One point I should have mentioned during Part 1 concerns metallurgy and the resulting compatibilities or incompatibilities that result between power cords and the rest of the electrical reproduction chain.

The electrical wall outlets that I use in my apartment for my stereo system are the Oyaide R-1 model. These electrical outlets start with a twice-polished copper beryllium substrate to which is added a 0.5 micron layer of platinum and then a final layer of 0.3 micron thick palladium. Each layer, the same as the substrate, is twice-polished. Three of these same outlets are used in my Power Wing II.

The Oyaide M1/F1 connectors use exactly the same metallurgy and therefore, in this sense, should be a perfect electrical match for both the wall and Power Wing II outlets. The Acrolink Carbon Fiber connectors, on the other hand, have a 3,500 micron (3.5mm) layer of rhodium plating. I do not know the substrate material but assume that on these older plugs it is most likely phosphor bronze or copper.

Some believe (including both manufacturers and audiophiles that I greatly respect) that metallurgical mismatches result in tonal and/or spatial discontinuities in the reproduced sound that aren’t present when all the metals match.

Bybee Golden Goddess M1/F1
The first application for this power cord was on the Oppo 105D replacing a Shunyata Taipan Helix Alpha. Bear in mind that the retail price of this Bybee is about three times more than the Shunyata.

Listening Impressions
• A playlist of Hearts of Space tracks on my personal computer via Foobar2000 showed an immediate improvement in low level detail and image placement
• Bass is more impactful
• Very even and extended tonality with a more delicate treble
• Timbre/inner detail is better, as well
• Music seems to be just hanging there against a dead black background

Bybee Golden Goddess Prototype Acrolink CF
Replaced the Tel Wire power cord on my Olive O3HD music server with the Bybee Prototype Acrolink CF.

Listening Impressions
• Very low level details are more easily heard
• Sound stage is more three-dimensional extending from farther behind the plane of the speakers right up to the listening seat
• A bit smoother with echoes seeming to go on forever
• Details such as the intake of a singer’s breath more easily discernable
• Initial transients are a little rounder
• Dynamic changes can be startling at times

There were later changes using these two cords including switching between the 105D and the O3HD. One thing I did notice, as had been pointed out to me by an audio buddy, was that the M1/F1 cord cast a higher sound stage. In general, however, the two differently terminated cords sounded more alike than different and both were capable of producing reference level sound at times.

This installment will cover two versions of the “Bybee” Nano Reference Golden Goddess power cord. The reason for the quote marks around Bybee is due to the fact that the provenance of these two cords is not certain.

The Bybee cord terminated with Oyaide M1/F1 connectors was purchased first in February, 2014. After some conversations with the seller post-purchase I learned that in fact the cord had been assembled from parts purchased from Bybee and put together by an audio salon that carried Bybee products. The cord terminated with Acrolink Carbon Fiber connectors was purchased in August, 2014. This cord was purported to be a prototype model subsequently purchased by the original owner who also happened to be an audio reviewer.

Fit and finish of the M1 power cord is what would be expected of an upper echelon product. The CF terminated prototype model, on the other hand, looks like a prototype.

The cords employs quantum physicist Jack Bybee's Golden Goddess filtering technology embedded in a carbon fiber tube selected to reduce noise and the impact of vibrations.

The photographs below depict various aspects of the two cords.

Oyaide M1/F1 Connectors

Close-Up of Carbon Fiber Barrel

Close-Up of Cord

Bybee Nano Reference Golden Goddess CF

Close-Up of Acrolink Female Connector

Close-Up of Acrolink Male Connector

Carbon Fiber Barrel

The cords were originally purchased with the thought in mind that they would hopefully augment the efficacy of the Bybee Large Gold filter housed in my Audio Excellence AZ Power Wing II. In addition, the contemplation was that the filtering technology of the Bybee cords would be a natural match with noise prone/producing digital source components. Thus, the two cords were utilized on my Oppo BDP-105D universal player and Olive O3HD media server.

I was also curious as to what, if any, differences could be attributed to the Oyaide M1/F1 connectors versus the Acrolink CF.

So, how did the sound? That will be covered in the next installment.