Let's go back to the summer of 1992, when Ken, Patricia, Roy, and I, all in college, decided to take a drive from San Francisco, down the central California coast. In those pre-internet and pre-cellphone days, we did not exactly have concrete, definitive, or detailed plans. We just decided to start on a Friday, set aside the weekend, and remain open to extending the trip beyond that.

We did not know when or where we'd turn around. Or maybe we'd keep going, and eventually visit our friends who were then living in Los Angeles. We did make a point of having handfuls of loose change, in case we had to use pay phones (remember those?), or feed parking meters. And no, we did not know about Ethernet cables with RJ45 connectors.

Not having Cable Cooker adapters to treat Ethernet cables is like hopping into an empty car, low on gas, and not having any clothes, maps, money, snacks, toiletries, and water. You ain't going anywhere.

But what if you have a Cooker, and then get generic RCA/RJ45 adapters? Ah, now you've taken the Big Step, equipped yourself with drinks, jackets, maps, slippers, snacks, and a full tank of gas. IOW, now you are ready and able to get up and go. Instead of being relegated to your garage, your road trip now has possibilities. You have the power to go places.

Using the audiodharma Ethernet adapter is like adding Patricia's practical, "just right" preparations. Let me explain.

Our road trip involved going out into the fog, cool nights, rocks, shifting and blowing sands, salty ocean spray, summer sun, frigid and turbulent waters, and wind. Smartly, Patricia packed old, casual, raggedy, lightweight, and comfortable clothing. Instead of keeping or hanging on to it, her intention was to wear a piece of clothing once, and then discard it. Indeed, on that first night, before hopping into the shower, Patricia threw away the dirty and tattered socks, tank top, bra, shorts, and panties she had worn earlier that day. By discarding her no-longer-needed/wanted clothes, she lightened the load, and opened up space [the four of us crammed into an early-90s 2-door Honda Civic hatchback] for stuff bought or picked up during the trip.

Before boarding the car, Ken and Roy hastily hoarded a pile of trial-sized toiletries. But Patricia was much more thoughtful and practical. First, she decided what not to bring. Before embarking on the trip, Patricia shaved, and said she didn't care if she had to go a week without shaving. Then she cut her nails. Thus, she left behind her razor, shaving cream, aftershave lotion, fingernail clipper, and nail file. Since we were going to hit the coast, and weren't going out anywhere fancy, Patricia decided not to bring her conditioner, lotion, makeup, mouthwash, and tweezer.

Patricia did not want to rely entirely on hotel soaps and shampoo. At the same time, she wanted to have enough to last a few days, in case our trip extended that long. She started with a single plastic travel soap dish, which enclosed her partially-used bar of soap [Neutrogena glycerin, if you must know]. Instead of lugging her family's Costco-sized shampoo, she brought a smaller (~10.5 oz.) half-used bottle [Herbal Essences, I think]. Again, 'twas enough to last maybe a week, but without weighing her down, and without having to mess, fumble, and get frustrated with teeny tiny trial-size products. Likewise, Patricia packed a rolled-up, half-used tube of toothpaste. Instead of bringing a new toothbrush, she simply brought her currently-used one.

Moreover, the rest of Patricia's toiletries did not take up a lot of space: dental floss, a handful of Q-tips, one comb, a skinny stick of lip balm, and Secret deodorant (sniffing her armpits, she'd complain, "Strong enough for a man, my ass!"). She easily fit all of her toiletries, maxi-pads, band-aids, small tube of sunscreen, and a couple of scrunchies, into a soft knitted tote bag, which was wedged on that small floor hump between the Civic's center console and backseat.

The audiodharma Ethernet adapter gets rid of even more grain, enabling the cable to pass audio and video signals more cleanly. In the case of the AudioQuest Forest RJ/E, music doesn't sound as fizzy and rough. This greatly helps, when the source is kind of sketchy, for example, when you are listening to scratchy MP3s. It's like having enough toiletries, to keep you clean on your road trip.

The audiodharma Ethernet adapter allows the Chord Company C-Stream cable to shrug, "Nothing you don't need." It's like Patricia prepping herself on the morning before embarking, and leaving the dead weight at home. This allows the C-Stream to preserve image size, without getting bloated and ill-defined. Like Patricia getting rid of her old and worn-out clothes, this keeps out the grain riding along the signal, without discarding any of the actual resolution.

