@laginz ,
Curious as to why you think changing your power cord will give you the result your looking for. I legitimately don't see the correlation.
Front Row Seat Power Cord?
I’m looking for a quality power cord that tends to create a perspective that is more “front row” than “mid-hall”, without being thin or overly bright. I’ve been looking at reviews, and the two that seem to pop up in this regard are the DH Labs Red Wave, and the Purist Audio Jade. Any other ideas?
69 responses Add your response
Oh poppycock…. forget the psychobabble let’s have some facts. Equipment based tests have shown indisputable, overwhelming results that other than optimal size, quality, the cable industry as a whole is a farce ! Then we have science i.e. physics, credited professionals, again overwhelming majority comply with equipment results. |
There is only one undeniable truth about Power Cords. That being, there are people who believe their $500 - $5000 power cord has made a difference, and those who don't. Pretty simple and neither side is going to convince the other. What is truly amazing, IMHO, is how this topic garners the amount of member input, over and over and over again. I'm personally in the camp that believes you should use a shielded cable of sufficient size to carry the current from point A to point B. I don't mind spending a bit of cash as I do think the sum of all parts creates the final sound, so I don't use lamp-cord on my speakers either. I think Power Cables are a great place to exercise some DIY. In the end, believe what makes you happy and enjoy your systems. Cheers. |
I have given you a concrete example of a power cable radiating EMI from a subwoofer. The EMI was sufficient to take out my TV reception, which of course is a low-level digital signal. This is entirely reproducible, and was solved by modifying the cable by adding two ferrite chokes. Untamed, this EMI would feed into any other connected component which just might affect its performance? As a Cambridge-trained physicist, my natural inclination is to disbelieve odd claims. However, reports of RFI affecting sound quality have been around for decades, so maybe there is some real phenomenon at play. Back then, everybody thought it was from the mains, so it seemed non-sensical that the last six feet could make a difference. Much more recently, our own components have come under suspicion, especially those with electrically noisy digital circuits, or switched mode power supplies. Rather than dismiss what people claim to hear, I would prefer to try to understand what they are reporting. It may be psychobabble, or it may be a real phenomenon we don't fully understand yet. Do I personally think changing a power cord can move your virtual listening position? Never in a million years, but every good scientist should keep an open mind. I also deplore the reluctance to do A / B testing, especially on something as easy to swap over as a power cord. |
@richardbrand You are relatively new to the AudiogoN discussion forums. You’ll discover that flat-earthers, cable-deniers and naysayers are quite adamant that they are right - and everybody else is wrong. Why they keep reading the cable threads is a mystery, especially if it upsets them so much. 🤔 Do they also go on race car forums and insist that drivers don’t need to waste money on more expensive high octane petrol when low octane will do? Apparently, learning something new is not one of their priorities. They probably think that EE 101 and Physics 101 can explain this. |
Dear steakster, Do you feel derogatory terms flat-eathers, naysayers etc fill in for the lack of even Debateable proof ? Learning something new is great, hocus-pocus is nothing but a joke. Reading your text one might get the impression proof and truth is a pleasure of the few…wrong again ! Someone tells me to stick a slab of bologna in a plastic bag on a piece of equipment…. Silly boy ! |
“Derogatory terms…” says the guy who just called everyone who experienced difference in power cords insane
|
@laginz Happy Holidays!!! |
++1 for DIYing your own power cable, or purchasing one assembled. Here are a couple I am breaking in, I did the work but VH Audio will sell you the cable and do the work for $140 per cable: Furutech bulk power cable (FP-TCS31 12awg Triple-C $45 per foot, FP-S55N 10awg "nano" $55 per foot, or best DPS 4.1 DUCC 11awg $394 per meter), Furutech FI-28 gold plated plug set $210, and the above mentioned $140 labor. You end up with the best Furutech power cables possible for $550 to $900 per 1.5 meter assembled.....or less if you do the work. Not sure they will provide the exact sound you are looking for (each cable sounds a little differently), but you can't deny the quality
|
I can't believe a post like this is getting replies like this. I thought we were here to educate people, and not perpetuate the snake oil marketing jargon that is absolutely destroying this hobby. Anyone who thinks a power cable changes your sound either doesn't know any better, or is willfully ignorant to objective facts and science.
If the OP is still around, please ignore anyone here trying to persuade you to 'upgrade' your power cable to improve your sound. These people would also have you believe that there are speaker cables that 'sound better' than the cheapest 12AWG OFC cables you can find. They don't. They're lying, or their own confirmation biases are taking over. The brain can be fooled easily, as evidenced by the replies here. Take the money you save from common sense and spend it on upgrades that actually do something. |
My friends and I prefer GroverHuffman Pharaoh and Empress power cables. Typically, my friends have 6 cables (I have 9) in our systems depending on amount of equipment. His site partially explains the unique and patented design (he wrote and submitted his own patent). Brilliant, complex and different. Equally great cables can cost 10X more such as Masterbuilt and Westminster Labs. |
I tried the $1,000.00 Audioquest power cable on my DAC and it distorted the bass terribly. I opted for a Cullen Crossover at a fraction of the price of the Audioquest. But from what your describing, I would recommend auditioning the Akiko Audio power conditioners. The big one is called the Corelli Corundum and then there’s a smaller one called the Castello and yet an even smaller one called the Minelli. |
This is a big ask without knowing the associated components & where in the chain this power cord (or cords) will be placed. Home audition with return privileges is recommended as you embark on this quest. I would invest an hour or two researching the 'Iron Lung Jellyfish' power cords on the interwebs. Might just fit the bill. YMMV. Hope you have a safe & enjoyable Holiday season.
|