Which power cord more important?

I've found once both ends of the chain are accessorized properly, the middle can stand some looking at too.

My exp does say either and both ends. Which ever is first is first. So what? Pick one and go for it!

Out of pure coincidence I put some onto the amps I had at the time. Then my source got one added to it. Then I added a passive power filter. Then a power cord for the filter.

Then I changed things and did it all over agin, but differently.

Where ever is just fine. Amp first? Fine. Do that.

Eventually, all the ingredients are in the pot, right?

The supply cord to the filter is as key as anything else though. It's 'flavor' will be introduced into anything downstream of it. So in effect, the effect on the amp and it's sound is the combination of it's directly connected power cable, the filter or device to which it is connected, AND the supply cable feeding that filter.

Cook for 200 hours minimum if new, 100 if used, season to taste with software .... feeds reserved seating, and standing room only, as a rule.

Further notes

By & large, my exp shows me the higher up the cable feeding chart I went ($$$-wise) the greater the noticed influence on my gear.

The beeter the gear, the more easily noticed the changes were.

When I've sought to supplant one or more cords ie., mono blocks, other pc's sometimes need to be changed as well... or the ICs themselves.

I got pointed towards Voodoo cables for a look see into power cables early on. That proved a good move IMO. Various levels there provided me quite different results and that exp laid the foundation for my speculations on higher priced cables affording certainly different, and often, better performance.

i stoppped at the Voodoo gold Dragons for amps. Bruce's Tesla II is different and questionably better. The Golds are simply best for amps, but can be placed about anywhere.

The Shunyata Python (red) is demonstrably better than the Golds, but tends to be a bit grainier. The VX version is my preff of the two, and ONLY for wayward didgital or spinning devices. The helix ver of the same cord was entirely different, being more refined, no grain, yet threw the SS way back from the LP. Loads of rear of stage info. Although the Helix was a tad more delicate sounding than the previous Red tipped ver, it possessed the same ipactful bass, and upper end extension. no matter where it was placed, yet proved beter on higher current drawing gear... eg., amps.

The Elrod Sig III simply put is an amp cable. Tube or SS, amps are it's 'Soup du Jour'. It does little wrong if anything. Arguably the lower end impact seems attenuated at first listen, and well maybe, yet following some ear adjusting, it seems more natural. I think some may call that 'tightening the bass'.

Likewise at the other end of the scale, I've found Audience, mid level to entry level PSA, Kimber (below the PK10 Pladium) to not show themselves as major players by contrast. In other words, they simply were different sounding... not truly improving upon or raising the bar of the sonic recreation.... albeit, better than OEM cables at least.

Every move or addition builds upon the last change in the system... and why I say Get in where you fit in... things will ultimately come together for you, regardless where you begin.

Different is a lot easier to find in cabling, than is truly better.

Good luck.

My statements here are based on my own exp and point to those folks who aren't extremely well vested financially.

With respect to all others, my exp with wires which are best used through the whole of the system are as fine and well as that scenario indicates. Just as with components, one achieves a more certain step to overall synergy by going 'same same' all over. Sometimes.

I've noticed too that mixing components does change things, and can indeed improve upon system performance.

having tried some facets of that same same cabling, yet not 100% throughout, just with power cables primarily same brand diff models though on each piece... I find the main issue with going with the same brand all over just as daunting a task as is mixing things up, but the mixing seems to come out cheaper... and with substantially good results.

With MIT ICs on source and as mains, the sound I got then was far less colorful or vibrant. Not as harmonically rich as it had been.... somewhat bleached. I used Magnum 3 on source and Shotgun 1 as main.

With only one MIT in place things were far, far better, richer, more natural and less washed out. In conjunction with tube + SS amp, and all tubes.

I've not tried the MIT Oracle line at all so it may well be different, but I found it/them, cost prohibitive for me to try.

Similar results but different, came by way of using Nirvana ICs in those same places, but again, neither IC was the same model... SX on source, and SL on main. the result was a lackluster performance.

Nice. Way more than easily listenable, but uninvolving.

however, using Nirvana SX + MIT Magnum was a great exp. Same thing as using SX on source and HT Magic II as mains.

Prior to those experiments I used SR ICs and SR + MIT ICs for some time. SR + MIT were more than satisfying IMO. Yet SR + SR was not. I lost bass and midrange info the MIT Magnum supplied in spades.

So for whatever reason, my exp keeps showing me some combination throughout does lead to higher levels of performance.

Again, I’ll not dismiss the statements of those who validate the use of a single brand either. All I’m saying is there is more than one way to get to greater levels of involving, and satisfying, sonic recreation.

With power cords, I've found both ends of a rig can be improved by stepping up there. Front and back. Source and amp (s). Initially. Later or certainly thereafter, the preamp needs looking at.... some.

The bigger bang for the buck does seem to come by addressing each end of the chain first however.

RWV depending on both which brand and which model within that line up, you pick. So one needs to try out a few brands, and/or models of same same or mixed to see what's best. I can only say that there is indeed something to the idea of replacing OEM power cables.

As for the non migratory power cords being best suited to that particular piece.... how do you know? Add an adapter and plug in another upscale power cord.... you will realize a difference IF your gear is sufficiently resolving.

Don't think so? Spend the $10-$15 for the adapter and find out for yourself.

BTW, also for those folks... are you using a power line filter or conditioner? Which pc is atached to it? Then switch out that pc with some other and you'll see a different influence therre as well. The supply cord is way important and influences everything downstream of it.

You can think of pcs as filters. Like a gas line filter that keeps trash out of the carb or injectors. Same thing. Actual dedicated filters and conditioners do it better of course.

Or you can think of it like changing out the coil and spark plug wires to a higher level of performance units. you will indeed gain better energy/spark at the plug/component and realize more power or again, performance.

If you do not try it for yourself, it's all pie in the sky anyhow.