Let's talk power cords
After mark power cords, Have made a big improvement in my set up. With power conditioner or without. I do not claim to understand the science of it or do i really want to. The end results is all that matters. When you sit down and listen is the sound better or just different. Some times its just different and some times its better. I have experience it on all equipment that i have change the power cord on. On my Amp or Disc player, Preamp, Power Regenerator . The best way to find the power cord you like and makes a difference is to try several different ones. But you must take time and listen. All my after market power cords are in to stay. enjoy Pete |
When observation isn’t supported by current science (in part, a body of "rules" or principles that help us understand, order and predict reality) the rules have to be amended to include confirmation bias as a cause. Lousey observations are of no consequence to scientists - it is why we do CONTROLLED experiments |
Try these and listen for yourself ....... what do you have to lose ?.....at most $100.......But that is much better than asking me or anyone else on this post. I have these for all my equipment and the high powered ones for the Amplifiers. Others may have different views, BUT we are not the ones who listen to your system and have to like it all the time ......Get my point ?!! SHUNYATA VENOM V14 POWER CORD - 15AMP |
randy-11, I suggest you replace your stock power cords (with any decent after market cords less that $90.00 each) on your Sonic Frontiers preamp, Sunfire amp and the CAL Icon II cd player (I think it is). Your Maggies are too close to the back wall, should be farther apart and towed out more. If you do all this, I guarantee you will hear improvement. Glass behind the panels are a no no. |
"Lousey (sic) observations are of no consequence to scientists - it is why we do CONTROLLED experiments...." A necessary underlying assumption being: suitable experimental methodology exists. Controlled experimentation is not the sole and exclusive avenue by which valid observations are made. Observations in uncontrolled settings are often made first and subsequently drive experimentation under controlled conditions to validate and understand such. Lack of an immediately applicable experimental method does not invalidate the initial observation(s). Discussion with personalities prepared to discount experiential data from all others contradicting their opinion is pointless. |
On topic - I've assembled my own power cords with great results using oyaide tunami cable & neotec connectors. Off Topic - Willemj, I want to thank you for reminding me on another thread (you've been hitting the wire topic pretty hard lately) that I needed to replace the coax cable between my DAC & transport. I did that this week. It isn't broke in yet but sounds great. |
Jond, I am busy right now but I shall try to dig up the details. What it amounts to is that the law in most EU countries in one way or another does not allow deception in sales. Here was a chain of audio stores that claimed that the cables they were selling were sonically superior. So the UK Consumer Protection Agency (I think it was them) took the stores to court because they could not prove that claim. I think expert witnesses were also called in. Other groups could have done the same, like consumer organizations (they often do) or consumer tv programs that name and shame. The store had to withdraw its claim, and without that claim there was little point in selling such expensive cables. Unfortunately this does not mean that things like this will not happen again, and many cases may remain under the radar, but it does mean that sellers have to be very careful with what they claim. |
RE UK cable dealer fraud case. Turns out it was just the usual audiophile goat rope in which the very well known audio dealer Russ Andrews was accused by some magazine of "hyping" some audiophile cables that were claimed to arrest RFI/EMI. As far as I can determine there was no real court case, just a nasty article in the magazine. The usual, in other words. There was the little tidbit at the end of the article I ran across on line, which is a quote from Russ Andrews, "We’re told... Your correspondent’s brief career as a sound professional was curtailed when it emerged he has "no ears", and thus isn’t qualified to comment." So it goes. 😀 Reminiscent of The Amazing Randi fiasco in which the well known reviewer of Stereophile magazine was the subject of a Million dollar challenge. The challenge was to hear the difference between Monster Cable and a $20,000 high end cable in controlled blind tests. What could go wrong with that, right? Same old, same old. |
IME, power cords can make a difference. I think, and I am no engineer, that most of the beneficial effects result from rejection of EMI and other noise. Poorly shielded wires are basically antennae. The argument that how can the last few feet compensate for the lengthy power supply chain that preceeds it is a poor argument. Added noise and EMI is cumulative, so any place in which it is possible to reduce these things shouild be addressed. Also, I bet that some electronic gear is more sensitive to the a/c power they receive. And if a system is not very resolving, I doubt differences will be dramatic. Yet another variable is how clean or dirty your power is to start with. So, there is no one absolute answer to the OP’s question. "Depends", as they say. But, for the OP and others who are skeptical, why not try some power cords that are appropriately priced for the rest of your system from a retailer who will take them back if you do not hear a difference that is worth the expense to you? IOW, why believe us, when you can hear for yourself? |
