Signal Cable Digital HC and Magic Power Cables
Reviewer:  Shane Mattson
Review Period: 12/15/05-->12/31/05 

Product Description:

Custom manufactured audio/video cables available direct from the manufacture via the Internet.

About Signal Cable:

Everything you want to know about the company can be found here.

Evaluation System

Meridian 565Z3 (Software version 6.2a) Surround Processor/Preamplifier
Denon DVD-2900 Universal Player outputting 480i to processor
TAW ROCK+ Video Processor
Mirage OM-C2 Center Channel
Mirage M3-si Loudspeakers
Parasound HALO A 21 amplifier
Citation 7.1 multi-channel amplifier
TMC Gold Reference speaker cables
PS Audio Xtreme Statement single-ended Interconnects between 565 and A 21
Wireworld Gold Starlight 5 digital coax interconnect between 2900 and 565Z3.

Specifications:

Magic Power Cable 10 AWG 3 conductor twisted design High purity stranded copper for maximum conductivity Premium grade jacket provides excellent resistance to abrasion, water, oil UL listed and CSA certified Temperature range: -40ø C to +90ø C Voltage rating: 300-600 volts Max. Amps @ 120V: 30A Price: $59.00 for 3 feet, each additional foot $4.00 Digital HC Power Cable 12 AWG 3 conductor twisted design High purity stranded copper for maximum conductivity Copper braid + foil double shield Teflon insulation + Teflon outer jacket UL listed and CSA certified Voltage rating: 300 volts Max. Amps @ 120V: 30A Price: $69.00 for 3 feet, each additional foot $6.00

First Impression:

Signal Cable designs and manufactures high performance, relatively low-cost cables for audio/video enthusiasts and the two power cables featured in this review are part of the Signal Cable Classic product line.  They also offer higher priced, ultra premium cables as part of their Silver Resolution product line.

I am very impressed with the quality of craftsmanship put into the Magic and Digital HC power cables.  Both cables look stunning, each wrapped in an attractive colored mesh with heat shrink tubing wrapped around the IEC connector and plug.   The Magic and Digital HC power cables are so attractive that I actually prefer their appearance over the latest version of PS Audio's Xtreme power cables.  Although the two reviewed power cables are a bit stiff, they are easily bendable and should accommodate most installation configurations.

Over the past 15 years I have evaluated a countless number of audio/video products.  With each new component I've tried to break the habit of listening with a predetermined bias.  It's hard not to get sucked into all of the marketing hype out there...especially after exposure to one hyped advertisement and review after another from a manufactures web site or a/v enthusiast publication.  I constantly remind myself that all of that print advertising as well as the use of fancy packaging material comes at a price...to you, the consumer!  I was very pleased to find that Signal Cable does not inflate their prices to cover the frivolous cost of elaborate packing materials.  The review samples arrived individually packed in zip-lock bags, placed in a no frills shipping container.  For Signal Cable to survive in this competitive cable market they must take a profit somewhere, and they do it by selling the customer a tangible, useable product that does not include a flashy box or fancy velvet cable bag!  How the flashy box or velvet cable bag improves the sonic performance of cables is unexplainable, however maybe they have a role in at least triggering the placebo affect!

Test Method:

There isn't a whole lot of science behind power cable design.  In fact there's hardly any science involved in reviewing power cables either!  It is very difficult to switch back and forth between cables since the equipment must first be turned off, cables swapped and then the equipment powered back on.  Also, let's not forget that there is some time involved in getting yourself situated back into the listening chair to begin/continue with the evaluation.  Humans have approximately 6 seconds of hearing memory; therefore if a cable change cannot be made within 6 seconds from the A test it's extremely difficult to identify a quantifiable difference from test B, especially if the difference is subtle.  What is the best way to evaluate a power cable you ask?  I prefer to connect stock power cables to all system components and then listen for a few days to become familiar with the sound.  Next, I'll begin replacing the stock power cables with the premium cables one at a time, documenting the (if any) sonic differences.

Using the above test method for this review, I listened to my system with the stock cables installed between a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet (UO) and wall outlet as well as between the source components and UO for a few days. The sound of my system in this configuration was noticeably thinner with less of the upper mid-range richness I had become accustomed to hearing when using the previously installed PS Audio Xtreme power cables.  This was a strange sonic phenomenon.  I had previously become so accustomed to hearing my system with the PS Audio power cables that the degradation of sound with the stock power cables was tangibly shocking.

Performance Summary:

Audio:

I started the performance review of the Signal Cable power cables by replacing the stock cable between a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet and the wall outlet with a Signal Cable Magic Power cable.  I kept the stock power cables installed between the Ultimate Outlet and the source components: a Meridian 565 and Denon 2900. 

I fired up a redbook CD and could not believe what I was hearing.  The mid-range richness was back and microdynamics were less attenuated adding to the sweetness I was used to hearing with the much more expensive PS Audio cables.  The difference with the Signal Cable Magic power cable was so obvious that I did not have to strain or try to convince myself I was hearing an improvement.  Next, I replaced the remaining stock power cables between the source components and Ultimate Outlet with the Signal Cable Digital HC cables.  I sat back in the chair and proceeded to play the same track that was just sampled.  The sound was about the same but had an ever so slight improvement in the mid-range, bass definition and dynamics.  If anything, the system seemed to resolve a bit better but the difference was nowhere near as pronounced as it had been when I installed the first Signal Cable Magic power cable between the Ultimate Outlet and the wall outlet. 

Next, I bypassed the Ultimate Outlet and connected the Meridian 565 and Denon 2900 directly to the wall outlet using the Signal Cable Digital HC cables.  There was a noticeable degradation of sound (slightly less full sounding mid-range and reduced dynamics) when bypassing the Ultimate Outlet however the Signal Cable Digital HC power cables sounded much better than the stock cables in this configuration.  I think the lesson to be learned here is that there is no substitute for good AC noise filtering used in conjunction with well made power cables.

For my own satisfaction I re-connected the stock power cable between the Ultimate Outlet and the wall outlet and the sound of my system changed back to the thin, less involving sonic character I became accustomed to hearing when running all of the stock power cables for a few days prior to the review.  I cannot explain why there is such a noticeable difference between power cables.  If the cable gauge, capacitance and resistance are all within a manufactures specifications for use with a particular component, why then is there a quantifiable difference in sonics when using a custom manufactured premium power cable?  Why aren't all manufactures of components including an upgraded cord with their equipment?  I guess if that were the case there wouldn't be a market for premium cables and great companies like Signal Cable would fail to exist.  Point of interest: Velodyne includes a Signal Cable Magic power cable with their $15,000 Signature 1812 subwoofer.

Video:

My TAW Rock+ processor and Sony HD200 satellite receiver are connected to a second PS Audio Ultimate Outlet.  I replaced the stock power cable between the second Ultimate Outlet and the wall outlet with a Signal Cable Magic power cable and noticed an overall increase in color vibrancy and image detail with a slight reduction of video signal noise from the two video components.  The Denon 2900 also looked noticeably richer in color and detail with the Signal Cable Digital HC cable installed.  While the improvements in video were not nearly as dramatic as the sonics, I strongly believe that video components can greatly benefit from an upgraded power cable.

Final Thoughts:

I am so impressed with the performance of the Signal Cable power cables that I've decided to part ways with all of my expensive PS Audio power cables in exchange for the identically performing lower cost Signal Cable products.  For the price and performance you simply cannot do much better than Signal Cable.  Highly Recommended!

Shane Mattson
Founder, Soundreproduction.com