Pachanko SATA Cable

[bogkor35]

I replaced stock unit Sata with Pachanko Sata Reference in my SinglePC few months ago. The improvement was audible from the same beginning, after 2 weeks of burn-in period SQ improved substantially.

 

I can report that every aspect of SQ have been improved. The most important factors are more analog sound & 3D image, darker background & better clarity (less distortion),  better bass extension and more details.

[kilroy]

Can anyone comment on the flexibility of the Pachanko SATA cables? I have the PPA black and they are super stiff, to the point where even if I try to pre-bend them into shape they put a lot of stress on the SSD connectors. I'm guessing the 40 cm length helps to get the cable where you need it, although that does seem like a long cable.

[john925]

On 2017-6-5 at 9:14 PM, kilroy said:

Can anyone comment on the flexibility of the Pachanko SATA cables? I have the PPA black and they are super stiff, to the point where even if I try to pre-bend them into shape they put a lot of stress on the SSD connectors. I'm guessing the 40 cm length helps to get the cable where you need it, although that does seem like a long cable.

 

Pachanko REF Sata is not stiff. 

[Liz]

Finally my computer audio system's sound reached the level where i never look back to vinyl or cd! 

I have an s1200kpr based server with xeon cpu, JS-2 PSU, with  SOtM tx-USBexp with sCLK-48.0 usb card, PPA ocxo ssd and optical network isolation. 

I had a long journey to find the best parts for the best sound. I had Paul Pang Red SATA cable, later on i bought the flagship PPA black sata too. Few months ago i was still searching for better sound, after reading good reviews i ordered the PACHANKO Reference SATA Cable. This cable was an eye-opener as i never imagined my system can sound this good (wider, taller soundstage) as i found much smaller difference beetwen the two PPA sata cables.

A month ago i noticed there is a new PACHANKO  Pure Reference Sata cable available on Highend-AudioPC website. After having a surprisingly good experience with the previous Pachanko cable i couldn't resist and i ordered the PURE Sata cable. When the cable arrived in couple of days and installed it (was very easy as it's 40cm and easy to bend) my jaw hit the floor. More detail and more relaxed at the same time!  Better bass articulation, and more musical than any previous sata cable. 

I thought if a sata cable can change the level of enjoyment this drasticly, i must try Pachanko's USB cable too:

I tried couple of usb cables before, and about two years ago i bought a JCAT usb cable. I was happy with the JCAT but i was curious so i bought the Curious usb cable, but i didn't like what i heard. I went back to JCAT an purchased the Dual lead Reference version and i was happy again for a while. Recently with the latest AO and Process Lasso and other optimisations i felt like the system start to sound a bit thin (lots of detail and air, but no bass). 

So i ordered again from Pachanko at this time the Pachanko USB Cable Absolution. In my system it was the absolute solution! The bass is back and deeper and more detailed than ever, the mids richness is beautiful and the trebles are airy and sparkling.

At this point i can't imagine how my music server could sound any better...

... actually i have an idea:  it's called Pachanko Iteration USB!

 

[AudioPhil]

Thanks a lot for this nice posting!

[highend-pcdoctor]

On 6/7/2017 at 10:33 PM, john925 said:

 

Pachanko REF Sata is not stiff. 

The Pachanko SATA cables are very easy to work with, they are flexible and does not put any pressure on the Motherboard or Hard Drive SATA connections.

Separate and a[part from that, they are the best upgrade you can do when it comes to SATA cables, it beats all other Audiophile SATA cables IMO.

[nick77]

Anyone have a leftover Pachanko Sata after upgrading for resell?

[Liz]

On 2017-6-21 at 11:59 AM, nick77 said:

Anyone have a leftover Pachanko Sata after upgrading for resell?

Hi nick77, actually i have a PACHANKO Reference SATA Cable in 20cm length for sale.

 I had this cable in my system for about 6 weeks (well burned-in) before i upgraded to the PACHANKO PURE Reference. The cable is in perfect condition. Drop me a message if you are interested.

