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Best power cable to component or to power strip?

I expect this has been discussed before but a search doesn't give me any useful threads.

If you are running a power cable from the wall to a power strip (PS Audio Juice Bar, in my case) and from there running cables to your amp, pre, phono stage, etc., would you put your best cord before or after the power strip? Or can you even generalize on something like this.

The question arises because I have a 2 meter run from wall to power strip and from there less than a meter to each of my components. This makes it hard to compare different cables in the wall to power strip position as I cannot just pop in one of my 1 meter cords. As I upgrade power cords, is it worth doing anything with the short runs without replacing the long run first? Thanks for any thoughts you have.
abysmillard
8 responses Add your response
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samzx12
1,220 posts
 
Buy a RSA Haley and plug everything into it.
mightyburner
30 posts
 
A timely thread for me. I'm slowly changing to an all PS Audio power system with various xStream SC cords (Prelude, Power Plus and Statement). My 2 channel system is too far from my Power Plan Premier so I use a Juice Bar II. I'm not sure what to run from the wall to the PPP and from the PPP to the Juice Bar. Since the PPP is a regenerator does it matter what kind of cord is connect from it to the wall? I would think not.

I was considering the following: Wall > Prelude SC > PPP > Power Plus SC > Juice Bar > Statements SC's > Amp and CDP. (Hopefully that makes sense to all.)

I can always change things around and I need a cord or two for my DAC and Squeezebox power supply.

Opinions?
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Get a high quality outlet extension...a quad perhaps.
abysmillard OP
34 posts
 
Yeah, I tried removing the power strip. My system was very quiet but that was because I ran out of receptacles and couldn't plug the amp in.
mingles
796 posts
 
04-30-09: Dave_b
Remove the power strip and be amazed at how much better your system will sound:O)
This isn't always an option. Some of us have dirty power that needs to be cleaned.
dcrugby
96 posts
 
i've got lots of different "nuancy" power cords and each of them changes the sound of components a wee bit, but i've found that for my conditioners i prefer the most massive cord i can put on it - and to my ears, i still seem to get a lot of the "nuanced" sound characteristics of the cords coming out of it.

ps audio cords are big gauge for reasonable money. MAC and element cords are slightly smaller gauge, but still sound excellent for a very reasonable amount of coinage.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Remove the power strip and be amazed at how much better your system will sound:O)
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
...would you put your best cord before or after the power strip?

Usually the thought is to use the better cord going from the wall to the power strip since all components will benefit from it. As you seem to realize, results vary and could be different for you.

As I upgrade power cords, is it worth doing anything with the short runs without replacing the long run first?

Perhaps. However, I would strongly recommend avoiding purchasing 1M power cords as a rule. They are hard to sell and many power cord designers recommend at least a 5ft run for best sound.
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