"It doesn't look like it could change shape," Joseph observed after a long pause to process the behemoth power cable resting on my carpet. That would be the Proteus, the latest from Stage III Concepts, the audio wire manufacturer.
Proteus was an ancient Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms.
Yeah, it definitely looks intimidating. I knew an extra hand would be needed and asked him to assist. It was obvious that it was not going straight in. The Proteus IEC needed to rotate 90° to line up with the receiving jack on the HB PowerStar Horizon AC distributor. But guess what? The Proteus was not willing to comply. In the end, the power strip did the rotation. Which prompted Joseph to remark, "One day people will come over and wonder why your equipment is upside down."
It was farcical, but not wholly unexpected. Stage III Concepts always surprises, especially when the parcel sent contains a power cable.
To be fair, after some advance discussion with the distributor, I had an inkling it would go this way. The first tremor felt was its MSRP ($12,000/1.5 meter; $15,900/2m), numbers that caused light headedness and shortness of breath. That passed quickly, as Brian Ackerman continued, waxing rhapsodic on "the weight of the thing (18 lbs.); its sheer mass; the visual impact goes beyond impressive, more like stunned." There was no denying a touch of boastfulness in his manner. He knows these outlandish things are candy to many of his clients.
The Proteus sits between the Leviathan ($14,500) and the Kraken ($8,400) in the Stage III power cord lineup. I slated it to go from the wall to my HB PowerStar Horizon power distributor, which is dedicated to my CH Precision M1 monoblocks. Currently, I use a Kraken in that slot.
The Kraken went a long way to fleshing out a comfortable cushion on the bottom. With it in place I have full-range response with good support down below. It is a marvelous PC.
Still, occasionally it seemed I could use more. It's the difference between having an adequate response and one with confidence. What I wanted was a low-end with authority, one that left no doubt. From my travels I know how rare that is—and also how satisfying it can be. I also know it's almost always the province of the large, mega-buck systems.
A Subwoofer?
Sometimes I would fantasize about acquiring more low-end drivers. I could get the optional sub-cabinets to take my YG Anat speakers from the 1.2 to 1.3 model. That would do it. Or get a pair of powered subs, like JL Audio Fathoms. Ah, but enough of that! Coming back down to reality, I knew these were never going to happen as there isn't enough floor space for more large boxes.
Kraken schematic
Proteus schematic
Hence the lure of the "one-up" Proteus. Why bother with a "one-step" upgrade? I made an educated guess about what "one-step" would mean, based on long-term experience with Stage III products. The Proteus was guaranteed to provide more of what I dug in the Kraken model. Plus, it had all the latest developments from the creative minds at Stage III. To be frank, the prospect was intimidating. The Kraken is already the bulkiest PC I own and Brian said the Proteus dwarfs it. Then there's the expense. Given my room size and speakers, perhaps I was embarking on a Sisyphean exercise. I procrastinated for a long while before capitulating.
Solid and Beautiful
I've been enjoying the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, with Andrew Litton conducting the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (BIS-SACD-1432). This is one classy pairing. But then anytime you have Litton on the podium in front of the Bergen you can buy with confidence. Vadim Gluzman handles the solo part with panache.
The Proteus was burned in for five days offline before attaching to the HB power strip feeding my monoblocks. Its effects were immediate and not to be ignored. Just as anticipated, the low-end plumped up, providing a large, comfortable cushion undergirding the orchestra. Soundstage, images—everything inflated. In my case (and I suspect for nearly all of us), bigger is better, because our presentations suffer from miniaturization, like an HO model train set. But it wasn't like a flood of low-end fatty deposits were injected—nah, who wants that? This was more like a liquid protein or vitamin boost that added muscle. This was taut mass containing plenty of interior life. The stage filled in as if the musicians rounded up their pals to join them.
You may have gathered the tone is very saturated and full. Warm, smooth, and liquid, it is the antithesis of lean and dry; there is not a hint of dryness anywhere. The Proteus has the best sort of treble: pure, sweet, grainless, and so fully integrated it will largely pass unnoticed. The Proteus transformed violinist Gluzman from a mere technical wizard into a world-class soloist with a million-dollar instrument.
