Power Cable Break In - Such a Change!
I installed a new AudioQuest Dragon Source power cord from my Lumin X1 to my Niagara 7000. The power cord from the wall to the Niagara 7000 is also a Dragon but the High Current version. I bought that cord used.
So, when I first started using the new power cord everything sounded great. However, after a couple of days I started hearing a strident sound. Especially in the upper mid/ treble region. The bass was also constricted. I started blaming the sound change on another piece of equipment that was installed concurrently.
Now, I was under the impression that the Dragon power cord with its DBS system required no break in. But I did inquire about it to AudioQuest who responded that it would still need about 150 hours to break in. It's been close to that now and sure enough yesterday I started hearing the glorious sound that I heard from day one with the power cord only perhaps better.
I must say the difference during break in and now is quite remarkable, I don't remember any other power cord going through this amount of dramatic change.
ozzy
I only have a TV input that is SS, and an old CD player which is getting rehabilitated. The preamp and phono amp are both tube units.
Do they also sport the aftermarket cords?
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Thanks @ozzy I am pretty sure that my valve amps don’t need them, because they play for many seconds after the power is switched off. And on the preamp and phono side I doubt they would do much…(?) Are most people that find pleasure with them on SS electronics? |
holmz, Through the years I have been buying and selling to improve my set up. Most of my equipment has been purchased used or at very good deals. With that being said, to me, the power that is used forms the foundation of any quality system. That is; dedicated lines, outlets, power conditioners, power cords, etc. It will not make the component sound better than designed, but it will help them sound there best. BTW, to obtain the Dragons, I sold almost every power cord, interconnect, tweak I had that was not being used. ozzy |
@ozzy out of interest how much $ do the conditioners and (what is it 3-4 power cables?) set you back? I suspect with 2-4 interconnects, and 3-4 power cables it could be getting to a large percentage of my front and cost. |
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. Yes, it was a leap of faith with the Dragon, I’m glad it worked out. I had good reason to believe it would because I already own the Niagara 7000 and I thought there would be synergy, and there is! Perhaps those with Synergistic power conditioners will find the Synergistic cables to work better with that equipment, I guess that would also apply to Shunyata and so on. ozzy |
@ozzy - I was going on your comment about hoping that you wouldn't regret selling your SR power cable. |
@ozzy - I think what I find most curious is your willingness to sell one power cord before having the opportunity to verify that the new one is indeed preferred. I recognize that the power cords you're using represent a much more significant impact than anything that I own, but I still hang on to the old until I know that I've moved on. |
Hey Ozzy,
Just tagged you on another topic (JL Audio CR-1).
As far as the cable thing, yeah.. probably not ideal with a drastic bend that could weaken the metal, but man... worrying about bending a cable a bit that's designed to be pliable is overkill... At any rate, I wasn't intending to single you out.. I just go a bit nuts with all the miro-detail worrying that goes on in our hobby.... |
Really? Bending a cable will affect its performance?? Wondering... how were YOUR cables delivered to you? were they laid flat on a 2x4 to keep them straight?... or were they coiled on a tight circle with a continuous bend and shipped in a box? This is the sort of topic that drives me crazy and leads to needless worry about peoples hard earned investment in quality gear! As we say in the bike racing world... shut up and RIDE! In this case... shut up and enjoy! |
thanks digitalviper, I probably have about 300 hours on the latest and final Dragon cord and it has transformed into such a quality producing component. The bass is natural and very deep and the soundstage envelops around. I swear I hear things even behind my head! (Even when I'm not drinking!) LOL! Expensive, but once the foundation is set every piece of equipment performs at its best. ozzy |
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Nice thread Ozzy! Curious as the which outlet your using? I have an Edison along with An Furutech ncf which I do prefer to the Edison but if going the full AQ setup it would be my outlet of choice to take advantage of the benefits you seem to be experiencing so far. The Edison uses hanging Silver plating and has beautiful harmonic structure and top to bottom coherence. |
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When I bought my turn-of-the-century built home: much of the remaining wiring was still varnished cotton insulated. As cotton was recognized to be a not-so-great insulator, that kind of wiring was threaded throughout the house, captive in ceramic spools (knob and tube wiring), like this: https://www.canadianhomeinspection.com/home-reference-library/electrical/knob-tube-wiring/ Of course: that was before we figured out how to synthesize the plastics and rubber substitutes, that are better insulators. Cotton has an excellent, very low, Dielectric Constant, but: mixing it with another material will add that material's Constant to the cotton's. That includes: laying the cables on the floor/carpeting. A concept many don't understand, but: why some will hear differences, in their homes/systems, when using cable lifters. Here's a PDF chart to save, that may be of use far as choosing materials, for the DIY cable guys: https://www.kabusa.com/Dilectric-Constants.pdf
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Holmz. Cotton is one of the best. I use it in my cabling extensively. It is mostly air in construct, plus it is resistant (immune) to energy storage. Being an organic fiber is a very good thing. I build interconnects and USB cables with cores and jackets made from cotton. Biggest issue is that it does not inhibit oxidation of the conductors. That has to be taken care through other means. In my cabling those means are proprietary. |
Regarding that dielectric polarization/break-in time factor: My first SR power cable (Reference A/C Master Coupler, w/Polyethylene), didn't have their active shielding and MPC. Took quite a while. That cable's feeding a Hafler 9505 subwoofer amp, now. My second* had the MPC/active shielding (still: Polyethylene) and performed with excellence, straight from the box, with very little change over time. A major difference, twix the two. *Feeds Stealth Power Purifier and the rest of the system.
