The next step involved wiring all three components with Ansuz versus two C-MARCs plus one Ness Excellence from local Audiomica Laboratory. Each trio connected to the Mainz8 A2 power distributor linked to the main outlet by another Mainz A2. This exercise confirmed what I already knew. The DAC scaled best with different cords, then came my server/streamer and lastly the amps. Still, the Danish action translated universally. Besting my daily power cords on the counts already listed no longer shocked but the Ness Excellence still emerged as a very different animal. Chunky, full and slow, it's clearly tailored to work with gear that's lean, whitish, quick and ethereal. I can imagine scenarios where these two severe imbalances would nicely cancel out. In this context the far more universal A2 and C-MARC not only provide cleaning but grant insight into aspects which aren't up to scratch rather than fix them or shift flavors. This silent cable breed is for enthusiasts who are ready to face their system's truth head on.
This firm aural fix on the Mainz A2 made the Ansuz power box my next target. On duty with A2 cords, it had to compete against my Gigawatt PC-3 SE EVO+/LC-3 EVO combo. Interestingly the price difference between them was €5. Without Darkz footers and titanium balls, the Danish pack sells for €6'200. Three A2 cables on my main components now were on rotation between both power hubs connected to the same wall duplex. It's said that many power conditioners based on capacitors, MOVs, isolation transformers etc. impact dynamics but let's move beyond this view and shift focus on audio reviewers. Their exposure to dozens of different product combinations each and every year creates experience that's beyond most regular customers. This becomes useful when reviewers spend their own money. Here their often very costly setups routinely connect to simple passive power distributors far cheaper than many conditioning decks. Have you ever wondered why that is? It has nothing to do with saving money.
As much as I agree with this general take on power conditioner dynamics, I wouldn't label my Gigawatt sluggish. After nearly a year with it, its dynamics feel perfectly fine. The vast majority of enthusiasts wouldn't see the PC-3 SE EVO+'s speedometer as limited at all but that's true only without having a faster reference which the Mainz8 A2 became. It was as dynamically gifted as its fellow power cords. Suffice to say, this lot excelled at speed, energy and spatial expansiveness to push beyond my own power cables and conditioner. I just can't say that I hadn't seen it coming. The Danish HQ and Aarhus show room had been generously infused by boundless shove, snap and grandiose imaging regardless of system used. Most products in fact seemed geared to elevate the experience accordingly. The only difference was that now I heard the same highly stimulating spice within my own four walls. Several weeks of this enjoyably agile intake were enough to build up withdrawal symptoms later on.
Figuratively speaking, my daily power box ran on regular fuel, had a softer suspension and provided for a slower comfier ride versus today's stiffer shocks, elevated torque and high-octane fuel. The Polish machine got me safely from point A to B without any bumps on the road. The Danes covered the same distance as fast as possible. Still, the ride was just as roomy, its suspension had several modes to select from and its larger windows extended the view on the outside world. To frame this in audiophile lingo, the Gigawatt was more relaxed, dense, round, texturally loaded and dreamy to spell out apples against oranges. To quite an extent that's I how felt. But there was more.
