Cryo Parts Power Cords Nucleus and Polestar Review

[Guest Post By Hoodman]

Nucleus and Polestar

After two weeks in my system these babies have really opened up. Let me explain. Here’s what I wrote two weeks ago after they had been inserted in my system for only several hours:
“I put the Polestar on the subwoofer, and the low bass seems to have a little bit more impact and definition. I put the bigger, beefier Nucleus on the Cary power amp, and I haven’t noticed very much change there. Maybe things are, again, a little clearer, more focused, a little tighter. But this could be the power of suggestion, because this is what I was expecting.

In general I want to say things perhaps sound crisper, but I don’t like to use that word because the “s” and ‘p” sound suggest a treble etch. Rhythm seems a little more emphatic, attacks seem a little more clear. Maybe background noise is being reduced so that I can hear the music more clearly. I am not sure exactly what’s going on yet–these are just initial impressions.”

Well now that the Nucleus and Polestar have been in for two weeks, and there are–without any doubt–many changes for the better, and no negatives. First off, there seems to be much greater “headroom.” That is the music seems to “breathe easier,” as if my amp were 50% more powerful. Rhythmic drive is much more articulate. Bass is punchier and has more pitch definition. I hadn’t noticed before but in retrospect it was somewhat blurry or flabby by comparison with my old power cords (stock on the Martin Logan Depth sub and Tiffany on the Cary SA 280 V-12 power amp). Now it just sounds right and natural, and better defined–not too over-damped and unnaturally tight, as some speakers do.

Chris Squire’s bass on The Yes Album and Fragile sounds more present and more melodic, and punchier. I can distinguish it much more readily in the complex mix, when it often doubles Bill Bruford’s bass kick drum. The Martin Logan Depth sub is now even better integrated with the Martin Logan CLS electrostatic panel main speakers. Also, Jon Anderson’s voice sounds more real, smoother, fuller, less processed, even as the edits and “seams” in the mixdown are more present on these complicated studio albums. Finally with regard to these two remastered Yes albums, I am able to hear (in a more disentangled fashion) the different voices of the other members of the band on vocal harmony parts where they sing behind Anderson.

In general, there is a greater ease to the music, a greater naturalness. Everything sounds more subtle and relaxed. Along with this feeling of greater relaxation to the music, the soundstage has greater depth and width. Micro-dynamics are enhanced; I hear new qualities of ebb and flow. Acoustic instruments in particular sound more at ease. On several classical chamber music recordings it sounded as if the performers–who had been nervous youngsters–are now mature old pros. They seemed to have relaxed and grown more confident in their playing that much. Indeed everything sounds a tiny bit less electronic or “hifi”—more like real, natural, relaxed music.

In trying to explain all this to myself logically, I have came up with this image. In going from the wall outlet to the power amp or the subwoofer (with its inboard amp), electrons are now “kissing each other” as they flow through these power cords. How’s that for a romantic, nonsensical image? Well, I hate to say it but when listening to music with these CryoParts power cords in the system, it makes some kind of sense.

One thing I definitely now know is that good power cords can make a fairly dramatic difference for the better. Next time around, instead of thinking of how to improve the sound by changing the interconnect or speaker cable, I will definitely consider replacing a power cord or two. Good job Lee and CryoParts!

Hoodman August 2005