Are there any blind studies on this issue?? You can find glowing reports from people claiming magnets on their wrists cured their arthritis. Such reports are as convincing as the reports here from listeners that such cords have an impact on their system. I have YG Anat 3s, Chord Electronics and a DSX processor and I have never been compelled to buy such aftermarket cords because the science is snake oil. Sorry guys your ears are easily fooled. Show me some research that is compelling that such power cord could and does make a difference both in the function of the downstream electronics and more importantly that when listeners have no idea what cord is being used and all other variables are controlled they can hear the difference. Until then this is snake oil. I want to be convinced. |
Try listening to your system without power cords and see if they matter. Yes they play a critical role otherwise we would not need them. Try using a lamp cord to power your your bulky monoblock amps and see how that goes for your ears and system. We all agree power cords play a vital role. It seems rather narrow minded and unreasonable to NOT think construction methods such as shielding, conductor material, braiding configurations, dialetrics etc... play a role on this vital part of our audio system. They are in the signal chain folks. If you think not, then just remove them and enjoy your music. |
toddverrone759 posts11-16-2017 9:16am... Then I made great DIY cords and heard a bigger improvement. May I ask how you made it? |
My brother had just bought a $2k Synergistic research power cord this summer and it was a nice increase in soundstage and bass. i was given a heads up on a lesser name brand using a special double foil technology from a Verastarr Audio. On my digital power supply and umbilical cord I could not believe it was the same digital in my Lumin Player .it was not just one thing but the performance as a whole was just much more real and dimensional .my brother brought his $2k cable over and it was good but flatter in character compared. I have had several $1500 cables this is now my go to cable . That was in a Copper they make 2 even better ,hard to believe .Stereotimes had a similar experience as myself. Verastarr interconnects are next . |
Its not that its simply a matter of being a few feet between all the wiring in the wall and your equipment, saying the last few feet don’t matter. Its that the last few feet can mess up between the wiring in the wall and your equipment. Stock cables can degrade what is coming from the solid cable in the wall. That’s the point I believe some do not realize. Better cables do not "improve" the sound. They avoid messing up the sound... Then there are some cables that can color the sound in appreciated ways. Stock cords can simply be bland in comparison. The ideal connection? Would be having many outlets from the wall with the inside wiring extending out to the equipment without a power cord. Shielding can matter. Stock cords are generally not shielded. |
I am now a VERY BIG fan of the Art Audio Cables. I just added a pair of their SE 1 power cables to my mono block amps....WOW!! These cables are the real deal. Easily besting cables from Synergistic, Pangea and a host of others. The quality of these cables has to be seen to be believed! My pair came with the truly excellent Furutech connectors and brought my whole system up a notch. Bass is far more realistic and defined, the mids are more accurate and true to life, the upper mid boost that i used to have has been ameliorated and the top end air has increased dramatically. These power cords are incredible and I Highly Recommend them. Thank you Rob Fritz and Art Audio cable...superb sounding cables!! |
I attached an artical I found regarding Shunyata Research power cables. ..."Misconception #3: There is up to a hundred feet of wire in the walls, so the last 6 feet of power cord can't possibly make any difference. Answer: “The power cord is not the last 6 feet, it is the first 6 feet from the perspective of the component. As stated in #1 the local current and electromagnetic effects directly affect the sonic performance of the component.” At the end of the day, I use aftermarket power cords. They do make a difference in my systems. https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/why-power-cables-make-a-difference/ Regards, N |
@thirsty93 You will find a general question on these forums to be taken very seriously. And this discussion has been very good, showing you just how important a power cord is to a system. My power cords (Harmonix Studiomaster) are now picking up cellular frequencies in the 700-800MHz range. So in my system, I can hear this signal at a low level just above the natural room noise floor. So now I’m on the hunt for a new power cord. I wonder if any manufacturer test against picking up Radio Frequency Interference? |
@willemj I know, but, when I used another power cord - a standard power cord, not a thick audiophile one - I was able to influence the noise by moving the cable, twisting the cable, and then I realized, it was acting like an antenna. So I *think* it contributes to my issue. Every little bit helps, and I will take what ever it takes - right now I'm taping aluminum foil all over my racks and it appears to be improving my situation. 👍🏻🤓✅ |
@thirsty93 Check out Cullen Cable. Fantastic power cords; great sound, build and value. http://http//www.cullencable.com/ Cheers, Scott |
Give it a try and simply trust your ears! Why does this piece of wire matter? I don’t know - but may be one of you out there is smart enough to explain it to me. I tweaked my system for years but ignored power cables because I did not see how the last few feet can have an impact. Then I built one DIY cable following my experience with DIY interconnects and speaker cables - oversized solid core single conductor silver in cotton (plus heat shrink for power cord). I first tried it with my CD player (Esoteric K-01 on air platform). The experience was so drastic that I am still upset about myself today because I ignored this important piece of the puzzle for so long! Here is another crazy fun fact for you: When I started to build power cords for all my other gear I did not upgrade the power cord for my TT power supply. How in the world would a power cord have an impact on the sound of a turntable, right? Wrong!!! After itching started again (what the heck) I replaced the power cord to the power supply and the two cables between power supply and turntable of my Kuzma StabiM (all DIY - same recipe). Those three cables elevated the performance of my Kuzma into an even higher league. More resolution, information and detail, more punch, more like real music! Why? I have no clue! But I smile every time I listen to my favorite records and that’s all that counts for me. My advice: Don’t listen to unexperienced sceptics like ... me ( before I messed with power cables). If you have a CD player, start there. If you are a bit handy, don’t waste your hard earned money on overpriced cables with funny names. If anybody is interested in the DIY recipe feel free to contact me. Happy Thanksgiving! |
