I am not a cable guy. My investment has been low (on cables) until my recent upgrade to Audience Au24 (a pair of interconnects and digital). My reason for not spending as much could be (a) I am stingy when it comes to cables and (b) It is tricky trekking the wire jungle. The highest power cable I owned thus far is a used 6ft Aural Symphonics Espresso connected to CEC transport, the rest of my power cords are a mix bag of DIY (retiring the MIT Z-Cord) and stock ones. So, my reference point of cables especially a power cable are child’s play to some of you who have sampled high end models from cable only manufacturers.

Unlike the malnutrition looking Audience Au24 interconnects, my first sight of the Audience power cord named “PowerChord” is a pleasant surprise. Opening up the no frills, unassuming box and the transparent plastic packing (a one page, double sided marketing material included), the dark skinned body of this snake is exposed. It is relatively thick, smooth and flexible. The Hubbel hospital grade plug head and Wattgate tail add to the overall imposing presentation. I was told the Wattgate tail is not a regular feature in power cord design (read: expensive parts). Well, it looks good but can it deliver the goods?

With my seat belt fastened (in case I felt off my chair), I unplugged the humble but proven DIY power cord from my tube preamp and inserted the out of the box cord and listened. My first impression was no surprise - the background has substantially darkened, the image took at least a step back with more space between instruments, the tone is smooth and lessened the digital glare, its agility and texture have the Au24 signature sound all over it. Did I fall off my chair? No, I didn’t because my barometer has risen since embracing Au24 and furthermore this power cable is the priciest I’ve ‘played’ with, so some good mileage is expected.

Using track #4 of TAG Mclaren’s Test Track “This Love” confirms my impression of a lower noise floor as I can almost read the lips of the female solo vocal. I got better voice focus with the image solidly planted in the middle with studio ambience surfacing (previously undetected). Why such improvements? My unscientific analogy is listening in a quieter background is like looking through a clean window as compared to a tinted or dirty one, you can see clearer and farther without obstructions.

Next, drawing from my curiosity of the slam factor (other reviewers have noted this attribute), I put on Pink Floyd’s The Wall dynamics to the test. Another Brick In the Wall Part I has the essence of tightness, vibrancy, and bass control portrayed but I did not detect any extra weight in the slam department. I listened very attentively and so did my false ceiling (in my music room). She didn’t buzz any longer at troubling lows than my previous cable. Perhaps, this attribute could surface given a longer run-in period but I am happy should this authority not show up as I felt the cable has the right balance and furthermore, this would be quite un-Au24.

I was not able to satisfactorily A/B test this cord with my transport because my CDT would take forever to sound good again after it has been switched off to switch cables (something like days?). However, I did have a A/B session with the cord linked to a Theta transport in another setup (replacing the NBS DragonFly) registering the same, consistent impressions.

Audience PowerChord is not an entry-level component but neither is it priced at the high-end realm. At this point, I cannot say if it is a giant killer and I could probably tell you if I have one or more similarly priced (or higher) power cords to compare. Nevertheless, this is the most potent, venomous snake I’ve come across and watch your step if you are nearing this pit. This chord is easy to pluck (in) and could take a therapy to unplug.