VERMOUTH REFERENCE POWER CORD…Fit For Your Hi End Components?!

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Hendry Ramli of Vermouth Audio, Indonesia sent me his flagship power cord last year to compliment the Reference XLR Balanced Interconnect that was reviewed last August 2019.

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I have plugged both Vermouth Reference XLR Balanced Interconnect and Reference Power Cord to the DS Audio‘s Flagship, The Master 1 Optical Phono Equalizer and the rest of the audio chain were almost cabled with the Echole Limited Edition (reviews available here).

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Throughout this review, the DS Audio Master 1 Optical Phono system is used with The VIV Lab Rigid Float 9″ CB {Carbon} (Japan) Tonearm (review available here) on the Technics SP-10R Direct Drive Turntable.

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Upon receiving the Vermouth Reference Power Cord, I felt its weight and saw its high quality built. It is almost ‘bling-bling’ to my sight and opinion. The whole product spells luxury and high priced!However, the Vermouth Reference Power Cord was, relatively and comparatively, reasonably priced.

Every Vermouth Audio cable that I have received came with a Vermouth Audio cloth bag and a certificate of authenticity and quality. In other word, expect to receive all Vermouth Audio product with confidence and pride…I am sure Hendry Ramli made his product with that dedication.

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As mentioned above, the Vermouth Reference Power Cord was weighty, especially both the power plugs. In addition, it is quite stiff thus proved difficult to bend. Therefore, additional length is recommended for bends and corners application. If I am not mistaken, a number of High End cables are equally weighty, stiff and some are bulkier. Maybe this is to be expected from High End cables (?!).

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I have to admit that the Vermouth Reference Power Cord took some times to run in. Initially, out from the box and out from the cloth bag, it sounded muddy, congested, and at times, bloated at the lower region. I felt the highs were trapped and anchored down.

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Therefore, I suspected it was in need of further ‘cooking‘. After a couple of months, I almost forgot about it and worse still, where it was plugged in. Then I realized it was not a negative but a positive for the Vermouth Reference Power Cord. I did not hear all those initial ‘negatives’ brought in by it. Some may argued that maybe I have acclimated to the sound and/or retuned the audio set up to negate those ‘negatives'(?!). Nah…I cannot even tolerate stagnant, and arguably more so a dive in the audio performance of my audio system.

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So it was time to find the Vermouth Reference Power Cord and moved it around among the audio source; ie, the Vitus Masterpiece MP-T201, Vitus Masterpiece MP-D201, BSG Technologies QOL “Signal Completion Stage”, and finally (and for the review), the DS Audio Master 1 (since I got only one in hand for the review…whereas my amplifications require a pair of them).

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Spinning the vinyl album, Dexter Gordon ‘Getting Around’ (Blue Note ST-84204/ Music Matters MMBST-84204), I found the palpability, density, definition and delineation of each instrumentalist were well presented. The mid to low bass, as available in the recording, was controlled, (though) with a slight more in quantity. I would add to that note that those lower frequencies were articulate…quick on the feet…and expect some punch, here and there. Therefore, the sensation of jazziness was ever presence throughout the presentation.

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Played another vinyl album, Clifford Brown ‘Memorial Album’ (Blue Note 1526/ Music Matters MMBLP-1526 Mono), the inclusion of the Vermouth Reference Power Cord did bring to life, and with the airiness of the those horns played, even though the recording was mono (I am so used to the dry-ness of some mono recordings). There were vividness and the sensation of there-ness and allegro of each blow of air into their respective horns by Clifford Brown, Charlie Rouse, Gigi Gryce and Lou Donaldson. I found my head kept shaking in astonishment to the transient of energy from the mid to the higher high frequencies of those horns,…whether it be the recording, the set up of the audio system or the Vermouth Reference Power Cord or the culmination of them all…I was astonished! 

Next I played the track, ‘Hawaii 5-0’from the vinyl album Kojak & Baretta (RCA JRS-9522) that first impressed me about 10 years ago, through the Goldmund electronics and the Wilson Audio Alexandria Loudspeakers. Here, the inclusion of the Vermouth Reference Power Cord, I found the soundstagerepresented well the recording venueand that I could hear the low frequencies bouncing off the corners of that ‘limited’ recording venue,…thus proved its transparency all the way to the lower frequencies.

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Last year at the Taiwan High End Audio (TAA) show 2019, I stumbled upon and decided to purchase the vinyl box set of Wilhelm Furtwangler, Beethoven The 9 Symphonies, mono recordings from 1948 to 1954 (Warner Classics 10LP 0190295611941). I do love a dramatic and high energy presentation of classical pieces. Even though that collection was in mono recording, but Furtwangler’s interpretation of Beethoven’s masterpieces was too tempting to miss.

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The inclusion of the Vermouth Reference Power Cord into the DS Audio Master 1managed well those mono playback with the presentation of airiness, power, and transparency to details of the conductor’s ambitious, allegro and terse interpretation of the well known symphonies.

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Intricacies, nuances and fine detailswould not be missed out with the inclusion of the Vermouth Reference Power Cord, (quantify) amidst some great conduits used throughout the entire audio system, from Skogrand, Echole, Audio Note, Shunyata,…etc. 

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At the vinyl album, Dancing Girl From Izu (Rhymoi Music RMLP-041), I found the rendition of ‘Snow flakes’ by (Ms.) Masako Kunisada remained well textured, layered, emotional and palpably touching, with the inclusion of the Vermouth Reference Power Cord. Frankly, I like the presentation enough to have played the same track over a couple of times…(I wanted more until my wife asked me,”WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR AUDIO SYSTEM?!…actually it supposed to be, “WHAT IS RIGHT!”…that made me played AGAIN…)

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In my opinion, Vermouth Audio have no intention to build the most expensive product but surely have the intention to build the best in its price point. Their cables may not have (yet) the level of transparency of the Skogrand or the refinement of the Echole, which both’s cables may cost several levels above their price point (please don’t have that expectation).

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However, their Reference Power Cord has proven to me that it can compliment well with the above mentioned (and others) Top Guns (cables), without pulling any of them down to any ‘unacceptable‘ level.

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Therefore, I honestly recommend the Vermouth Reference Power Cord to anyone seeking serious performance without the high asking price…and it stays in my audio set up!

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Check out the website:  www.vermouthaudio.com

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