Today's Fresh Catch are the exotic new Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cords, RCA Absolute FM Interconnects, and PC-TripleC/EX Headshell Leads.

I always get excited when new Acoustic Revive products arrive from Mr. Ken Ishiguro (Acoustic Revive) via Mr. Yoshi Hontani (Muson Project, Exporter), as Acoustic Revive products always have an extreme level of quality materials, technical ingenuity, a  beautiful fit & finish, and with performance to match!

Ken Ishiguro is always researching how to create higher performing audio products by exploring exotic new approaches through advances materials science and technology, and through extreme attention to detail and quality.

The New Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cords

The new Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cable.

Let me tell you about the features of the new Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cord, like the new "Degawa method MD unit", which is the large cylinder you see in the photos surrounding the power cord.

The Degawa method MD unit.

The new Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cord is similar to the Power Reference TripleC NCF AC power cords that I reviewed HERE, with the most obvious difference being the addition of the Degawa method MD unit that surrounds the cable at its mid-point.

Ken-san tells me the Degawa method MD unit is a magnetic thermal fluctuation noise suppressor.

You will see thermal fluctuations noise variously referred to as Johnson-Nyquist noise, Johnson noise, or Nyquist noise, after John B. Johnson at Bell Labs who first detected and measured it in 1926, and which was then later explained by Johnson's colleague, Harry Nyquist.

Thermal fluctuation noise is generated as a result of thermal agitation of electrons as a function of resistance and temperature as current flows through a conductor in an electrical circuit. Thermal fluctuation noise is present in all circuits to one degree or another, and there has long been research into reducing it for improved circuit performance, particularly related to the ability to make the precision measurements needed for scientific research.

For example, in scientific research equipment passive magnetic shields are routinely used to create a region in space that is magnetically isolated from their surroundings to allow for more precise measurements by reducing thermal fluctuation noise, and essentially this is what the Degawa method MD unit does on the Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cord.

Ken-san tells me that with the Degawa method MD unit consists of a "tunnel-like structure unit in which a plurality of specially shaped magnets are alternately combined, then this unit is covered with a blend of natural ore particles".

The Degawa method MD unit encircles the power cord, and when AC power flows through the power cord into the magnetically isolated space created by the Degawa method MD unit the thermal magnetic noise is suppressed, resulting in lower noise being transmitted from the AC power line into the audio system circuits for an improvement in performance of the circuit.

It is my understanding that the Degawa method MD unit is in the initial stages of the patent process in Japan.

Another feature of the Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cord is the PC-TripleC 2.8 x 2.4 mm oval single-wire conductors, the same conductors as used in the Power Reference TripleC NCF power cords that I reviewed last year.

Allow me to quote Ken-san from that review:

"The ideal cable is one that is not diminished by transmission loss or alteration. There are no cables that will improve sound quality, rather it is only by reducing transmission loss and transmission alteration that more of the original sound quality can come through."

"In order to eliminate transmission loss and transmission alteration, Acoustic Revive jointly developed with various specialized material manufacturers the ideal cable structure."

"In particular, we use a single core conductor of PC-TripleC in an elliptical shape, which excludes resonance inherent to a single wire, that is created for us by the world's best forging manufacturing method by FCM Co., Ltd." I might add the the PC-TripleC wire is oxygen free wire

"We jointly developed a flexible Teflon coated copper tube to use as a shield, which provides ease of handling with complete shielding characteristics. For inside the shield we collaborated with Eisai to develop a natural silk tube that we use to separate the conductors and suppress vibration by combining dissimilar materials."

Additionally, Ken-san says that the Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cord is "... equipped with a natural quartz layer which controls the electromagnetic waves during transmission and creates an organic and fresh sound with texture."

The final layer is a protective sheath made of carbon SF tubing, whose purpose is to neutralize static electricity effects and to provide a double shielding effect for the power cord.

The conductors are terminated with the NCF(R) Piezo Ceramic Series of Furutech AC plugs, the FI-50M NCF(R) on the wall outlet end (above), and the FI-50 NCF(R) IEC plug for connecting to components (below).

Here's what Furutech says about their FI-50 NCF Rhodium series of plugs:

"Furutech's Pure Transmission FI-50 NCF Piezo Ceramic series connector bodies and housings feature several breakthrough construction techniques."

