We decided to create an uncompromising power cable of the highest class, the one that would meet not only our excessive demands, but also those of other music lovers.

source: Verictum

henever one reads such a declaration one has to expect something very special.

A power cable Demiurg is offered by Verictum, company that our Readers already know since we'd reviewed their passive EMI/RFI filters X Block and ground filters X Bulk. One has to see these products, their packaging to fully understand what kind of products they are.

This cable is made upon order. Lead time is quite long – one has to accept 30 to 90 days delivery time. Demiurg is delivered in a cardboard box with foam filling. Inside one finds a metal box, that looks a bit like a tool box, with a combination lock and company's logo on its cover. Inside it is lined with foam and contains the power cable, a special oil for wood, a piece of cloth and a certificate with a hologram.

Do you remember a scene from a 2003 movie, Love Actually, where the clerk (played by Rowan Atkinson) in a jewelry shop packs a pendant in a gift wrap? This scene makes me laugh each time I see it, but in fact it is how exclusive products should be sold like. That's how they sell watches and yachts. It is an important part of product's image and it's a good thing that audio manufacturers noticed that too. It's not only about product itself but also about its presentation, its image and packaging is an important element of that image. I hope other manufacturers will take similar approach.

Demiurg, according to manufacturer's declaration, was designed and made in Poland, except for Japanese, rhodium-plated plugs - Furutech FI-E50(R) and FI-50(R) PIEZO CERAMIC. Instead of using some of-the-shell conductor for this cable, company designed their own using 4N silver 24K gold-plated.

This conductor is custom made in limited batches. It is not made in a form of spool, but in dedicated sections of specific lengths. Those particular sections are then combined into the final length of Demiurg. The Demiurg’s silver conductor comes into being during a properly designed treatment and shaped into correct geometrical form.

The next stage is a lengthy cryogenic process with the use of nitrogen. It’s being conducted in lab conditions controlled by a computer. It’s keeping the very precise, low temperature with no variations during dozens of hours, and controls the process of warming the conductor to the room temperature. Each conductor is then carefully hand polished with the use of the highest quality jeweler’s polishing apparatus.

Another important element designed by the manufacturer for this cable is a specific, passive anti-noise filter in a wooden box placed over the cable. One can find similar boxes in products of such brands as Vertex AQ, Harmonix, Transparent Audio, MIT and others. Each of them is different of course. In this case filter does not interrupt the cable’s strands, and it is also not connected with them. The casing of the filter, which is the integral part of Demiurg, is made of a selected exotic merbau wood. Although merbau is known for its resistance and longevity, and even called the “molucca iron wood” it’s far from being as resistant as iron.

The process of wood selection begins with buying seasoned logs. Next the logs are cut to proper shapes, which are further precisely milled with CNC into two complicated elements forming the box. Wood contrary to metal works in response to outer conditions, like changes in temperature or humidity, that is why the elements of the box are appropriately thick. Pieces with the same tint and color and first of all of the same figure are chosen, since the box is to look uniform and be a real ornament of the cable. After milling of the two elements of the box, logo is being milled. At the end the casing is hand polished.

The box on the Demiurg cable is its integral part so one can't disassemble it to check what's inside. Manufacturer does not reveal what exactly is inside this box but I guess they used similar elements as those utilized for X Block.

I compared Demiurg to three other cables: Acrolink Mexcel 7N-PC9500, Crystal Cable The Absolute Dream and Harmonix X-DC350M2R Improved-Version. I performed an ABA and AB comparisons with A and B known. I used to power Ancient Audio Lektor AIR V-edition CD Player and Soulution 710 power amplifier.

This is a very stiff cable – it takes some time before it 'settles' in a system. This large wooden box should rest on some surface, not hang above it. I suggest placing it on some solid surface – in my case it was Acoustic Revive TB-38H platform placed on top of Finite Elemente Pagode Edition.

Recordings used for the test (a selection):

• Adam Bałdych & Helge Lien Trio, Bridges, ACT Music + Vision ACT 9591-2, Promo CD (2015)
• Bach, Violin Concertos, dyr. Yehudi Menuhin, EMI/Hi-Q Records HIQXRCD9, XRCD24, CD (1960/2013)
• Danielsson, Dell, Landgren, Salzau Music On The Water, ACT Music + Vision ACT 9445-2, CD (2006)
• Depeche Mode, Enjoy The Music....04, Mute XLCDBONG34, maxi-SP (2004)
• Enya, Dark Sky Island, Aigle Music | Warner Music UK/Warner Music Japan WPCR-17045, CD (2015)
• Kankawa, Organist, T-TOC Records UMVD-0001-0004, "Ultimate Master Vinyl", 4 x 45 rpm 180 g LP + CD-RIIα + 24/192 WAV;
• Pat Metheny Group, Offramp, ECM/Universal Music K.K. UCCU-9543, “Jazz The Best No. 43”, gold-CD (1982/2004)
• Pat Metheny Group, Offramp, ECM/Universal Music K.K. UCCE-9144, SHM-CD (1982/2008)
• Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto, Verve/Lasting Impression Music LIM K2HD 036, K2HD Mastering, “24 Gold Direct-from-Master Edition UDM”, CD-R (1964/2009)

