Make your own & put the saved money to a better use.
Furutech OCC copper & plugs. Just my $.02
Power cord
Looking at spending around $1500 2 m audioquest or Nordost
65 responses Add your response
I spent around that per cord 1.5 meter for Furetech DPS-4.1 with ncf plugs, I also see the prices have come down $100 per meter. It's not just oxygen free copper as some say who are not familiar with it. Ive only compared to Analysis plus ultimate oval which are more expensive and not as good to me in my system. I paid a lot less for those used. And that oval plus won't fit all the way in to the ncf plugs, I know because I replaced the ends on the plus with the ncf's. |
+1 @audphile1 |
https://www.thecableco.com/heimdall-2-power-cord.html https://www.thecableco.com/specials/thunder-high-current-power-cord.html sign up for the lending library, borrow each of them, keep the one you prefer |
Assuming you have the sound quality you want and do not want the tonal balance changed at all, I recommend a used AudioQuest Hurricane. High level Nordost are great … but at this intermediate level (for Nordodt), I would recommend the AudioQuest. This might be out of your budget… but 2meters sound better than 1 meter power cords. I use Transparent power cords on all my components except for my power amp… that is a Hurricane. I cannot recommend it enough. I would have gone with a high current Transparent but it was several times the price. |
@audphile1 is absolutely correct. Don’t buy any power cords you haven’t auditioned in your system! Just because a set of cords sounds good in someone else’s system doesn’t mean it’s going to sound good in yours. |
The OP posed a tricky question 1. There’s no information on what the cord is for - source component, preamp, amp, active speakers, power conditioner. Is the $1500 price range for a used cable or new 2. What brand/model component is it 3. What’s the system consist of 4. Preference for sound - warm, dark, bright? Everyone will try to recommend what they like. Every system is different and even if someone has exactly the same component or even the exact same system, no two rooms sound alike. The way the question is posed it’s impossible to make even a remotely valid recommendation. I’ve used 3 different AQ power cords and I don’t care for them. I also tried Furutech DPS 4.1 with NCF for connectors. I have all nordost power cables now. All this tells you is what I like in my system in my room. Means nothing to you. |
this is one of the very few times I agree with you @1971gto455ho |
Have you auditioned both and arrived at these two brands as your final choice? Of the two at your price point I would choose AQ. If you have not auditioned, add WyWires Platinum. I preferred them over similarly priced AQ. Very neutral, spacious and detailed SQ without being cool and analytical (like how I find Nordost). Personal preference. Read pro reviews and add to your audition list. The designer, Alex, is a pleasure to work with. |
@brunomarcs I sure would like to know where you are seeing DPS 4.1 power cable for $100 a meter. VH Audio lists them for $394/meter. |
Hey. I started this thread sometime ago. I hope that it helps some. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-noob-asking-about-power-cables |
@pinwa DPS 4.1 is $100 per meter less than it was previously @480.00 per meter from Douglas connection and elsewhere! This suggest to me that Furetech hasn't been selling much of this stuff and wants it gone more than likely, probably had a bad review! The plugs are also $20 less than previously. We all take a hit. |
Someone suggested Furutech NCF power cords and I was curious. So I investigated. Information from their website is pasted below, which can only be believed by the most gullible, faith based, snake oil believers. If I am wrong please explain the science of nano-crystals, carbon powder, conversion of thermal energy into far infrared, etc. 😜
|
| Post removed |
@1971gto455ho stick to audio and stay out of politics. And stay on topic. Do you have any experience with $1500 AQ and Nordost power cord? If not, shut up. |
@unclewilbur I’m sure people at Furutech are much more qualified to answer your inquiry than anyone on these forums. Let us know what they respond with. |
Dear audphile 1, Not nice to tell people to shut up.. especially when their conversation or comments weren’t directed towards you personally. This is a public form and I’m not privy to your location nor do I care, I will say this is also good for you !! I’m a very big very well trained individual that try’s to get along with even the simplest folk with or without manners. I’ve had time to think about that, so let’s stick to audio…and stay healthy. |
Clearly you either didn’t have enough time to think about it or you didn’t think about it enough. Not very smart of you to threaten anyone in a public forum. Keep your politics, your threats and your baseless statements to yourself. Try’s to think about that a bit…may be you will get along even better with everyone if you re-evaluate your manners. Have a good night, very big and very trained amigo |
Apparently it’s you that has to learn to read. My original post wasn’t directed at any individual. You chose to tell me to shut up and stay out of politics which I said nothing about in the first place. Perhaps knots in your panties ? With regards to threats, wouldn’t take much of a Lawyer to realize there is no direct threat Implied. Sounds to me as others I’m sure, you take pleasure in your pontification. So buddy we’ll move on from this, I’ll shut up you should eat a few Gummy’s Find a bag of chips and a friend. |
What the heck is Gummy’s? Anyways take a deep breath - we’re done here.
|
Please don't waste your money on Nordost power cords at that price level you will not hear any difference, Nordost begins at Vahalla 2 and through the Odin line which is not in the same price range. I have personally demo'd every Nordost cable on my system. Also I agree with a lot of the others if you can the best way is to borrow them from a an authorized audio store and hear them yourself on your system, listening to them in stores is a waste. You need to hear it yourself on your system not components that are not yours, in rooms that are not yours.
Good luck if you find the right cable power cords can make a huge difference but you must find the right cable.
|
Hello, (this is an update to my previous response on power cable options. I've added another source for raw cable/connectors. A few other responses suggest "...build your own...". I prefer to add a few source websites to that suggestion so that you can further research the diy option). I'm a DIY'er and prefer to assemble my own cables. Using this option allows one to assemble high end audiophile cables at a 50/70% savings vs the same ready made cable(s). Another benefit is making them the length that is needed. Here are my primary sources for raw cable and various terminal ends.
If you have not yet diy'd cables there are several videos that serve as tutorials/guides. No special tools or soldering needed, just good quality wire cutters, wire strippers, Phillips screwdriver, heat shrink tubing (various colors to give the cables your "signature"look) and a heat gun. Take your time and you will produce cables you can be proud of. Oh and the bank that you save can be invested toward other elements of your rig. Enjoy |
I have some upgraded power cords going to my amp and CD player. I never could hear the difference, but I had them around so I use them. Most of my system is plugged into an old Monster AVS 2000 Transformer. I have no idea how much that helps make my system sound better. I bought it many years ago and did A/B tests then, but have forgotten the results. (So, they didn't realy matter that much.) My amp is plugged into the wall, as advised by people who say amps need to draw a lot of power sometimes and transformers and such can act as a bottleneck when the amp needs that rush of power. Good amps have internal power supplies, however, where they store the power they need. So, I don't exactly understand what an expensive power cord buys you. Yes, I can see that it would provide cleaner power through better metals, but the power is going to get stored inside the amps power supply. Will the amp really know if that power came through a better pipe? Isn't it all just power once it enters an amps power supply? Forgive my ignorance of electronics. |
Not a bad read and some of the cable summaries I can actually agree with from experience. https://audiobacon.net/2019/08/17/27-audiophile-power-cables-reviewed/ |
As most have said, cables are going to be different in everyone's system. Nordost good stuff really does start at the Heimdall and above. Audioquest PC start at Thunder and above. For my system, I had Nordost Red dawn and Blue Heaven for all of my components. I made a single upgrade on my amp to an Audioquest Tornado HC PC. After that, I upgraded most of my components to Audioquest Tornado's, they just sounded better. To be fair, the Audioquest cables were 2x the price of the Nordost cables I had. |
