Reterminating Audioquest Hurricane HC


I have an AQ Hurricane HC with C13 termination on female end. I would like to change it out for a C19. Is this a bad idea? My new amp requires a C19 termination.

I've tried emailing AQ. Can I do this myself? Are there any of you out there that can do it?

ullogu1

Personally, I would purchase an adapter from VooDoo. I have tested many of their adapters and heard no difference in sound.

I was going to buy a used Audioquest Dragon power cord with a EU Schuko plug and AQ quoted me $250 to change to US. This was only a few weeks ago.

I would recommend you either do this or go with the Voodoo option. I use the Voodoo adaptors regularly on different cables and they make zero difference.

Don't mess with the cable yourself....

There is nothing magic about terminating a cable. Just like I don’t like to let some high school drop out work on my Mercedes (I’m talking about the kids that work at the dealership) I much prefer to terminate my own cables.

Those who always say "let the OEM do it" are expressing their own limitations, not yours. I don’t know what your limitations are.

jerry

Your only limitation is squashing resale value once you attempt surgery, successful or not. Adapters, as mentioned are the way to go.

@ullogu1 

Surgery will kill the value of the cord and adapters usually aren’t good for quality.

Maybe you can sell the C-13 and buy the C-19??
 

All the best.

One of the things about the Hurricane is the tremendously tight fitting on both ends, but particularly on the female end. This is a $2K power cord. I think they put a lot of work into it. I would have AudioQuest do it or swap for a cord with one with the correct fittings. 
 

I guess technically it depends on your equipment… whether you are going to hear the difference. But this is such an amazing product I would not compromise it. I guess if you really want to save money get an adapter. I would not destroy the cord.

Not exactly surgery involved. Just unscrew the connection and replace it. Very easy and took about 10 minutes.

@lak      You have tested many adapters and don't hear any difference in sound?

Can't be true.  Mains cords, fuses, plugs have all been reported many times as causing large sound improvements, even putting your wiring on stones or other objects.

Does this bring some hope of posts here moving into the real world?  Or should we listen to @curiousjim and all the others?

@clearthinker I should have been more specific and said I tested the VooDoo 15 to 20 and 20 to 15 adapters and did not notice a degradation in sound/music.

 

The right way is the only way when one wants the best and most proper outcome.  By allowing Audioquest to do the work it will be done properly.  That power cord is not just a single conductor for each, the positive and the negative.  Also, you will want the Audioquest C-19 part and not something else, off the shelf, so to speak.  Adaptors are for entry level systems, not true high-fidelity and high-resolution systems.  I strongly encourage to have Audioquest do the job.  It will be done properly, and you will have peace of mind that it is.

Although I have never had the pleasure of experiencing an AQ Dragon cable, it seems to me that an aftermarket adapter plug or a DIY plug replacement are both inferior options, especially replacing the plug yourself.

Regardless of the level of confidence you have in your own abilities, there is almost 0% chance of a future buyer feeling that same confidence. Just to save a few dollars, you end up with an inferior plug and a lower resale value.

I would spend the $250 and send it to Audioquest. 

 

I did have one of my firebirds converted to the specific connector needed for my Boulder amp, and for that it went back to audioquest. But simply switching from a c19 to a c15 was easily done at my dealer for no charge 

 

I have a Hurricane high current that I sent in to Audioquest to be reterminated from a c15 to a c19 a couple of years ago.  When returned they sent me back the c15 plug as well.   Since then I’ve changed the plugs out myself depending on my needs at the moment.  Very easy to do.  I personally don’t plan on ever selling it as it’s nice having the flexibility.