Power cord choice?
That makes a lot of sense. 15A inlets, esp with the female connectors having that notch in it, makes for a swiveling connection. I was advised, and will do it soon, to wrap the connection in Teflon tape to tighten the fit. Funny you should mention, I tried a swiveling connection with my female and had the same problem with it sliding out. Tried Kegel. Never thought to try Teflon. |
I guess I am the moron now. I’d rather trust you guys over Armirm at Audio science Review. He’s not that accomplished of a guy, I looked him up, He probably bought that $28,000 piece of review equipment off of the interest he made on his money this month after retiring from Microsoft. He’s probably bored so he decided to start a website. Here is his story. I am Electrical Engineer by degree (and hobby) although most of my professional experience has been in software development. After 35 years in technology sector, I retired as VP of Digital Media at Microsoft in 2008. I am founder of Madrona Digital which is a company that specializes in mid to high-end electronics for residential and commercial properties. I also advise local companies in digital media and co-founded a company in that domain that was sold a few years ago. Hey Polly and vinyl shadow why don’t you post your chops up here and let’s see who the group would rather follow. |
Was talking with Max Townshend the other day. Long rambling talk from one fascinating subject to another. At some point he mentioned I should check out this Audio Science Review, the founder is right here in Seattle. So I go check it out. WTF? Not one even slightly interesting subject. Would not have thought this even possible. Eventually I decide to bite the bullet, try and read this one post that was pinned and seemed to be sort of a statement of what the site is all about. WTF?! They apparently are all about justifying a certain level of expense, but no more, and you are a fool to pay more than whatever that level is, according to their mandarins, as determined by their own arcane semi-mystical set of measurements. It was at this point I knew Max Townshend is a prankster with a wry and very witty sense of humor. |
I don’t know Max but after seeing his videos which are very science-based I would guess that he would agree with the audio science review. Most scientists know how to speak the same language. Maybe all of you guys should meet on Bob carvers boat and talk about science and measurements and cables. If those three Guys would say that cables made a difference then I would believe it. |
A buddy sent me a Triode Wire Labs 10 plus PC to try. Put it on my amp Saturday and the change was immediate and amazing. Not subtle, huge and not debatable. Most of the audiophile superlatives apply. Soundstage width, depth, presence. Fuller slightly warmer tone but more detail and bass. I'm listening at lower volume but hearing more. Tamed a bit of an edge with my ribbon tweeter. I ordered a TWL 7 plus cord today. Really incredible. |
@bajaed Great to hear. I had an audiophile power cable maker analyze the Triode Wire High Power Digital power cable and he said it was a really good, definitely good sounding cable for the money($800). If I could only spend $800 on a power cable meant for high current devices, I would definitely buy another Triode HP Digital American(especially to power a power conditioner)....So I am not surprised that any/all of Pete's cables are great. |
I guess I am the moron now. I’d rather trust you guys over Armirm at Audio science Review. He’s not that accomplished of a guy, I looked him up, He probably bought that $28,000 piece of review equipment off of the interest he made on his money this month after retiring from Microsoft. He’s probably bored so he decided to start a website. Here is his story. Well there's a sucker born every minute :-) |
A crack in the Standard model? Fast forward to 5:30 if you don't want to wait. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PMcRNRtuHs |
Picking up my TWL 7 PC today. It's going on my integrated and I'm going to try the loaner TWL 10 on my phono pre. Also am demoing an Analysis Plus Power Oval 2 that I will rotate in. Should be an interesting few days. We have some friends visiting as well so listening time will be limited till Tuesday. |
I’ve got Apogee Duetta II Signatures with a big BAT VK-600 with bat pack solid state amp and VK-5i tube preamp with a Node2 streamer and MHDT Orchid tube DAC. My speaker cables are Symo LS4X. All of my power cords and interconnects are entry level Silnote Audio and I’m extremely happy with them. The power cords are only around $100 each. For more details check out my virtual system. |
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I’ve tried many power cables from $ to $$$$. It is not only system dependent but also dependent on which component it’s used on. Therefore be sure you can try or preferably compare several at same time before final sale. Interesting effect I’ve come across is ‘ground path’ plays big role with power cables check out stealth brand cables to learn about/understand it although they are out of price range. A dark or bright cable could be exposing noise in your system to investigate. I found Greatest power related benefit using equitech balanced power standalone unit. Undid my 4 separate dedicated lines in favor of balanced unit. If you go that route wait on cable purchase because it changes things. Btw Subs and computer/hardrives are big noise producer on ac lines to other components. Obtained huge benefit with furutech top line connectors opposed to same cable without them. On lower price end try vh audio airlsine great for price and for very basic budget but good quality try signal cable brand in ny. Upgrade a/c outlet in wall porter port ac outlet inexpensive furutech also good but more expensive option. My preferred order to proceed 1 wall outlet 2 balanced power 3 cables - biggest improvement preamp then music server then dac Hopefully saved you some time and $$ Happy Listening |
If you can find a used Audioquest Thunder, that would be my pick. I never believed in power cords other than having at least a proper gauge to provide enough current until I tried the Audioquest Storm series. I too couldn't believe that a power cord could make any difference. I was wrong. My experience with the AQ cords is that they lower noise. I would have been very happy not to drop $$$ on power cords but the right ones can make a difference. Also, if you are using a power conditioner like a PS Auido P20 or similar using something like the AQ Storm Series cords between your conditioner and equipment is a real plus. The very low impedance of a well engineered power cord with reduce compression of the sound stage in complex passages. |
Anticables power cords are audibly better in my systems. No doubt there are other manufacturers who make good power cords but I think they are exceptional. They have an easy trial policy that makes trying one a no risk proposition. I was quite sceptical before about power cords (and regenerators) - no longer. |
