My audio/ video system runs from a single 20-amp dedicated line using 10ga (30 amp rated) wire from panel to outlet. I am in a rural area, my house is 225+ years young and the stone foundation has 6-inch hand-hewn posts at the base of the walls, making electrical work and modifications a nightmare. Wall outlet is Cardas, plugged via Shunyata Alpha to a Furman IT-REF 15i power conditioner. A Wisdom power distribution box adds more outlet capacity to the Furman. Instead of a long ethernet cable from router to my system on the other side of the house, I use fiber optic cable with converters to minimize electrical noise to feed the streamer and home theatre. My system grew from 5.1 to 7.2.4 home theatre, then I added a separate audio setup to it to stream music. With all the gear, I have 15 devices plugged in, 17 interconnects and 13 speaker cables; a huge tangle of spaghetti behind the rack.
I’ve been upgrading everything on the audio side, driving myself crazy in the process to reach some level of audio contentment. My room layout is far from ideal, but it is a shared space with the wife, her daytime office and my listening/ HT area at night, so it is what it is. One of the upgrades/ tweaks I tried were various flavors of the Synergistic Research HFTs, which my wife calls “bugs,” placed as unobtrusively as possible around the room. They were additive, not game-changers, but enough of a positive to keep them.
Cognoscenti on this Forum consider power cords as a reliable upgrade path. My foray with cords from quality manufacturers, albeit from the modest, not top end of their lines, has produced small yet not transformative improvements. Even buying used, I have a hard time rationalizing a low to mid four figure investment to get to the next level. (Yes, I am familiar with The Cable Co’s lending library as a resource). I also tried Herbie’s footers to reduce vibrations (no discernible help but kept them just in case) and a Synergistics Research Tranquility Pod, but the results were marginal at best, and back it went.
Having read the positive reviews, I thought the Snubway would be a cost-effective means to improve SQ. I hate to be a naysayer, but after 72+ hours of it being plugged into the unused outlet on the Cardas duplex receptacle, with my system/ room/ ears, I could hear no difference when plugging and unplugging the Snubway. After a week, there was still no joy. As you can see, I am all for tweaks and modifications. Depending on the device, I can hear changes with a new streamer, DAC or better interconnect, but the Snubway didn’t do it for me. I am very happy for the many satisfied users out there and do not for a moment question the positive impact on your systems. It just didn’t work for me. Oh well, my loss.
Btw, I tip my hat to Vera-Fi, as they were honorable and efficient with their 30-day no questions asked satisfaction guarantee. Dealing with them was easy-peasy, to the point where I would give another of their products a shot when I have an audio itch that needs a good scratch. Best in the new year to all,
Robert