A Noob Asking About Power Cables


Good afternoon everyone! I was wondering if I could get some advice about the power cables for my stereo system and see if by replacing the power cables for these two a/v receivers would do some sort of improvement to the sound. 

Right at this moment, I have a Marantz NR1711 7.2 channel with 2 Klipsch RP-600M bookshelf speakers on stands. I also have a Klipsch R-12SW subwoofer. I also have a Yamaha KX-W952 dual deck cassette player and an Integra CDC 3.4 6 disc cd changer. My speaker wires are from Crutchfield and they are the AudioQuest G2 16 gauge that I got from some lady on Facebook Market Place untouched and in the OEM box for $25.

I listen to mostly 80s, EBM (Electronic Body Music) Latin Jazz, Bossa Nova, Electronica and Vaporwave through the HEOS option on my Marantz. CDs and tapes are just about the same. I do not play video games or do I watch movies. I do watch TV though but that's about it.

I am planning on moving to an apartment and I am thinking of replacing the Marantz with a Denon AVR-S760H with the same speakers.

So I am running a 2.1 system and I know that I have been told that you can just get a stereo receiver since I am not using of those extra channels but since I have a TV hooked up via HDMI, I have not found a stereo receiver that has HDMI inputs/outputs. If anyone can suggest something that I may have missed, then all suggestions are welcomed.

So what power cables do you recommend for my setup or would they even make a noticeable difference in the sound. Also, I wanted to know how do these replacement power cables work and would they do any sort of damage to transformers/power supply.

Again, I'm just a noob with these things. Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Have a safe and great weekend everyone!

tampabaycenter

128x128tampabaycenter
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+1@mesch!   A good integrated amp would start to give you the sound improvement you desire.  There are many choices...pick a budget.  And yes your tv likely does have optical output.  I abandoned surround sound in favor of good 2 channel and is sounds so much better.  Better for music and actually better for video, it images so well you would swear there is a center channel speaker!  And per your question, yes a good power cord will benefit a decent integrated amp.  Again, pick a budget and try one.  Music Direct, for example, offers great return policy.

What is your budget for upgrades? 

I would invest in an 2 channel integrated amplifier unless you listen to FM. Your TV likely has optical output for sound. You could purchase an integrated amplifier having sub output and with a built in DAC to link the TV via optical cable. 

 

 

 

@tampabaycenter   Whatever you decide to do, just make sure the retailer offers a no questions asked, 100% refund policy.  The golden ear club hears an improvement with big $$$ power cables.  Confirmation bias or actual betterment?  Don't know and don't care.  It only matters what you think.  

Tampabaycenter your speakers are good. I have them. Power cables do make difference to squeeze the most out of the highend components. Will it improve your system performance. Maybe ? How much? It’s hard to say until you try ..

@jasonbourne71 please do share this ’Scientific" data.no

@raysmtb1 agree on the speakers.yes

It has been scientifically proven that they do not

Don't fall for the malarkey that power cords affect the sound of an audio component. It has been scientifically proven that they do not. These companies selling "audiophile" power cords just want your money! 

With the music you listen to and your sources don’t bother with upgrading the receiver or especially the power cables as they’re just not gonna bring you much more if anything.  Just enjoy what you have and use the $$$ for something else you need/want.  The biggest/most cost-effective improvement you could make given your situation would probably be adding a second subwoofer, but you’d need to integrate both subs properly that’d take some research/work to get right if you’re up for it.  But again, if you’re pretty happy with what you’re hearing now just stay put and enjoy.  Just my $0.02 FWIW. 

Hey--the NAD C 3050 (Crutchfield) integrated amp has HDMI. You could start with something like Blue Jeans cables---they get great reviews and are reasonable. Or maybe Audioquest Evergreen cables. You could also update your speaker cables as well. Keep us posted!