Ken attended San Jose State; Patricia labored at San Francisco State; Roy toiled at City College; and I slogged through UC Santa Cruz. By going to four separate schools, we did indeed discuss how they differed. And that reminds me. By removing distortions, the audiodharma adapter allows each Cooked Ethernet cable to show its true self. And when it goes between router and satellite TV receiver, you get to analyze, compare, and debate each one's audio AND video performances.

With the C-Stream cable, chartreuse and fluorescent colors unnaturally stick out. With the Forest RJ/E, video imaging and motion aren't as smooth as they should be. The Vodka RJ/E does the best job of holding the colors, layers, and letters together.

So. Are you going to prepare for your road trip, by stocking up on the right types and quantities of supplies? Do you want to enjoy the trip, and take in all there is to see, smell, and hear? Do you want to see and hear exactly what your Ethernet cables are capable of passing? Then get and use the audiodharma Ethernet adapters.

Before we cover the effects of powercords on the Simaudio 820S, do not forget about its own stock OEM cord. As long as you Cook it, you will be ahead of the game. Its errors are subtractive, shrinking the images, leaving out some of the music's color and verve, and reining in the soundstage. But nothing is out of balance, which is more than we can say about most after-market powercords.

The Cooked stock powercord doesn't interfere with the snap of percussion. It keeps snare drum in focus. Thus, PRAT is excellent.

The Simaudio 820S with Cooked stock powercord does even more for the 750D than, for example, a Cooked and cryo'd Pranawire Maha Samadhi M1/F1.

But we must press on, so let us begin checking out some after-market powercords, all of which have been properly burned-in on an audiodharma Cable Cooker.

First up is the Acrolink 6N-P4030 with Oyaide P/C-046 connectors. Although there is greater contrast between music and silence, the overall sound is jiggly. The music doesn't move smoothy, plus the images aren't anchored within their own spaces. Some of the music's stomp is lost. Versus other parts of the bass spectrum, the midbass is too prominent, sticks out from the mix.

With the Tara Labs RSC Decade AC, images have no edge definition. They blur and meld into each other, with little to no space between them. Music isn't incisive, and drums lack pop. Listeners wish for sparkle, transparency, and air. "Blended" sums up the RSC Decade AC.

When you move up to the Pranawire Satori CF, you want to exhale, "Now we're getting somewhere." Music is not as distorted and warped. It retains its command and power. The sound is dark, mid-centered, and chunky. However, due to the Acrolink CF plugs, the treble, though finely filigreed, is rolled-off.

The Pranawire Vajra CF is even cleaner than the Satori CF. The Vajra does not directly address the rolled-off treble. However, by lessening the fat in the mids and bass, overall, the music is better-proportioned.

Ah, by switching to the Pranawire Maha Samadhi with Oyaide M1/F1 plugs, the treble is restored. Nor is the air sucked out. Clearly, the 820S prefers the M1/F1 plugs, for their treble extension and breath. And because the 820S is inherently tight and grippy in the entire bass spectrum, the Maha Samadhi's tendency towards soft midbass is kept in check. Just as the Maha Samadhi M1/F1 complimented the solo 750D, it works well with the 820S.

Now that you have seen the ins and outs of the Simaudio 820S, let's hook it up.

All complementary components will use at least the "analog DC power" connection. Our 610LP phonostage used just this one connection.

In addition to the "analog DC power" connection, the 740P, 650D, 750D, and 780D also utilize a "digital DC power" connection.

The 820S, thankfully, uses a regular 15-amp powercord.

Now that you have made these connections, here is the power-up sequence:

1.) flick the 820S' rear-panel rocker switch.
2.) press the 820S' Standby button.
3.) press the connected component's Standby button.

The power-down sequence is the opposite.

Once you figure out what you are doing with the Simaudio 820S' two fuses, put back the black metal internal case, and the chassis' top plate. This unit has been across the U.S., in multiple homes. It does not generate heat. You have to leave the cover off, and put your ears right up to the electronic components, in order to hear any noise. Thank goodness.

There is not much to say, about the 820S' front. You can order an 820S in all-black (Gross); "Two-tone" silver cheeks with black middle faceplate (Because my audio friend originally had a unit in this half-assed and ugly pattern, he did not keep it); or nice-looking all-silver (Yes!). Otherwise, the front panel features just a Standby button, and a blue-colored power indicator light.

Like other Evolution series models, the 820S features ribbed sides. "Professional" reviewers neglect to tell readers that, if you keep a Simaudio Evolution model, dust can and will accumulate within these side ribs. Getting the dust out is tricky and difficult.