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Grand Activation Power Cable Comparison
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Grand Activation Power Cable Comparison

In this post we are comparing the Following power cords from Grand Activation:

Components involved in the comparison:

  • Cord From the wall outlet (QSA Gold) to our power conditioner with QSA Gold and Red AC receptacles, GA internal wire, Duelund filter capacitors and ground filtration.
  • Merason Dac 1 MK2
  • Innuos Statement NG Server/Streamer

Methodology

We added the power cords one at a time, starting with the cord running from the wall outlet to the conditioner and evaluating over the course of a few days. Then changing the cord to the streamer, then finally changing the cord to the DAC. Each cord change involved an evaluation of the sound over 3-4 days. All cords were well broken in with 500 + hours on each one.

First: The Grand Activation HGA 2000

On the power conditionerIn this system, and across the board in all comparisons, the change in cords on the power conditioner was the most revealing and dramatic. With the HGA 2000 on the conditioner, the sound had a touch of the QSA fuse effect (for those that know). There was an instant sense of relaxation, not in a softened way, but in a musical flow way. It was open, resolving, and non-mechanical sounding. The soundstage expanded in all directions, creating a 3-dimensional and more immersive experience. For those familiar with QSA Fuses and their benefits, I would liken the overall improvement of the HGA 2000 to something between a QSA Blue and Yellow fuse upgrade on a component.

Adding the cord to the streamer - This was more subtle, but additive. There was less noise, more quiet space and low level information. The bass was tight, articulate, and not a standout. Midrange was excellent. Highs came forward a little more, adding some nice sparkle and air to the presentation.

Finally, the DAC - With the third cord in the system, there was more of a sonic signature one could define. The highs were starting to push forward in my system, changing the balance from open and airy to a tad too forward.

While I like what this cord does in terms of openness, resolution and naturalness I think I would limit it's use to one or two components. It's perfect if you are looking to add a little more dimensionality and air to the sound of your system.

GA AC-55 bulk wire with Furutech FI-50 NCF connectors

On the power conditioner - This cable and connector combination was quite nice. It had more heft and weight than the HGA 2000 right off the bat. The midrange to my ears was really nice. Warmth, layering, and dimensionality stood out. This was perhaps the strongest performance aspect of this cable. The highs were a little less forward in comparison to the HGA2000.

On the Streamer - Again, subtle, but additive. Smoothness, warmth and dimensionality were the words running through my head while listening.

And the DAC - The journey towards smoothness continued here. I lost some sparkle at this point. It was still there, I just had to concentrate more to hear it. There was a strange phenomenon occurred that I wasn't expecting. Usually when a system loses sparkle and air due to cord changes, the soundstage collapses. I can't say that happened here. This to me meant that the midrange and lower high frequencies still had plenty of spatial information in them (probably due to a low noise floor). The air and space were still there, just not as "sparkly" as what I am used to associating the feeling/sound of air and space in musical reproduction. 

Ultimately, if I had to choose between powering my system with HGA 2000 or the DIY AC-55 with Furutech connectors, I would choose the AC-55. I will take less ultimate detail and a softer, smoother sound of the AC-55 than the detailed, and occasionally too forward high frequency performance of the HGA 2000. Neither one on their own were perfect, but the three AC-55 cords were more listenable over the long term than the three HGA 2000. My guess is the right combination of the two would bring the best of both.

GA HGA 6000

On the power conditioner - On the first few seconds of the first track, one understands why this cord costs what it does. Simply outstanding balance, bandwidth with an "umami" that immediately informed you that this was how the music was meant to sound. I could have stopped here and been happy.

On the Streamer - The tonal balance was maintained, with a sense of better bass control, and overall dimensionality of the sound. The naturalness, openness and just ease of the performance was spectacular.

On the DAC - There was no shift forward or backward of any particular frequencies, the balance remained simply glorious, natural, and realistic. Textures in every band were more defined and refined. Sweetness, depth, space, air, layering, REALISM were just there without effort. This cable just keeps getting better and better as more are added.

I will say it. In my 20+ years in the business, this is the best power cord I have used in my system. Each addition of the HGA 6000 to a component brought me closer to what my ears and brain perceive as natural music. I could hear details, without effort, that I could not hear with $10,000 + cords in my system. 

Final Analysis

The HGA 2000 in my opinion is an exceptional cord for the money. I would recommend one or two in a system, perhaps on the power conditioner and source. You get the MMAT benefits, and in combination with other similar priced cords, could put together an incredibly revealing audio system on a moderate budget. 

The DIY AC-55 cable would be a great partner to the HGA 2000. It excels in weight and heft, but lacks the ultimate "sparkle factor" of the HGA 2000. Combined, and with judicious placement, the combination of the AC-55 and HG 2000 would make for a very balanced, natural and resolving system that would embarrass many power cable manufacturers' high priced offerings.

Last, for me, if my audio journey ended with HGA 6000 I would be satisfied. This is a fantastic cable, and a fantastic value. One of these connecting to your power conditioner is transformative to the sound of one's audio system. One could stop there as well. But for those who wish to travel further, this cable does not change it's fundamental balance, it just illuminates the inner detail and textures of the music more as you add them to components. Everyone needs to hear at least one of these cords in their system no matter how good you think your system is.

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