Once again, sales pitches from commissioned people are influencing buying choices. I think the best person to consider for this advice is the designer of the product. If he, or the bean counters, compromised on such a simple piece of wiring, you should buy a different product, rather than second guessing a compromised design by pouring more money into it. If the power cord is not the best needed for the application of an expensive piece of equipment, the engineer/designer has wasted his time with the rest of the design, and more than likely also used other cheap parts inside the unit. AS far as asking another audiophile, one must control for all possible differences, from the amps, speakers, sources, and of course the room acoustics. But! Keep trying. I have always enjoyed watching people continue wasting time, as I am now doing, striving to adjust their psyches to try to gain approval, both from others and from their view of themselves, as they strive for perfections that continue retreat from us, maybe logrythmically, faster than we can learn that the idea of finding perfection is futile. Just enjoy the music! Don't worry about it. If you hear something that sounds better, decide if it is for you. Quit inventing problems to solve. There are only a few hosts who are worse than an audiophile who, rather than playing good music for his guests, obsesses over a few bars of music, while asking... well, no matter what he asks it is always, "Am I cool enough, yet?" |
Rsjm80, the problem when you ask a question like yours is that people start recommending power cords and don’t really consider or realize the issue. I myself can not recommend any power cord to you unless I personally hear the cord your presently using and can then know what cord I’ve heard that might give you what your looking for. I think anyone who’s posted info to help who’s heard your present power cord might offer the best advice. I have a ton of cords, amps, preamps, cables etc and I would not guide anyone unless I’m familiar with the item they are presently using. |
I have been exceedingly happy with the AudioQuest Thunder power Cord that I use with my AQ Niagara 1200 power conditioner. As I worked my up the AQ line, from the NRG thru the AQ Blizzard and finally the Thunder, I became more aware of a much better sound quality in my system. As Garth Powell from AudioQuest explains in his many videos and interviews, power cords and conditioners on their own do not add anything to the music, they increase the clarity and detail in recorded music by removing RFI and EMI, and nothing more. |
I saw this thread a little late. I recently picked up two Shunyata Venom 3 power cables on the used market to pair with PSE Studio V Monoblocks. Really tightened up the bottom end and opened up the soundstage. I know it's some of Shunyata's older technology but at $200 for the pair it is a very effective tweak. Check out the reviews. Happy cable hunting! |
danvignau Once again, sales pitches from commissioned people are influencing buying choices.So it's a conspiracy, is that what you're claiming? ... I have always enjoyed watching people continue wasting time, as I am now doing, striving to adjust their psyches to try to gain approval, both from others and from their view of themselves, as they strive for perfections ...That's an odd hobby - even weirder than being an audiophile. |
Each of us has different equipment and different power supplied to us. Mine comes in underground in a large community. Others live in electrically noisy condos. Some systems are mid-fi where small changes aren't apparent to the sound. Others are big bucks where everything you do is audible, good or bad. No one here can really make this choice for you. To choose for my low six figure system, I did a personal cable shootout. With owned cables and and borrowed from many dealers and The Cable Company lending program (Recommended) I accumulated about a dozen PC's ranging in price from $500. to $5000. from all the major manufactures mentioned here. Fortunately, price seemed to make little difference to the sound advantage. I ended up with Shunyata from a dedicated wall outlet to a Denali 2 conditioner and Audioquest Hurricane and Tornado from there to the tube amps and dCS digital sources. Expensive, yes, but far from the most costly and appropriate to the rest of my system. I can't say they are the right choices for you... just get well recommended cables ON LOAN and try them out. I buy nothing that doesn't make a positive difference in the sound of my system. |
danvignau901 posts07-30-2021 9:31am I have always enjoyed watching people continue wasting time, as I am now doing, striving to adjust their psyches to try to gain approval, both from others and from their view of themselvesThis is very odd indeed. I cannot help but observe from your post that both groups are wasting time: 1) audiophiles in their pursuit for perfectness, and 2) you I wonder who is really wasting more valuable time here, the audiophiles with their systems and enjoyments of music and good audio, or you, reading and writing about them |
Hydraulics provide a good analogy for those who do not understand electrical flow. My recommendations in an AC cord would be limited to those that are either large diameter (small gauge number) with great material (best copper - I do not know about silver for this application) and good connectors. If you can solder, I also highly recommend making cables, although I do not know if this is appropriate for power cables. I also have personally found that Audioquest or Synergistic Research power cords with potential EMF surrounds also sound better. In your price range, I would recommend Audioquest Blizzard or preferably Thunder (high current). My system is custom mains from box to wall (underground line direct from step down transformer in a rural setting - power is measurably excellent) > Audioquest wall receptacle > Nordost power system with ground > SR Euphoria power cords to all equipment > Esoteric X-01XD SACD player with external Cybershaft OCXO master clock (OP-19) > Luxman CL1000 preamplifier > Audio Research 250SE power amplifier > Wilson Audio Sasha DAW speakers. Balanced XLR connectors are Shunyata Sigma (1st and 2nd generation), speaker cables are SR Galileos. Custom underground listening cavern with passive absorption and active spectrum reflections at pre-determined locations. |
Since my music was a bit too warm to my ear (I probably overdid with my $4500 speaker cables by Roznent II Bis...could not return them or exchange :( ) so I just cut off power cord that was feeding my upright Frigidaire freezer and spliced it into my system...wow...just wow! Everything came to the right balance. And with the freezer...I just used that cable for charging smart phone...was tricky with all the thin wires to get them settle in a typical plug...but I did it! ps. sorry of all the product name dropping...but have no association with Roznent or Frigidaire |
