Snake River Audio - Cottonmouth Powercord and Mamushi Signature Interconnects review.
The Cottonmouth cables represent the Snake River Audio gold series
cables. They use company certified oxygen free, high density and purity
copper wire being plated with 24k gold. Six strands are double-weaved
with ether-based polyurethane coating braided in an anti parallel way
to minimise cross contamination. Everything is then coated with the
stylish nylon braiding, that is abrasive resistant. On both sided
Cottonmouth power cable is mated with the 24k Gold plated connectors.
As quite elaborately explained so far, Snake River Audio cables are not
usual set of power cables and that was instantly noticeable with the
first note strikes. When used with the my reference Thrax Dionysos
preamplifier my listening notes quickly projected positive remarks. I
cannot point out enough the importance of the "last" meters of power
cabling and the Snake River Audio Cottonmouth power cables excelled as a
clear example of making this a fact. When compared to some even higher
priced cables Cottonmouth worked with clearer and more focused impact.
When contemporary high end audio power cables are being designed
properly, they bring that recognised analog like feeling to the
performance. Cottonmouth brought the power of in depth musical
perception back into the focus. I don't like to write about the overused
black blackness, yet with Cottonmouth inserted in the preamplifier and
later on in the power amplifier the details tend to stand out with much
more presence. All positive attributes combined formed the music replay,
that offered natural, believable embodiment of instruments and vocals.
Cottonmouth power cable didn't act as a filtering cable like most cables
do. Many wants to jump on the wagon of high-end audio. Especially with
power cables they see the "easy" money coming their war. Luckily for the
experienced ears there is a clear and instant distinction between
mediocre and properly designed power cable. The strictly money driven
products often kill the music and strip out to the basic bones of
musical reproduction. Its better to use 1$ industry cable then cables,
that act like passive filter.
When you've experienced the well executed power cable life instantly
come back into the music. This is exactly the attribute I want to
connect with the Snake River Audio Cottonmouth power cable. It didn't
hold anything back, that would act against letting the music flow. I've
written in my night listening notes, that when electricity settle down,
the delicate nature of Cottonmouth really shines. With both Portrait Of
Tracy and Bright Size Life Jaco Pastorius bass guitar playing enriches
by the far out
harmonics become as sparkling and refined as they need to be.
The needed focus and warmness really worked in Cottonmouth favour. This
power cable shoed its open and controlled nature even with the few song
turns. Well executed cables share this ability and Snake River Audio
knows exactly what they're doing and how to achieve this.
MAMUSHI BALANCED XLR INTERCONNECTS:
The Mamushi magnetic series of high-end quality audio cables were
designed to deal extensively with the RFI. They deal with the
interference suppression in the unique way with separating conductors
using only the thinnest layer teflon between them. Special to the
Mamushi XLR interconnects are the implementation of the multiple pole
magnetisation pattern, that evenly distribute the magnetic strength
across the whole cable.
Like it or not we're heavily surrounded with the ever raising hubris
electronic interferences of all sorts. Before even talking about the
purity of the signal, we should be addressing this primal need of
operating with the different types of noise in establishing the needed
bandwidth. Without the real open nature of interconnect cables and
especially bandwidth broad performance there can be no real talk about
the true high-end audio performance.
Mamushi XLR interconnects brought the freshness and vividness, that I
don't recall easily being presented at such high level in this price
range. These cables potency rivals the XLR's few times the price and
connects with Jonny clear and focused vision. He combines technical
advantages used in the combination of clever solutions tailored toward
the keeping the musicality untouched.
Playing one of my all time favourite artist's album Blue Pacific,
brought back nice memories of the first encounter with the album. How
much simpler life tend to be back in eighties and music seems to be of a
different kind. This album represent Michael Franks's
interesting/turning point of his carrier. He moved forward with more
studio based production, but album still reflects the energy of his past
legendary albums like Sleeping Gypsy and Tiger In The rain. Blue
Pacific was mastered by the Dough Sax and sound is a challenge for any
real balanced system as well as the cables under the review scope. I saw
this album in the active display at the Japanese high-end audio shows
during the years. Seeing Mr. Smooth music getting played and shared with
more people makes me a happy man.
Snake River Audio Mamushi XLR interconnects kept the Michael wit spirit
intact. Masterful production really shines on a well balanced system and
with the high-performing cables. Mamushi role as the via medium for the
music was grand. Going through my classical and jazz test repertoire
showed the same results. These interconnects shined with the palpable
presentation, that evoked the real emotional impact in no time. As with
Cottonmouth power cables, Mamushi ability to correlate with music in
highly emotional was contagious. I've always seem to be drawn into the
music and spend my time listening without critics glasses on 24/7. Just a
direct musical voyage.
CONCLUSION
Snake River Audio cables cough my attention instantly back with my
review of EMMESpeakers. I'm really happy for having the chance to hear
the both Mamushi XLR interconnects and Cottonmouth power cable in my
listening system. They proven the fact, that for some manufactures cable
design and manufacturing means serious business, with serious products.
Everything surrounded with the Jonny and his company dealings is hard
not to like. And especially one cannot argue with the pricing. Snake
River Audio cables are not cheap, but they are affordable compared to
what some companies are trying to charge for the performance, that more
relate to the hi-fi rather then high end audio.
Snake River Audio Mamushi XLR interconnects and Cottonmouth power cable
are the examples of things done right. This is a clear example of how
the independent small manufacturing high-end business can excel. With
the knowhow, thinking out of the box, passion for music and with the
products, that offers the sound and performance that set the standards.