[wushuliu]

Hm, got two of the Pachanko cable, ones for each drive. Drives are powered by linear bench supply. Dac is a cheap but modded Signstek with iSilencer. PC is on 24/7 so technically at 100 hr mark. Not sure I can really hear a big improvement (or at least $270 worth) through main system. However, there is a more natural presentation and flow through headphones. I'll give them some time but may not hold on to these for long.

[AudioPhil]

Hello

 

You should give it around 250h.

 

Best,

AudioPhil

[highend-pcdoctor]

Hello wushuliu,

I agree with Phil, my experience with the Pachanko SATA cables needs 250 hours of music  playing through them before they bloom and starts to excel.

Give it some time and I am sure you will love what you are hearing.

[wushuliu]

Unfortunately that almost guarantees missing the return window of 14 days.

[Jukka]

Yes, Pachanko Pure Reference sata is amazing. In my setup it is much better than the Reference sata cable. Just so much more musical information coming through now.

 

Haven`t seen much talked about the Iteration usb cable. Any comparisons to Curious or other well regarded cables would be interesting.

[wushuliu]

Selling both my MK2s if anyone's interested (need to fund possible RPi build).

[tboooe]

12 minutes ago, wushuliu said:

Selling both my MK2s if anyone's interested (need to fund possible RPi build).

Pls pm me.

[Audiotruth]

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Posted 14 hours ago

Hi Jukka,

 

I'm awaiting delivery of two of Chan's Pure Reference SATA cables (replacing two of his Reference SATA cables) When they arrive I'll to add to the post.

 

I have  Pachanko's 'Iteration USB cable" I previously used Chan's two head USB cable. The Iteration USB (in my system, my room) is more open, detailed and organic sounding. I'm happy with the upgrade.

 

Additionally, I've compared the Iteration USB cable to Curious Cable's USB. I prefered the Iteration cable (my system, my room). I also asked Chan to make up a short 'Iteration USB cable' so I could connect Uptone's ISO Regen (out) to my DAC. Shortly I'll let you know how the short 'Iteration USB cable compares to Uptone's own USPCB A>B Adapter.

[Jukka]

Hi Audiotruth,

 

Thanks, really good to have more information about Pachankos cables.

I'm currently using a Curious to ISORegen to USPCB chain and it sounds very good, just like to always see if there is something better.

 

Will be interesting to hear how the Iteration compares to USPCB.

 

Did you find Pachanko Iteration much different/better than Curious ?

[Audiotruth]

Hi Jukka,

My preference (in my system/room) was with Pachanko's 'Iteration' USB cable (both from Server to ISO Regent and from ISO to DAC) in my system. With both legs covered by the iteration, I felt the sound was more organic, timbre more life-like, tonal balance more natural and imaging a little tighter. However, I visited a friend who has a different system/room set-up to me, to compare the Curious USB cable with Pachanko's iteration USB cable (His system is mainly Gryphon gear i.e. Mephisto/Pandora/ Kaliope, his speakers are Vivid G2 - A very very nice system). The friend preferred the sound of the Curious cable.

With the Curios cable in his system, I felt the SQ was a little to warm,  with a slight thickening around the leading edge of instruments and vocals. My overwhelming desire was to want to extract a little more detail from his impressive system. Sound stage remained wide and deep. When the Pachanko iteration USB cable went in, I found the SQ was more detailed, organic, timbre more natural, tonal balance was right and imaging was a little tighter. The only negative thingsI noticed with the Iteration cable in, was the sound was slightly leaner however imaging was tighter and instruments / vocals were to my ear better defined.

 

My Friend would argue that with the Curios cable in his sytem the sound more life-like, more natural and more emotionally engaging. We agree to disagree/

I've not yet had a chance to compare UpTone Audio's USPCB A>B Adapter to Pachanko's short 'Iteration' USB cable i.e. from the ISO Regen to DAC.... perhaps next weekend!