"A multilayer nonmagnetic stainless steel and silver-plated carbon fiber shell incorporates a special damping and insulating acetal copolymer. Furutech settled on stainless and silver-plated carbon fiber for the outer housing after extensive listening sessions with Japanese industry figures and audiophiles."

"The body of the connectors incorporates an "active" damping material: Nano Crystal² Formula—Nano Crystalline, Ceramic and Carbon Powder."

"Incorporated into select Furutech products, Nano Crystal² Formula (NCF) is comprised of a special crystalline material that has two "active" properties. First, it generates negative ions that eliminate static and secondly, it converts thermal energy into far-infrared. Furutech then combines this remarkable crystalline material with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder for their additional "Piezo Effect" damping properties. The resulting Nano Crystal Formula is the ultimate electrical and mechanical damping material - only found in Furutech products!"

"Nano Crystal Formula eliminates static, "interconverts" thermal, mechanical and electrical energy and damps vibrations - all for the finest Furutech Pure Transmission signal imaginable."

"How far will Furutech's engineers go in their attempts to reach Pure Transmission reference quality? Their concentrated examination of each and every element of signal transfer has resulted in another breakthrough technology, the Furutech Earth/Ground Jumper System. It eliminates EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) induced in metal parts like connector housing screws."

"Current flowing through the power connector creates a magnetic field, just as an insulated conductor creates both electromagnetic and electrostatic fields. Furutech engineers found this magnetic field induces current flow (and a small magnetic field) in the screws holding the connector together! These magnetic fields interfere with the larger magnetic field around the conductor and connector."

"Furutech's total attention to detail and elegant engineering neatly solves the problem. The Earth/Ground Jumper System connects the securing screws to a ground terminal within the plug completely eliminating the field disturbances they cause. The stray fields are grounded by a series of interlocking parts within the connector that attach to the ground conductor. The Jumper System is available in Furutech NEMA Power and IEC Connectors. The Earth/Ground Jumper System Carries US Patent No. 6,669,491″

Essentially, the Furutech FI-50 NCF Rhodium power plugs are mini-components all by themselves, and are intended to be the power plug equivalents of the Sirens of Greek mythology, power plugs that lure in audiophiles with their enchanting musical voices and shipwreck our perceptions of what a power plug can do. Beware, if you listen to their Siren song your fate may be sealed!

Just one look & touch of the Furutech FI-50 NCF Rhodium power plugs pretty much awes me, they're nice!

The PC-Triple C conductors are joined to the NCF(R) Piezo Ceramic Furutech AC plugs using a screw fastening method that Acoustic Revive developed with Matsukin Co., Ltd., which eliminates the sound quality degradation of solder.

I've got two of the Acoustic Revive Absolute Power Cords getting some run-in time in my Tannoy Westminster Royal SE-based audio system, with one on Nelson's First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier that is in for review, and the second connecting the Acoustic Revive RPT-6 Absolute NCF Power Distributor to my wall outlet. A third Absolute Power Cord is getting some run-in time in my vintage Altec Corona 832A-based audio system.

The New Acoustic Revive RCA Absolute FM Interconnects

The Acoustic Revive RCA Absolute FM Interconnects utilize the new PC-Triple C/EX forged hybrid silver-copper conductors.

The new PC-Triple C/EX conductor is a unique affair, and in very simplistic terms it is 5N purity grade silver tubing with a 5N purity grade copper conductor running through its center. These silver/copper conductors are then forged via the compressive forces of being drawn through a die to form a single-wire conductor.

Ken-san says about the forging process, "The PC-Triple C/EX conductor was developed by FCM and Promotion Works, and is a breakthrough in which the current flows in both the silver and copper crystal structures while firmly integrating 5N grade silver and 5N grade copper by a forging manufacturing method into a single conductor. Its conduction rate is 105% IACS of copper alone, and it is no exaggeration to say that it has already reached superconductivity. At Acoustic Revive, this PC-Triple C/EX is adopted as a single wire with the maximum manufacturing diameter, which makes it possible to reproduce ultra-wide range with unprecedented transmission speed."

