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Dynamic Design AnnaLyric PC-1 Power Cord

Dynamic Design AnnaLyric PC-1 Power Cord

Since 2000, the Chicago-based cable company Dynamic Design has offered three levels of power cord and cable products—the mid-priced Lotus Series, the premium Heritage Series, and the lofty Nebula series (see my review in Issue 245). Now, to accommodate first-time users (and upgraders bumping up against a budget) Dynamic Design has introduced the AnnaLyric PC-1, which checks in at a modest $400. (Dynamic Design uses direct-only sales to keep costs down.)

The AnnaLyric PC-1 uses a PEEK jacket (a semi-crystalline, high-temperature thermoplastic not unlike Teflon). Inside are eleven-gauge stranded bi-metal conductors, plus Dynamic Design’s own Multi-Layer Insulation System and multiple shields. These technologies are similar to the Dynamic Design Lotus AE15 power cord and intended to lower EMI/RFI. Termination quality appears to be excellent, and the brass connectors are heavy-gauge.

Sonically, a good many of DD’s strengths have migrated over to the PC-1 pretty much intact. It easily betters most original equipment cables with finer dynamic gradations, stronger, more focused images, and a weightier overall balance. Imaging performance is very stable, and timbres have some of the dark richness that I admired in the Lotus and Heritage models, though the PC-1’s overall character is just a little lighter in color. This said, bass is still solid with a nice balance of pitch and control.

The PC-1 isn’t additive in the aggressive sense of edge detail or etchiness. Rather, there are only minor sonic subtractions compared to its more elite siblings. For instance, backgrounds are not as inky black as those of my reference cords, and the complexities of soundstage depth and general spatiality are modestly reduced. As I listened to Britten’s Serenade, for example, the singer and accompanying lute inhabited the soundspace but not with the full breadth or immersiveness that I get with the pricier stuff.

Overall the AnnaLyric is a no-brainer bargain and joins the Shunyata Venom HC as a personal fave. It’s a strong effort that I would place high on my list of worthy upgrades.

DYNAMIC DESIGN CORPORATION
dynamicdesignav.com
Price: $400/5 ft. (also available in 15- and 20-amp configurations in standard metric lengths)

By Neil Gader

My love of music largely predates my enthusiasm for audio. I grew up Los Angeles in a house where music was constantly playing on the stereo (Altecs, if you’re interested). It ranged from my mom listening to hit Broadway musicals to my sister’s early Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Beatles, and Stones LPs, and dad’s constant companions, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. With the British Invasion, I immediately picked up a guitar and took piano lessons and have been playing ever since. Following graduation from UCLA I became a writing member of the Lehman Engel’s BMI Musical Theater Workshops in New York–working in advertising to pay the bills. I’ve co-written bunches of songs, some published, some recorded. In 1995 I co-produced an award-winning short fiction movie that did well on the international film-festival circuit. I was introduced to Harry Pearson in the early 70s by a mutual friend. At that time Harry was still working full-time for Long Island’s Newsday even as he was writing Issue 1 of TAS during his off hours. We struck up a decades-long friendship that ultimately turned into a writing gig that has proved both stimulating and rewarding. In terms of music reproduction, I find myself listening more than ever for the “little” things. Low-level resolving power, dynamic gradients, shadings, timbral color and contrasts. Listening to a lot of vocals and solo piano has always helped me recalibrate and nail down what I’m hearing. Tonal neutrality and presence are important to me but small deviations are not disqualifying. But I am quite sensitive to treble over-reach, and find dry, hyper-detailed systems intriguing but inauthentic compared with the concert-going experience. For me, true musicality conveys the cozy warmth of a room with a fireplace not the icy cold of an igloo. Currently I split my time between Santa Fe, New Mexico and Studio City, California with my wife Judi Dickerson, an acting, voice, and dialect coach, along with border collies Ivy and Alfie.

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