[FelipeRolim]

Hello guys. I'm from Brazil and always read this forum, specially, this topic. I also have a dedicated computer, that has an Asrock Q1900-ITX motherboard, 8GB of Corsair RAM, a 500GB SSD, SOtM tx-USBexp, a DIY linear power supply, Audiophile Optimizer with Windows Server 2016, a dedicated DIY 24 way cable, made with a Kimber 12TC, and others.

 

Recently, I purchased a dedicated SATA cable, made here in Brazil, that's called Audiopheeling Digital SATA Statement (photos below). This cable simply made my system grow up, giving much more "air", resolution, silence and a really 3D and analog sound. It was a significant upgrade. I have a friend that compared this Audiopheeling with the Pachancko Reference and told me that Audiopheeling is better. The price isn't so good, but the sound quality makes it an excellent purchase. I'm in love with it.

 

I hope you'll excuse me for posting these photos on a non-dedicated topic, but I think it will be a good contribution.

[Jukka]

Hi Audiotruth,

 

Sounds like I might really like Pachankos Iteration, of course these things come down to preferences and tastes and different setups too. Another interesting usb cable is Phasure Lush which seems to have good synergy with ISO Regen.

 

Hi Felipe, 

 

Your DIY braided cable looks beautiful, did you compare it to the stock cable to see if there is difference to how they sound ?

Audiopheeling cables looks promising too, little more expensive than Pachanko for us europeans though (shipping and customs)

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

1 hour ago, Jukka said:

Sounds like I might really like Pachankos Iteration, of course these things come down to preferences and tastes and different setups too. Another interesting usb cable is Phasure Lush which seems to have good synergy with ISO Regen.

 

Your DIY braided cable looks beautiful, did you compare it to the stock cable to see if there is difference to how they sound ?

Audiopheeling cables looks promising too, little more expensive than Pachanko for us europeans though (shipping and customs)

 

Hi Jukka

just my 2 cents.....

I had a brief listen to the Iteration between Regen and DAC. It replaced my curious link cable at that time.

 

I found the Iteration excellent but a little cool and lean. More detail and definition but at the expense of timbre, warmth and rounded fleshed out, what I call 'organic', sound. Hence for me the age old trade-off.

 

For me it is about achieving neutrality and finding components that dont have a sonic signature whether warm and lush vs detailed and resolved. Whether the Iteration or the Curious got it right (in my terms more neutral ), I don't know.

 

I have moved on to the Uptone uspcb/Isoregen and this has made a large difference to my ears. I initially found the IR+*Curious* link a little cool sounding. Curiously (pun intended) not what I would have guessed. However, I did find the Regen a little dark and full sounding and would periodically pull it out to release more detail and transparency. So possibly hearing a difference between the R and the IR.

 

Now I know it is not possible to make judgements on the Iteration vs curious based on my current setup. I will say that with the uspcb/IR/LPS1 the change was large and towards transparency.Not warm,not cool, not bright, not dark etc....just the system getting more out of the road of the music without imparting its own sonic signature.

 

I will have a chance to hear the Iteration vs uspcb in the future so will report back on my impressions. *Theoretically* the uspcb adapter should be the winner if you believe no cable is the best cable. OTOH I cannot say for sure that the uspcb doesnt have some sonic signature.

 

All my comments have been centered around my quest for neutrality, to the extent that anyone knows what this is and *desires* it. As said, when the system starts to disappear sonically  , each track sounding differently, reflecting the recording, is a clue that I am heading in the right direction. Some want "lush" sounding or uber detailed or whatever all the time. For me this is "HiFi" not high fidelity. Sonic sunglasses but nothing wrong with that.

 

Ah, I think that is more like my $1.02 cents worth !

[FelipeRolim]

2 hours ago, Jukka said:

Your DIY braided cable looks beautiful, did you compare it to the stock cable to see if there is difference to how they sound ?

