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Holo May KTE Power Cord

First, I am fully aware of all the arguments that cables don't make a difference and I would prefer not to have this thread polluted by all the trolls asserting that opinion.

I love my Holo May KTE DAC that beat out a number of other excellent DACs in my system.  It came with an Audience Forte F3 power cord and that is what I used with it until recently when I decided to try several other more expensive, but not crazy expensive, power cords with it.  To my surprise the inexpensive Forte F3 has outperformed the other cords I have tried.  I am curious if anybody has carefully compared power cords on the Holo May KTE and have one they have found to be significantly better that isn't wildly expensive (lets say <$1000 used).

I'm interested in your specific experience with the Holo May KTE not a bunch of random power cord recommendations.

Thanks.

pinwa

Showing 3 responses by pinwa

pinwa OP
306 posts
 

I have the Pangea AC-9 power cord and did try that on the May KTE and liked the Forte F3 better.  The May KTE actually generates a fair amount of heat so I don't think a smaller gauge cord like the AC-14 is necessarily appropriate.

@mitch2 I bought the DAC used.  The seller simply included the Forte F3 cord.  

@jackd I have the Triode Wire Labs Obsession 20 amp cord connecting my Puritan PSM-156 to the outlet and thought it was a nice improvement over the stock cord so I'll take the Digital American II under advisement. 

pinwa OP
306 posts
 

@audphile1 I do have the original Audience PowerChord.  That does provide a slightly more refined, detailed and larger soundstage.  The downside is it doesn't have the rich tonality and timbre that the Forte F3 is giving me.  Acoustic guitar or a single drum stroke or bass pluck have a kind of plumpness with the Forte F3 that I am in love with.  And the Forte F3 also strikes me as a bit more dynamic.  Perhaps they are contradictory goals but I would like to find a cable that gives me both of those positive qualities.  Do you think the higher end Audience cables offer that?

pinwa OP
306 posts
 

@mitch2 I'm not sure if you have ever had the opportunity to listen to truly high end systems, or what your goals are for your own sound, but in my experience there is no win, no endpoint to this ridiculous hobby.  There is always somewhere between a little bit to a lot more improvement to be had.  Clearly, you bump up against diminishing returns and poor returns on investment, and where those limits are is very individual, but I know I am not at them yet.  So sorry, but I'm not interested in just settling.

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