Of course, it brought back memories of the massive low-end foundation laid down by the all-powerful, top-of-the-line Leviathan model. Only the Proteus weight gain was not accompanied by a downward tonal shift and required no compensating adjustments to bring back the treble. The expansive low-end only showed itself when low frequencies were in the source, that is when it was called for. Then the Proteus low-end did its magic. In this regard, the Proteus is like the Kraken model.
We sat through the entire performance, keenly attentive. To hear the finale of the Tchaikovsky Concerto with this kind of low-end grip is hair raising, truly exhilarating.
Compare the Proteus, Kraken, K-S Elation!
Installation
Extravagantly over-built and constructed, every part is custom-designed and handmade, in-house, like all Stage III offerings. Still, there was no mistaking it for a prince. If you blew up the Kraken and doubled the size of all the parts, this is what you'd get. If the Kraken has the girth of a lawn hose, the Proteus is like a fireman's. The main length has a 2" diameter; a massive ceramic piece near each end steps it down to 1"; then a massive ceramic termination holds the AC receptacles. The entire length is hard and unyielding. The Greek sea god is a brutish thing. It is not a toy.
Design and Construction
The Proteus has the same expanded cross-section, heavy-gauge AeroStrandUltra™ conductors as the Leviathan, while the shielding and damping is similar to that in the Medusa speaker cable. Stage III designs explicitly address shielding and mechanical damping, providing some of the most elaborate protection in the industry.
The shielding is way beyond what you find in competing cables. Stage III's motto might as well be: How do you get to audio heaven? Shielding, shielding, shielding. Not a single shield, not a double, but:
- Multi-layer shield with H.D.A. [High Density Alloy, a unique, solid foil material developed for medical and military use] 100% radiation invulnerable foil + plated copper braid…
- Geometry consisting of 4 individually damped and shielded stacked dual conductors in a quad helix configuration + heavy gauge plated silver ground wire shielded with silver plated braid...
A Twist of Fate
So, in a twist of fate, I'm getting best ever results using the odd couple of Stage III power cords and CH Precision Ref interconnects and speaker cables. The former is among the most shielded; the latter is eccentric in being unshielded. How can they possibly work together? You'd think they would cancel each other's effects.
It's a really wonderful pairing. The Stage III power cords bring power, weight, dynamics, and musicality. They have none of the problems associated with heavy shielding (damped, closed in sound). The CH Ref interconnects and speaker cables bring superb flow and naturalism—and more musicality. The combination capitalizes on the strengths of each design approach.
Conclusion
Remember when you took the plunge and splurged on your first aftermarket power cord? What a difference, right? Well, it doesn't stop there. There's a level beyond that—actually, many levels. If you let it, high-end audio will consume all of your disposable cash, just like any other connoisseur pursuit.
In my esoteric corner of the High End I often have to contend with visitors' comments about the MSRPs attached to the top drawer components I review. It gets worse when I endorse accessories that are five digits. The Stage III Concepts Proteus Power Cord is priced at $15,900/2m. That's more than most people spend on an amplifier. For some, it's an entire system. These MSRPs are not for the faint of wallet.
But when you've made a serious investment in components, it would be foolish to neglect power cords. I bit the bullet when I came to the conclusion the Proteus was the only viable solution to an important shortcoming.
"What happened, did you add a sub?" We were all smiles when the Proteus, the Greek sea god, took up residence. That's not to say my quest for authoritative low-end is over. I'm only reporting that my bass response is subjectively much more satisfying. The Proteus is like icing on the cake… no, make that icing plus filling, because it fills out the sound. The massive low-end foundation it laid down was just what I had hoped for.
Now then, what about that freed-up Kraken? I think I might give it a whirl on my preamp…
Proteus Power Cable
Retail: $12,000/1.5 meter; $15,900/2m
Stage III Concepts
Distributor
Aaudio Imports
Parker, CO 80134
303.264.8831