Audiopheeling cables looks promising too, little more expensive than Pachanko for us europeans though (shipping and customs)

 

Hi Jukka. By "braided cable" you mean the Kimber 12TC? This cable is an original 2m cable that I cutted off about 30cm. So I bought brass connectors and sent them to a goldsmith. Then, they returned like this, and I soldered them at the conductors.

 

 

After that, I mounted the 24 way connector and started the burn-in proccess (with Purist Audio Design's disc). Here's a closer photo.

 

 

I built a linear power supply that I consider to be at the highest level. So I never accepted the fact that the 24-way cable (that comes with the Mini-Box M4-ATX) was so thin and with such bad material. So, a lot of reasons brought me to the Kimber 12TC: a) it has the double of the original cable gauge; b) high quality copper, compared to the tinned metal of the previous cable; c) originally twisted structure, already thought for isolation of interferences; d) Teflon dielectric. I used 4% silver solder and, for the SOtM USB card and the storage devices, I used silver plated copper cable, a combination that I consider very good for sources and which I already knew.

 

As a result, what I can safely say was that it brought a much better focus to the sound stage, made the harmonic body presents more completely, euphonious and natural, and made the system has more authority over the bass. There was no gain in detail, in resolution, but the naturalness with which it is sounding is very impressive. There was also no gain in stage positions, but those that already existed are much more defined. I feel a less than "myopic" listener, hahaha. Finally, with regard to the low frequencies, I don't believe that they are descending more, nor that they have presented notes previously not heard, but what the speakers already touched before are doing with a great authority and, more than that, with a lightness, a delicacy which, until then, I didn't consider typical.

 

------

 

About Audiopheeling cable, yes, it's more expensive than Pachancko. However, a friend that compared both told me that Audiopheeling is much better. I sincerly didn't say properly. My Audiopheeling has an excellent build. It uses natural cotton for damping and silver/gold conductors. My computer, now, delives a perfect analog sound.

[Audiotruth]

Hi Jukka,

Thanks for your $1.02 cents worth . I liked the comment "I found the Iteration excellent but a little cool and lean. More detail and definition but at the expense of.." Your comment aligns nicely with a friend's comments about the iteration. I do enjoy the iteration's definition and details but would also like the sound to be a little more fleshed out. As the buddhist say 'everything is perfectly imperfect'.

 

I'll also compare the iteration with Uptone's uspcb adapter. Declaring my bias from the get-go, I too feel the uspcb adapter should better the iteration. And at only US$35 the uspcb adapter might just be one of the cheapest upgrade I've ever made.

Look forward to reading your comments re iteration vs. uspcb adapter.

Regards

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

1 hour ago, Audiotruth said:

Hi Jukka,

 

Thanks for your $1.02 cents worth . I liked the comment "I found the Iteration excellent but a little cool and lean. More detail and definition but at the expense of.." Your comment aligns nicely with a friend's comments about the iteration. I do enjoy the iteration's definition and details but would also like the sound to be a little more fleshed out. As the buddhist say 'everything is perfectly imperfect'.

 

 

I'll also compare the iteration with Uptone's uspcb adapter. Declaring my bias from the get-go, I too feel the uspcb adapter should better the iteration. And at only US$35 the uspcb adapter might just be one of the cheapest upgrade I've ever made.

 

Look forward to reading your comments re iteration vs. uspcb adapter.

 

Regards

 

 

Hi Audiotruth,

 

[That was my post you responded to, not Jukka's (I quoted Jukka at the head of my post, as likewise quoted you at the beginning of this post).

 

All I can say is that I completely agree with the findings of your friend - sounds like your friend and I might get along !!

 

Cheers

[Jukka]

Hi Felipe,

 

Yes, I meant the Kimber 12TC. No doubt a better than stock itx/atx cable does improve sound, just as better power cables and power sources usually do. That has been my experience as well. Very important for most natural and transparent sound possible.

 

If your friend compared the Audiopheeling sata cable to Pachanko Reference I am not surprised he found the Audiopheeling much better. Pachankos newer Pure Reference is also lots better compared to the Reference.