Japanese issues available at

„For the first time since mixing the material at Hansa Tone Studios in Berlin had I the opportunity to listen to my album on such a supreme audio system. During recordings we used an analogue SSL mixer, tube preamps and microphones of the highest quality, all to get this audiophile quality of the material being recorded. While listening on a system supported by all Verictum products, led by Demiurg power cable, I’ve had an impression of communing with a live band one on one. Every tiny articulation detail we utilized during playing, even those on the verge of silence, was audible. Also the sounds of similar register coming from other instruments had their own space and did not overlap each other. I’m glad that the hard work we put into recording an album of the highest possible quality of sound did not go to waste, since there is an audio system, which is capable of doing justice to the effects of our work.”

Adam Bałdych

The album "BRIDGES" was released on ACT Music 28 August 2015 year.

My first contact with Helge Lien Trio's music happened in 2009. In April I reviewed the Hello Troll album that was released as hi-res 24/96 FLAC files by Linn Records and gave it the 'Reference' grade in terms of sound quality'. It was obvious already back then that these guys played great music but also that they cared about sound quality of their release. Their latest ACT release offers the same high quality. No wonder that our Polish violinist was so happy about it – he heard a great recording played by a fantastic audio system that included outstanding components including Demiurg.

This is the first power cord made by Verictum, but they began with the top, exclusive model. Such an approach requires a certain preparation in form of knowledge and experience. It'd be much easier to start with simpler, less expensive model and then work on improving it. This is method practiced by most manufacturers but it takes a lot of time – a designer learns from his own mistakes and keeps working on making his designs better.

I am sure that guys from Verictum will eventually make even better cable. That's how audio business works. But I wouldn't hold my breath either as what is offered now is already very special. It presents same level of performance as the top Acrolink, Crystal Cable or fantastic Harmonix. Each of these cables has its own sonic signature. All belong to the 'top-high-end' category. The choice between them depends on user's preferences and on his whole setup. I have no idea how Verictum managed to join the 'premier league' already with their first model.

Demiurg's sound quality is defined by its remarkable selectivity and its ability to present even smallest changes of dynamics and rhythm, its ability to deliver all, even tiniest details, that with other cables seems to be hidden somewhere under other, more distinct elements.

One might say that Demiurg's tonal balance shifts towards upper part of the range. This impression is created by this remarkably detailed sound. There seem to be more details and leading edge is faster, tauter. Percussion cymbals are very fast and 'gold' which excludes any sort of actual brightness – at this performance level brightness doesn't happen. These qualities confirmed also when I listened to piano (Helge Lien) and vibes (Christopher Dell).

I think this cable is so special because of purity of the sound and remarkable definition. The other cables I compared it to are also great in these respect and I didn't think there was any room for improvement until I did head-to-head with Demiurg. At first this difference seems insignificant, difficult to even notice. But once you catch it doing quick comparison it will become obvious that this might be a reason to pick one or the other of these cables.

Despite this first impression of tonal balance shift one can't really complain about bass extension, although again the first impression might suggest that. The point is that Polish cable seems to deliver 'quieter' sound. Yes, I know it is not possible according to laws of physics, but there is this thing called psycho-acoustics.

Cables I compared Demiurg to offer more expansive sound with Harmonix being a leader in this respect. There is an emphasis in the lower midrange and upper bass which results in more tangible phantom images presented closer to the listener, richer, rounder. Demiurg shows events on the stage from some distance, without any signs of emphasis in the lower midrange/upper bass, which creates this impression of 'quieter' sound. When comparing Verictum with other cables one should slightly (1-2 dB) volume level for this power cord. It will prove that its performance is more dynamic. One should do the same when comparing 16 and 24 bit files.

There is something that attracts attention. One can easily hear that when listening to jazz, rock and electronic music, like, for example, Depeche Mode remixes. Other cables' performance seems, in comparison, more round, massive. Demiurg's bass is not that rich, but it's better extended and defined, especially in the lowest end. It is clear when listening to both, double bass and electric bass, and electronic one too.