A quick note from me about "superconductivity" to those who have might not have experience with the topic: Being involved with projects using superconducting wires and materials at the US national scientific laboratory I worked at as a physical scientist before I retired, I can tell you that Ken-san is not saying that the PC-Triple C/EX conductor is a "superconductor" in the scientific sense of the word (i.e. in a superconductor the resistance drops to zero when the material is cooled below its critical temperature), as at this point in time a room-temperature superconducting material does not exist. Rather, Ken-san is saying that the PC-Triple C/EX forged silver-copper hybrid conductor is a "super" conductor in terms that it exceeds the IACS rating of pure copper, which is defined as 100%, and matches the IACS rating of pure silver at 105%. I mention this to clarify as I didn't want what Ken-san is saying to be misunderstood as a scientific claim of room temperature superconductivity.

Acoustic Revive commissioned custom high-performance RCA plugs manufactured by the Matsukin Company for use in the RCA Absolute FM Interconnect. They feature a vibration damping structure composed of duralumin (a hard, light alloy of aluminum with copper and other elements) and brass, and carbon fiber. The metal structure has a non-magnetic silver-rhodium plating. The plug's electrode is made of a tellurium copper alloy, which offers a conductivity of 57% instead of the more typical 38% of a brass electrode. These RCA plugs also incorporates screw fasteners for the conductors instead of soldered joints, so there no conduction deterioration due to solder (below).

Ken-san says, "Finally, we jointly developed a new screw fastening method with Matsukin Co., Ltd., which eliminates the sound quality degradation of solder."

The "FM" in the product name of the Acoustic Revive RCA Absolute FM Interconnects comes from the use of FINEMET® beads in their design. FINEMET® beads are composed of a nanocrystalline soft magnetic material for noise suppression, and you can see in the graphic below the level of noise suppression they offer.

In the graphic below you can see a cross section of the construction of the Acoustic Revive RCA Absolute FM Interconnects.

Working from inside to outside of the diagram above, you can see the PC-Triple C/EX forged silver-copper hybrid solid-core wires coated with a fluorine based insulating material. The conductors reside within natural silk tubing which provides an air dielectric layer and damping for the conductors. The next layer is flexible copper tubing coated in Teflon that provides shielding. The outer layer is high-carbon mesh tubing that provides additional shielding and an antistatic effect.

I'll be putting them in my vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre loudspeaker-based audio-visual system in the near future for some run-in time.

The New Acoustic Revive Absolute PC-Triple C/EX Lead Wires

If you've never had a chance to try high-performance headshell leads yet, you're in for a treat one of these days, as they can make a remarkable difference, and as much a difference as high-performance power cords, speaker cables, or interconnects can!

The new Acoustic Revive Absolute PC-Triple C/EX Lead Wires leads use the same PC-TripleC /EX forged hybrid silver-copper conductors, but in a Teflon insulation in a 1mm gauge appropriate to headshell leads. The cartridge clips are made by the Matsukin Company in Tomioka City.

About the lead wires, Ken-san says, "The Absolute PC-Triple C/EX lead wires are manufactured by Mr. Shingo Tadasawa of KS-REMASTA who is a lead wire artisan."

Suffice it to say that Mr. Shingo Tadasawa has turned building headshell lead wires using exotic wire - like the PC-Triple C/EX - into an art form, and he has created quite a sensation in Japan with audio enthusiasts and music lovers for his lead wires' high-performance musical & sonic attributes. I wish that my photo did them justice - they are beautifully made.

Having built quite a number of tinned-copper lead wires myself, I can attest how difficult it can be to get the sort of beautiful result that Mr. Shingo Tadasawa of KS-REMASTA has achieved with his lead wires.

If you search on "Mr. Shingo Tadasawa of KS-REMASTA" you'll find mini-reviews on various Japanese web sites of his lead wires - they are works of musical art!

I've got four other components in my review queue ahead of these new Acoustic Revive Absolute cable products, so it will be some months before their full review appears at Positive Feedback.

However, as is my custom, I will blogging my impressions of them as I proceed towards their full review, and it's likely you'll see them making appearances in the upcoming reviews of the First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier, the Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III phonograph cartridge, and the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier, for example.

For more information about Acoustic Revive products in the USA please contact Mr. Joe Cohen at The Lotus Group. The USA pricing information for the Acoustic Revive cables are as follows:

• The Absolute Power Cords in 2-meter length are $11,950 USD, with additional length by quote.
• The RCA Absolute FM Interconnects are $11,950 USD for a 1-meter pair, and each additional 1/2 meter adds $5250 USD.
• The PC-TripleC/EX Headshell Leads are $1075 USD for a set.

Ok, that's it for now, and as always thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!