Condition: Ex-Showroom - Superb condition
The Anaconda vX shares certain sound qualities with the Taipan, characteristics that clearly mark it as a Shunyata Research product, but has almost the opposite system matching modes. To start with, the vX seems to enrich harmonics while taking just a touch of air and extension off the very highest treble. This, naturally, allows it to mate superbly with solid-state gear as well as with many digital sources. But, just as the Taipan surprised me by working well with my Assemblage DAC, the vX formed an unexpectedly splendid match with the Zanden 600 integrated amplifier. However, let's add some details first.
When placed on a source such as the Cary 303/200 or Ayre CX-7, the vX lowered the noise floor dramatically and also seemed to add a touch of harmonic richness that added realism without edging too far into editorializing. For example, Ralph Towner's solo guitar on Ana [ECM 1611] revealed more wood and resonance, and in a manner that was more consistent with live music, while the lowered noise level allowed very subtle detail to flow into my listening room.
When placed on a solid-state amplifier, even a very good one such as my Blue Circle BC6, the noise floor was, again, quite audibly lowered. This allowed subtle detail through without adding hype or artificial edge definition. Taking my experiment further, and disregarding the general guidelines offered up by Shunyata Research, I tried a pair of the xV cords on my First Sound Presence Statement pre-amplifiers. There the noise floor also dropped, again, drawing out subtle details.
So, with that as background, I was surprised how well the vX and the tubed Zanden 600 integrated amplifier paired. The Zanden is a tonal beauty, and yet keeps perfect rhythm as well. In spite of that my thought was that the Taipan would add a touch to the dynamics and so would be the better fit, and while it did, it also seemed to thin out the tonal palette of the Zanden while the vX offered me all gain. What I perceived was a lowering of the noise floor and added detail without touching the tonal purity of the Model 600 a single bit.
Makes an exceptional power cord for digital or any equipment where you might want to cut down noise
6Ft