willemj I am afraid science is not a democracy. Wrong again, Professor. Science is the very definition of a democracy. That’s what the whole peer review process is all about. It’s essentially a voting process. This why it takes so long for new ideas like relativity or gravity waves or black holes to be accepted as real. If science wasn't a democracy any Yutz in town could say, here's some new science, let's go! It’s a process. Not unlike the process of electing a US President. |
Several album tracks I play and enjoy a lot, were not altered by replacing power cords, they were improved upon in terms of resolution and or details. What could not be heard prior to the swap could be heard after the swap. How then is this possible if power cords do nothing but supply power and any power cord would suffice? The areas of improvement were in the bottom most octave on a Stanley turrentine cut, and a clearer midrange depicting subtle cues in the Four Play track off the heartfelt album. What was once silent or audidbly invisible before hand, were plainly evident with a different power cable. This was a repeateable affair. I put the current PCs back into the rig to ensure my discovery was not imagined. Sure enough those sonic cues disappeared. Replacing the amp (s PCs thereafter revealed these bits of the recording once again.) These particular songs were among ‘go to’ cuts I used for determining the system consequent on going alterations. Its about as scientific as any other testing scenario one can conduct in their listening room could determine. An O scope would not have heard those missing sonics, or realized there abrupt presence I don’t think. As said, by other feedback herein, dunno. Don’t care to know. All I know is what I’m hearing and I don’t drink, do drugs, I take nothing in the past couple decades and change, which could artificially change my mood or my mind, so I’m quite sure there was nothing supposed, imaginary, or delisional about my distinctions. Neither did I very much like the notion of being faced with the proposition of having to find another $1000 for a pair of those PCs on the used mkt at the time. But as with every thread of this sort. The only answer that will ever hold water is for the OP to get out there and try a few brands and a model or two within those brands … one at a time to see. Experimenting with tweaking a stereo rig is at times, a labor of love. By golly Miss Molly, you’ll have to love it to deal with the frakin’ tedium that ensues when you start chasing sonic upgrades via cables. They do make a difference as does most any other portion of the outfit, provided it has exceptional resolution, but finding the mix which is in fact better and not just different is IMO frustrating. One thing about doing the ‘’which wire’ dance’, is this, you’ll find out fairly quickly who are the pretenders and who are the contenders. Regardless their claims or pricing. It will help you to have two things. Some IEC to NEMA adapters and more than one system on board. If for no other reason than preventing excessive wear on the main rig. The adapters do the most work. The secondary system is merely further confirmation. Best luck… |
All this discussion on whether or not that power cords make a difference or not o audio reproduction can be proved true or false by scientific measurements alone is a true fallacy. Power cords, power conditioners, interconnects and speaker wires are all the same. In the end it comes to trust in one's own hearing abilities. All I know is that when working with quality audio products that they all make differences. It is so easy. For instance I find that Audioquest power cords as ell as their Niagara 1000 power strips really make a significant difference when used. On the other hand, with my OPPO 205 I find that a JPS digital power cords makes a huge difference compared to using a over three times more costly Audioquest power cord instead. And that is using the JPS digital power cord plugged into an Audioquest Niagara 1000 and matching Audioquest power cord. The beter the audio gear used the more differences can be noticed. One can argue all they want as to wires themself making any significant differences, but to those who have been around the audio game know tht what I am saying is true. In fact the whole subject reminds me of discussions reguarding religion. One either believes or they do not. But in the case of audio, anyone with good hearing can easily note the differences in reality that all this wire stuff does make a difference. Otherwise Michael Fremer himself is a liar and a fraud. All part of the audio conspiracy to spend one's money on nonsense. You can say that Michael is a liar and a fraud and that I am just another hopeless fool. But I turn on my own audio system and I know that I am not. I am not hearing magical voices talking to me. I can replace my power cords, interconnects and speaker wires with generic substitutions, but I know for a fact that my audio system would, in comparison, sound like crap. One simply has to have an open mind on the subject. |
I pondered this question too . What I did was go to a web site and click buy . Then when the little box opened up , I clicked “ 4 “. Then I clicked check out with Pay Pal . When they came , I hooked them up . That was last year , I still have them . When Mr. Tesla chimes in , would somebody please let me know , thanks . Now I’m gonna take my directional ass to a different thread . |
