ANALYSIS PLUS Power Oval 2

MJ01.03.2013

Power cables

Zvuk byl doslova třpytivý. Nejvíc ze všeho mi svou barevností připomínal mýdlovou bublinu za plného slunečního světla, na jedné straně plnou spektrálních odlesků, a na druhé nezastírající svou průhledností pohled posluchače. V rámci své (nízké) ceny je Oval Two velmi povedený napájecí kabel.

Function and form

96%
Ease of use
53%
Sound
80%
Appearance

Analysis Plus Power Oval Two (1.8m) is what one immediately visualizes behind a “high-end”cable – slim, silvery, it is immaculately built, very flexible despite its thickness and terminated with Wattgate connectors. I believe that the Wattgates are a sort of audiophile standard but if you prefer to fine tune up to perfection I can recommend trying some ultimate Furutech plugs to terminate the Power Oval Two.

What Analysis Plus's mastermind says about the technology?

"After many computer simulations and other exhaustive tests, our engineers determined that a hollow oval cable constituted the best possible conductor design.The primary advantage of an oval conductor design rather than cylindrical conductor geometry is that the oval shape allows more of the return current to be closer to the outgoing current, thus reducing the negative effects associated with excessive current bunching.
Since the center part of the conductor is not used at high frequencies, we can simply eliminate it. By using a hollow conductor, we help minimize the change in resistance with frequency and the cable becomes more efficient."

Bass management

Weight
90
Slam
78
Articulation
76

Clarity & delicacy

Detail
77
Air
80
Transparency
73

With the preamp the cable threw deeper soundstage than my reference cables (Nordost Valhalla) by changing sonic perspective – for example the grand piano was moved about 2-3 meters farther in the virtual soundstage by rounding a bit sharp transients in Shostakovich´s multi-miked ´First´(Shostakovich, Symphony #1 in F-minor, Op.10, Russian National Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski, Pentatone SACD) that was rendered in a more soothing and silky way. It was just the matter of circumstances and my mood whether I preferred more upfront and apparently sonically more precise Nordost´s presentation or more relaxing and forgiving Analysis Plus´s playback. You may know that Shostakovich composed the 1st Symphony when 19 years old as his university thesis – he used many experiments that, later in his creative life, would be suppressed by Soviet propaganda. Individual fragments of the fourth movement are glued with eruptions of orchestral tuttis that culminate into the final short and pathetic catharsis. It is the piano that flashes through the sonic walls (and Pentatone has succeeded in recording it with crystalline quality) and creates, at least to my ears, unforgettable listening experience. With the Oval Two the piano was perhaps a tad less transparent than through my reference, I liked its full-bodied sound however – this is the parameter that the Nordost has a tendency to make thinner.

Tonal accuracy

Timbre
72
Dynamics
80
Temporal resolution
80

Spatial resolution

Holography
80
Soundstage width
85
Soundstage depth
95

On the power amplifier the Oval Two outperformed the Valhalla with its verve and passion and a bit more physical bass (the more weighty presentation lent a solid fundament to cellos and basses), though it could not compete with the Valhalla´s spotlighting of detail and overall dynamics. If I found the Oval Two´s character soothing on both amplifiers, it came as a surprise that, when connected to the SACD, it provided sparkling sound. The sound acquired a ´soap bubble´quality – just imagine a soap bubble in full sunlight, bathed with all spectral colors yet fresh, transparent and shiny. I could have easily lived with the Power Ovel Two.

Price as reviewed:7 500,- Kč

Recommended resellers

Audiostudio s.r.o., Olomouc, tel. +420 608 752 475

Associated components

  • Sources: Accuphase DP-78
  • Amplifiers: Accuphase C-2410 and Accuphase A-60
  • Interconnects and speaker cables: Krautwire Fractal, Analysis Plus Oval 9, Analysis Plus Copper Oval-In, Analysis Plus Silver Oval, Cardas Clear, Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder, CrystalConnect Piccolo Diamond, Homegrown Audio DNA
  • Loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond
  • Power conditioning: Nordost Thor (modified), Nordost Valhalla, Shunyata Research Black Mamba HC CX, Python Z-tron and Cobra Z-tron, Snakeblock

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