glasses! I can’t see straight!” It uses direct subjective feedback to hone the result, and it does a very good job of it. So, why not do the same with the ears? Why not find a system for selecting what is immensely pleasurable to the ears and work through the bulk of options methodologically and efficiently?
To approximate the same results, I have tried my level best to manually exchange cables in my system with nearly NASCAR pit crew speed. I am now able to change out an entire system of cables in three minutes! I’m joking here, but I rarely change out just one cable, unless I’m intentionally isolating its effect once I am familiarized with the sound of the group. This is, of course, not infallible, but it is the best method available to the audiophile in their listening room.
The Comparator is going to be put through rigorous testing, as David is arranging a university study with it. He is establishing a double-blind study to assess the audibility of the factors of cable design and construction. Those results should be most interesting to the audiophile community. A Comparator was not available for me at the time of this review; it seems the study was demanding his full resources. However, it was not needed in most instances of comparison between Wireworld and other products. The differences were apparent to me consistently.
How important is geometry to Wireworld cables? Important enough that they employ a “Grain Optimization” process which is a closely guarded trade secret. For that reason, Wire World is emphatic that the cables be used in the proper direction. David insisted that the effect of reversing them is audible, however the cables failed my Law of Efficacy in that regard. The difference was so marginal, so difficult to determine that I neglected it. I felt that the grain optimization played relatively little role in the overall effectiveness of the Wireworld design. I would assert that, practically speaking, geometry in regards to conductor positioning is the most important factor with these cables.
As I indicated earlier, the performance of the Matrix power cord extender was among the biggest of surprises. I have never used a power strip device which has not egregiously harmed the sound of the system. If the motto of power conditioning and power supply is “do no harm”, then the Matrix comes as close to any product as I have used to fulfilling that pledge.
Wireworld power cords are designed to be conditioners, so that along with the Matrix they make a power conditioning system. They feature, “…a geometric structure and composite insulation materials,” to effect, “damping the electrical resonances…” I asked David about that, and he shared that the series 5-Squared power cords feature a unique structure with coiled conductors and dual shields to function as an advanced form of power conditioner (An illustration appears on the Wireworld website on the “Power cords” page). A proprietary insulation absorbs unwanted EMI/RFI and line reflections. David stated that other high-end power cords tend to, “shift the noise into different portions of the spectrum, rather than removing it.” I thrilled to the effectiveness of these power cords!
For many years I used the Tice Audio Solo power conditioners and still have them on hand. On a wide variety of components, they enriched the listening experience. I tried the Wireworld power cords first through the Tice, then through the Matrix. A solid improvement in cleanness and energy was evident using the Matrix. The sound was so good that I determined to switch to the Matrix as my multi-outlet power supply.
“It confirmed my conclusion over the years that one’s absolute best power cables should be placed upstream closest to the outlet whenever possible. ”
I then tried the Wireworld power cords and the Tice together; this didn’t work well at all, as the sound became lethargic and clouded, sounding like it had gone through two power conditioners! However, what did make a dramatic improvement was placing the higher-end Electra 5-Squared power cord at the outlet feeding the Matrix bar, versus the Stratus in the same position. It confirmed my conclusion over the years that one’s absolute best power cables should be placed upstream closest to the outlet whenever possible.
The one danger with use of the Matrix that I can foresee is that it does not incorporate surge protection. It is a power cord extender, not a power protection strip. As such, the owner will be looking at component repair or replacement and paying an insurance deductible if the unthinkable happens due to a power surge. I’ll take the risk, as I have adequate insurance and in 25 years have never lost a component to electrical spikes (Yeah, yeah I know…just because it hasn’t happened in the past…). (KNOCK ON WOOD. -Ed.) Of course, you assume your own risk in this matter should you choose to use the Matrix without power protection.
An Electra 5² Convert
Electra 5² Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) copper conductors, silver-clad brass contacts
The Wireworld Electra 5-Squared series power cords were the vehicle of a religious experience for an audiophile friend of mine named Jim, who is glued to his vintage equipment – it led to his conversion. Jim is an inveterate lover of McIntosh equipment, evidenced by the fact that he still uses his 20-plus-year-old Mac system. He’s heard plenty of new equipment which he likes; he just thinks his stuff sounds really good still, especially when he sees the price of the new stuff! He also doesn’t (excuse me, didn’t) “believe in” power cords.
I invited Jim over to hear the newly arrived McIntosh MA6300 integrated amp. I knew that anything McIntosh would entice him. This wasn’t a “set up”, as I told him bluntly I was going to convert him into a power cable believer. I could see the doubt in his eyes. I insisted on using only his music the entire listening session, and I had arranged the ultimate in simple comparisons. The entire system varied in only 1 variable, the power cord. The only change made during comparisons was the selection of power cord feeding the Ayon CD-1 player. If there was going to be a detectable change, it had to be the power cord (I even used the same wall plug).
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