What some might like better about these other cables is more advanced 'integrity' of their performance. They offer bit less detail, a tad lesser control, and their dynamics is not as perfectly differentiated. But the integrity, coherence of their performance is bit better. Demiurg presents soundstage with great clarity. The main focus, the essence of the presentation lays in the middle of the stage, left and right sides are filled with details. With Acrolink, Crystal Cable and Harmonix this middle, more 'essential' part of the stage seems wider and deeper. And phantom images are better defined which results in more tangible sound.

Summary

This cable kept me curious about how many well known albums would sound with it. Differences introduced by it to the sound are very clear and the same each time whether it plays sophisticated jazz or classical music recordings or mainstream ones. No doubt it is a representative of the top-high-end level and it matches the performance of my reference cables in many respects. Everything about it, including its packaging tells user that it is a luxury, top performance product.

Only the latest power cord by Mr Kazuo Kiuchi, Harmonix X-DC Studio Master Million Maestro is even better especially in terms of imaging and timbre presentation. But to be clear – it is better than any other cable. On the other hand in terms of dynamics and detail of the sound Polish cable is at least as good as Japanese, if not better. I think that each of these cables will be preferred by different users for different systems. But the level of performance is similar.

I do realize that Verictum guys would love me to name their 'baby' “the best cable in the world” or at least “the best I know” – it would be strange if they wouldn't. And I could probably say something like that and nothing bad would have happened. But I think that everything I wrote makes more sense for each party – manufacturer and readers. I think they should be satisfied because their first power cord matched the performance of the best cables I know – it counts for something.

Specifications (according to manufacturer)

conductor Verictum: cryogenized silver 4N, 24K gold-plated
ground wire cryogenized silver 4N
multi-strand solid core
effective section 3,35 mm2
Furutech FI-E50(R), i FI-50(R) PIEZO CERAMIC plugs
length 180 cm

ADAM BAŁDYCH & HELGE LIEN TRIO
Bridges

Label: ACT Music + Vision ACT 9591-2
Released: Aug 28th 2015
Medium: CD

Depending on the source either Adam Bałdych accompanied the Norwegian trio Helge Lien Trio, or Helge Lien Trio accompanied Adam Bałdych (see HERE). Regardless of which one is closer to the truth it is good to see another Polish musician to record for such a famous label ACT together with one of the leading European jazz bands. I am really glad that it happens more and more often for Polish musicians.

Bridges is a third album of Polish musician. He wrote material for this album in already in 2014 fir this group of musicians. Only two tracks were not written by him – the title one written by Hegle Lien and Teardrop, that is a Massive Attack's cover. That's why one might claim that it is the Norwegian trio that accompanies Bałdych helping him to record material he created. Also the cover for this album was created by our countryman, Wilhelm Sasnal.

The album was recorded in Hansa Studios in Berlin in March 2015. Interestingly – studio used a fantastic analogue mixing console, Solid State Logic 4000E, with tube microphone preamplifiers. Many biggest stars recorded there - U2, REM, David Bowie and many others. No information about the way material was recorded is available. This studio uses both, digital and multi-track analogue recorders such as Studer A 800 MK III 2". The album is available on both, CD and vinyl.

SOUND

Today combination of fantastic music and high quality sound is quite rare. It is also a fact, the ACT manages to achieve that more often than others. Only ECM, a neighbor label from the same city, is as successful as ACT. There are some common sonic features of most ACT releases, like a great focus and richness of the sound, but apart from these two qualities album from album might be quite different. This Bałdych album belongs to warm recordings with microphones placed closely to instruments, with a minimum reverb. Presentation is very dynamic and placed close to listener. I think there was only very little compression used and if there was any they had to use a compressor with 'tube-like' characteristics.

The sound is great. There seems be be some emphasis on violin, especially in lower midrange area. It seems that sound engineer did the same with double bass and piano – they both seem bigger than in real life. The piano seems very focused, clearly defined in space while double bass isn't – that's exactly the opposite to how Rudy van Gelder recorded jazz in 1950ties and 1960ties. Sound is warm and not particularly resolving. Percussion cymbals sound like recessed compared with other instruments and they are not clearly defined. It's not now they sound in real life but it is also obvious that here it is a part of artistic vision.

It's a really interesting music and a great recording too. It offers its own 'character'. I wouldn't be surprised hearing it used during different audio shows and presentations. It could replace those 'immortal' samplers that feature high quality recordings of not so great musicians. This album offers great music, played by remarkable musicians, recorded in a damn good way. Out BIG RED Button for both, music and sound quality is fully deserved.

SOUND QUALITY: 10/10

www.adambaldych.com
www.helgelien.com
www.actmusic.com