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Yeah @ozzy I speared off thinking about the higher freq interconnects and speaker cables. |
What about cotton then? |
Well, I sold the SR power cable in one day to a great member here on Audiogon. There were many inquiries. I hope I don't regret it. Anyway, today I will be ordering my last Dragon to complete the power cable loom. Probably won't get it for a couple of weeks and then the break in process starts again... ozzy |
Chris knows. His experiences dovetail with my own. Teflon is a PITA when it comes to break-in... hours and hours and hours. Polypropylene is better when it comes to time. Polyethylene takes less time, yet. Foamed versions of each are quicker. Thing is, they all sound different. Teflon is clean and "fast" in character. Polyethylene is the most organic, with polypropylene somewhere between in sonics. |
This is so true ozzy...i alternate my diy cables every week to two weeks.I left my vh audio 4/12 quads in and they have at least 1000 hrs...but something has dailed in with them this weekend.Soundstage is perfect ...tone/timber spot on.Clarity went up a notch.Talked to chris this morning he was saying 600-800...it seems teflon takes alot of current/time is all i can figure.I cant run system to levels that i could at old house,Thats what keeps us trying i guess 🎶 |
pokey77, Thank you, you my friend have actually experienced the phenomenon of cable break in. With some cables this change is extreme. Many that deny it have never really experienced it they are just stating their opinion. Which is the same that I held many years back until a dealer offered me to try a Synergistic Research Master Coupler. When I first tried it, I couldn't believe it. This cable did indeed provide better bass etc. But how can that be? It's just a cable made of wire. That started me down the road as to not forming an opinion especially on audio components until you try it. It is strange but it clearly occurs. Even used cable needs some time to resettle to sound its best. ozzy |
jafant, I did start out with the intent of using all SR power cords. Until I read that my AudioQuest Niagara 7000 power conditioner works best with their power cords. So, I first started with the Hurricane and liked what I heard and moved on to the Dragon. Now I am trying to assemble an all Dragon set up. The SR Galileo SX is a very awesome power cord. ozzy |
Thanks for your comments. As you say, in your system. I am buying a Hurricane… it seems to perfectly balance the warmth and detail. I’ll see if my dealer wants to get a Dragon for me to try… we are friends, I am sure he will. I’ll give it a try… I’m betting on my intuition on this… but I always try to verify… somethimes I’m right, sometimes not. We will see. |
Most power cords I've had in my system burned in within a week. I remember one specific PC, a Nordost Frey 2. I borrowed one from my dealer to audition and it was long ago burned in, so when I put it in my system, it took probably less than a day to reach optimum sound; I asked my dealer if I could just keep it and pay him and he agreed. I discovered that week that it was a "demo" cable and so I asked my dealer to get me a new one. I put the new one in my system and it sounded horrible. But after four days it opened up and sounded like the "demo" cable. I really wish there were no burnin required, but I can honestly say that with every component or wire change, there was some amount of burnin before the item reached best sound quality.
Except for the usual naysayers @ozzy, I'm enjoying your thread. |
