Loom

Reviewer: Frederic Beudot
Digital Source: Aurender A10 streamer, Denafrips Pontus DAC, LHY SW6 Ethernet switch, Jay's Audio CDT2 Mk2, Holo Audio Cyan 2 [on loan], Mola Mola Tambaqui [in for review]
Analog Source: VPI Scout 1.1,  Zu-DL103 MkII, Genesis Phono Gold
Amplifier: Triode Labs 2A3i, Enleum Amp 23R  
Speakers: Ocellia Calliope .21 Twin Signature, Rogers LS 3/5a, Zu Essence
Cables: Zu Varial, Ocellia RCA cables, Zu Event mkII speaker cables, Absolute Fidelity custom XLR to RCA interconnects
Power Cords: Zu Mother, Ocellia power cables, Absolute Fidelity power cable
Powerline conditioning: Isotek Nova
Sundry accessories: Isolpads under electronics, GIK Audio room treatment
Room size: 18'x14'x10' (music room)
Review component retail: €TBA

"The more I listen to the Mola Mola Tambaqui, the more I realize how extremely sensitive it is to associated ancillaries – more than any electronics I've heard before. Differences in power cords, interconnects etc are so revealing that anything which can further lower the noise floor without hurting tonal saturation should be beneficial. I realize that I probably don't have cables and power filters commensurate with this DAC's level of extreme performance. It seems that you have a long relationship with Furutech. Do you think they could provide a bundle of their products (USB cable, power cable, XLR⇒RCA or RCA⇒RCA interconnect, power filter) to see how far we could push that Tambaqui DAC? I'd feature them in the Mola Mola review and a dedicated review if they're interested." That was my long-standing US contributor Frederic Beudot. Minutes later I Cc'd him on an email to my Furutech contact Graeme Coley. Whilst the answer and its details were entirely up to him, rendering the intro was still in my hands. That's how accelerated upstream resolution can show up limitations further down the chain; and how one special DAC can make a man happily ask to review a tailor-made cable loom. If that made-me-do-it subtext is too obscure, let's just say that for most audio writers, reviewing cables generates the least interest. Volunteering for such a gig thus is a tell in its own right. Here it was an educated guess that the existing loom and power delivery kit still acted as resolution barriers once faced with a source well beyond his usual references.

Jay's Audio CDT, VPI Scout 1.1, Lumin P1 Mini, Tambaqui, Enleum AMP-23R, Aurender A10, rack by Franck Tchang.

When Graeme replied with "certainly, we'll give it some thought", Frederic's assignment was booked, details TBD. – Publisher

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… to be continued…