Best power cord for a preamp?


I wish to upgrade.

ptss

Try this.  I build my own cables and have had difficulty beating performance of this for just the price of materials.  Using one of these on my tube phono pre.  Super clear, great bass.

 

 

In my experience, the plugs of the cord contribute to the final performance....top Furutechs are the clear winner after researching other brands

Given what you’re looking for you might take a look at whatever Synergistic PC fits in your budget or buy used if at all possible.  Another lesser known PC that sounds like it’ll do what your looking for is the Silverstar PC from Black Cat, and it might be a little less expensive too.  Not much by way of reviews yet, but here’s the experience of a happy customer who’s had several other well-respected PCs in his system but much prefers these FWIW...

https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=46930

Hope this helps, and best of luck. 

@joenies . I'd be interested to hear your experience with the new AC2. If you enjoy please advise. Will you try any Shunyata model?

@loganfan . Thank you; however,  You don't appear to have any experience with power cords. It's worth giving a try to just a simple Oracle AC3 non networked cord. I wouldn't joke with you. 

Having recently been called out over another thread on interconnects and their effect on sound, I shared the amount of experimenting I've been doing, it's to the point of tuning my gear with cables, I've found power to have a the least effect. One poster suggested purchasing high quality ends, have you thought of building your own? IMO with power, it seems more impact is with gauge rather than material - OFC/OCC/Silver. Home Depot carries 12GA 2 conductor w/ground for a reasonable price per foot and have found it to make wonderful power cables with the right ends installed. Although, the only instance where power made a huge sound dynamic change for me was pulling out a power conditioner I had - instantly it opened up my DAC and Pre to an entirely different level - all sorts of cable, receptacles, etc not so much - but it's a fun project; maybe a couple of PS Audio receptacles, copper rhodium plated ends and a run of the thickest gauge you can use. Post back what you end up doing.

Lack of noise. Fast power delivery. Lowest noise will allow detail, nuance, (dynamics- as lowest sounds heard)  :)  

Why particularly the preamp, have you solved the power amp cable?

Just changing the preamp's power cable alone will not bring the upgrades you are looking for. 

My suggestion is borrowing a set, for both power and pre, from a dealer and listen how it goes, if you like the change decide if you want to spend more or less.

 

 

Top-tier power cords are the best way to tweak a state-of-the-art system for maximum realism and definition. After tube rolling, cable selection and matching, suspension tuning, final equipment selections, speaker adjustments, and room acoustics, you may not quite have that timbral naturalness and background blackness that brings the system to life. For that final adjustment, try different power cords to bring out those important nuances”.

If you can read S… like this and still have the ‘audiophile’ urge to waste money there is professional health help available.

It took while for me to figure out that the first half was a quote. 😙

Getting a recommendation from the preamp or amp manufacturer can be helpful.
Generally they either laugh.
Or they do not comment.

Of course for the equipment we have both heard, it does have a power supply which was not a freebie.

@slaw . Lack of noise. Fast power delivery. Lowest noise will allow detail, nuance, (dynamics- as lowest sounds heard)  :)  . 

What exactly are the parameters associated with a pre-amp (generally speaking) that warrant this thread?

I’m presently running MIT-AC2 cables for my Spectral 30SS. they are about 10 years old. I’m looking at the newer MIT-AC2 cables. They look like they have been improved and they play well with Spectral. Might be just a lateral move?

The Hemingway  cables look very interesting to me. Read good thing about the cables. There is a posting on agon now also on what’s bests website.

Joe

 

Post removed 
Post removed 

I’m using a Zenwave 14ga silver PC. Not cheap by any means but it brought my Backert Labs Rhythm 1.3 to another level.

I just typed "Power Cord" into search and find over 40,000 hits.  Not sure why this topic is up again?  The endless disscussion just goes round and round.  You may as well be asking "what is the best shade of blue"?  There will never be a concensus on this forum as to A) what is the best, B) do they even matter.  All of these comments should start "in my opinion".  IMHO  🤣

Top-tier power cords are the best way to tweak a state-of-the-art system for maximum realism and definition. After tube rolling, cable selection and matching, suspension tuning, final equipment selections, speaker adjustments, and room acoustics, you may not quite have that timbral naturalness and background blackness that brings the system to life. For that final adjustment, try different power cords to bring out those important nuances”.

If you can read S… like this and still have the ‘audiophile’ urge to waste money there is professional health help available.

After many years using 3 WW Eclipse 7 CONDITIONING Power Cord (MSRP $260) I just upgraded many multiple its MSRP, and while the replacements are significantly better, the WWs are excellent at their MSRP

If you're already using an MIT PC, the best you can hope for is different, not necessarily better.  Save your $$!

Furutech FI-46 NCF(G) IEC Female 24K Gold Plated Connector

 
Cheaper one I am know trying 

Well a couple of thoughts. Have you ever thought of changing the IEC and plug ends on your current cords? The fancy rodium plated ones will more than likely give you more details and transparency. Also there fancy wall receptacles will also drop the noise floor a bunch as well. The best receptacle would be about 450 Canadian or 360 USD and the IEC and plugs would be also about the same money for each one. I recently bought a couple of there mid grade plugs and IEC ends that are gold plated. More swing and musicality a bit lower in resolution. Those are about half the money of there expensive ones. Great company with great products. I also bought 4 meters of the second from there top power cable made up two cords with there best ends works out to around 1700 Canadian huge increase in detail seems to give the music some swing. To early to really tell they need a long break in. Five hundred hours Plas. 

Check out the wisdom cable technology cables... best power cable you can get your hands on for the money! Destroys power cables 3x the cost!

buy anything that is OCC single Crystal copper or silver that is the best wire for audio and it has been proven for over 50 years to be so, far superior to anything ofc on the market.

 

Look at this:

Furutech project V1 
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/furutech-project-v1.34714/page-2

Borrow from the cable co. Sometimes you have to spend money to get what you like.

Reply's so far seem questioning; similar to salesman trying to determine what I want to buy? I'm hoping to learn - and possibly discuss what's new and exciting in power delivery. Marketing 'lingo' is just so extreme that it's somewhat annoying. For example "QR/BB'  'technology.  Near as I can figure an effort to hide the fact it's a capacitor on the line. Not really that new or exciting :)  But- capacitors are effective.

Just your comments - of your experiences, with separate components - are much appreciated :)

I'm hoping for an upgrade in sound - dynamics clarity nuance fullness detail speed., all those things that increase emotional involvement, ... just hoping some with great separates have been able to do some comparisons at a high level. MIT's  latest efforts are 'very' pricey - and not available in my area. 

Thanks for input. I use a Spectral DMC20. Presently use older but high quality(imho) MIT power cord. It's because there are so many available I ask for opinions regarding current PC's. Hoping for comments from those who use high to extreme quality separate components.

what are you looking for in another power cord that the MIT doesnt do ?

what are you looking to spend ?

Thanks for input. I use a Spectral DMC20. Presently use older but high quality(imho) MIT power cord. It's because there are so many available I ask for opinions regarding current PC's. Hoping for comments from those who use high to extreme quality separate components.

It depends. It would be helpful if you post your system under your userID. This will give us something to work with. What does it sound like? Perfect? You would just prefer better sound. Is it tending to be bass shy? …. It depends.

 

Largesr selling are WireWorld, Transparent, and AudioQuest. Additional good brands, Nordost, Cardas, DHLabs.

One that you can afford! There are $50 cords to over $20,000. Most I've spent is just over 2k

a little more info would help.

 

do you currently have the stock one or a aftermarket one ?

if aftermarket, what do you not like about it?

 

what is the preamp?

budget ?