June 19, 2017
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Simaudio 820S, Part 10
Because of the 820S' resolving powers, it is unforgiving of the usual colored audiophile after-market powercords. The most economical thing to do is simply to Cook the stock OEM powercord. Regardless of price, get yourself a neutral powercord, which will then allow you to discern the effects of the 820S' two fuses.
The F2 fuse is the more challenging to get right, so I recommend leaving that one alone initially. So let us start with the "F1" position, which sounds kinky, but isn't.
In either direction, the Synergistic Research Quantum Red restores the music's energy. However, images lack focus and edge definition. Though the sound is fast enough, it lacks snap and pop. When the Red faces left, bass is tighter, but vocalists sound like they have a cold. Many of you will prefer the 820S' OEM fuse over the Red.The Synergistic Research Black is a quieter version of the Red. If you really, Really, REALLY need the tonal balance (these SR fuses preserve treble extension), then get the Black.
The Hi-Fi Tuning Gold sounds "nice," but boring. It lacks air and transparency. For better grip, make the Gold face left. For a warm, marshmallow tone, make it face right (as pictured above).Hi-Fi Tuning's Supreme doesn't have that stupid warmth of the Gold, but tonally, is a bit bulbous. In many instances, you'll notice a mild but unwarranted excess of lower treble and midbass.
Of the after-market fuses we have for the 820S, the discontinued Hi-Fi Tuning Silverstar has the lowest price. Yet, in many sonic ways, it is the most honest. It does a better job at preserving: image focus and outlines, resolution, tonal balance, and control. Like all fuses, it is directional. When facing to your left, the Silverstar is open, fast, and detailed, and does a good job at presenting the contrast between music and background. When facing to your right, the Silverstar allows the 820S to be more coherent, with less loss of body in the mid-treble. And if your 820S is feeding a 750D, this last quality is critical.
Here's where listeners can't stop laughing. Are you willing to fork over $175? When it arrives, are you willing to wait 3 months for it to burn-in? Are you okay with giving up soundstaging and razor-sharp image outlines? Then try the Audio Magic Beeswax (the Premier is pictured above) fuses.With an Audio Magic Beeswax fuse in the F1 slot, the 820S allows its downstream components to reveal instruments' textures, without resorting to coloration. Music isn't as snappy and punctual as with, for example, the HFT Silverstar, but it is not slow. It has nice flow, without stutter or jitter. There is a nice absence of edge, jaggedness, thinness, static, wind, tipsiness, bitterness, exaggerated sweetness, and metallic aftertaste. We keep coming back to the flavor or texture of the instruments, which sound, well, more like themselves. When listeners get themselves to stop their giddy giggling, they liken the Beeswaxed 820S to a carpet steam-cleaning, freshly-baked food, or that exfoliating full-body sea salt scrub in the large plastic sheet.
