@jfrmusic I recommended Nordost Frey 2 to you in one of your threads. The strengths of Frey 2 are clarity, air, extended but sweet top end and fast articulate bass. These cables bring a degree of musical excitement I have not experienced with other power cords.
Keep cooking your amp until you have about 300hrs on it and give the Frey 2 a try. It should compliment your system well with the harbeths. I can’t recommend Audioquest Thunder, Tornado or Hurricane - these were syrupy, thick and bottom heavy in my system. I just don’t think they would be a good match in a system with Harbeth speakers. I would not recommend this level Nordost cables for a system with lesser quality components - the tend to just let everything shine, good or bad. But you have very high quality source. Don’t mask it. Just my opinion.
Power Cord for Accuphase Amplifier
I have a new Accuphase P-4600 amplifier and am looking for a power cord to replace the stock. So far I’ve tried the Cullen Crossfire and the IceAge OFC Frankencable. While both cables have worked well on my source components they have not performed better than the stock on the amplifier. So to those who have Accuphase amplifiers what power cable has worked for you?
As I mentioned in other threads Accuphase strongly recommends that you use only the stock cord and so far that has been the best. The. other two have resulted in a darker sound with less soundscape openness.
I’ve been trying to stay under $500 for the cord but would be willing to go a little higher if it improves the amps performance.
Showing 12 responses by audphile1
@jfrmusic I have tried power cords and other cables at various price points. Unfortunately I haven’t come across any giant killers yet. As with any component or cables you have to hear it in your system to gauge the degree of improvement if any. So best to either buy used or buy new or open box with return policy. Power to your amplifier and the speaker cables are probably the two most important links in the cabling chain. I’ll be blunt. With the level of components you have I wouldn’t waste time and money looking for a miracle with $200-$500 cables from boutique manufacturers. Use stock or get the cabling that’s on the same level with the rest of your components. |
They’ll just have you eat fugu sushi prepared by a trainee. |
@ghdprentice it’s like a label on a mattress. If you remove it you will go to jail. |
+1 @lalitk Audience is excellent. I owned several different power cords, interconnects and speaker cables. Their power cords (AU24se-i which were replaced by Studio One) are probably one of the best power cords I ever heard on 3 different DACs. They’re ever so slightly warm but not rolled off, with great bass and mids. I also highly recommend Audience speaker cables. AU24SX and FrontRow are fantastic. |
I would say any recommendation within a context of a completely different system and room acoustics, even if using the same amplifier, given unknown personal preferences and perception of good sound, isn’t any more valid than a general recommendation for a power cord that works great on amplifiers. I wouldn’t be that frustrated if I were you garebear… |
Because we’re enthusiasts here always looking for ways to improve sound and our listening experience. This hobby is about music, the gear that reproduces it, and the quality of the reproduction. If it’s music only enjoyment, any $50 half decent Bluetooth speaker would suffice
Accuphase like all manufacturing include a decent certified power cable that gets you started. There’s nothing wrong with trying a good aftermarket power cord to scratch the upgrade itch, satisfy curiosity and may be improve presentation. No plugs will scratch the IEC connectors. I’ve not seen one yet with any of the power cords I ever used. |
I guess I do not value my gear or anything else I have at all, simply because I don’t own a microscope. I use high quality power cords. I do not use hospital grade outlets as they strip the plating off the connectors on the power cords. The connectors I use are either gold or rhodium plated and they’re polished smooth to avoid scratching IEC. |