2. cables
  3. 168200-88

Power cord choice?

Hoping to change (or upgrade) my current PC in use with my ARC CD3 Mk2. Currently I'm using a Locus Designs Polestar and setting a limit $600 max. I'd like to find a cord that can get more micro details from the ARC yet, I'd like to retain the smoothness but, try to open the sound stage and get a little more bottom in doing so. I listen to Alt rock (Sir Sly, The Killers, Gargage), rock, blues using Classe CAP 151 integrated and Apogee Slant 6s. I know this is subjective but, I'm also doing my best to work with my budget constraints and I'm not going to change if the improvement would just be slightly incremental. I'd like suggestions to consider, please.
rsjm80
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
Hi bigtwin
Well said and you are absolutely correct.
You've done my job for me.  I've replied to all power cord posts with what you say, namely electricity travels miles down cables and wires that don't belong to us and we cannot influence and some fools say that changing the last few feet can somehow clean up all the mess that lies before.

Hi thyname.  The first shall be last.  You're turning the world upside down just to try to evidence your misguided theories.  Of course there are two wires and they both come from the power station.

As for the plug pluggers and the fuse fiddlers, words fail....
fatdaddy2
368 posts
 
You didn't really mention this but...are you already using an outboard DAC for your ARC CD3?  If not, the addition of a good outboard DAC is going to make a lot more difference in the sound profile than changing the power cord.  (And no, I'm not a PC naysayer; I've got my share of aftermarket PCs.)
saleh84's avatar
saleh84
42 posts
 
Try audioquest PC, pick any that suits your budget. They are all awesome 
petg60
1,486 posts
 
I like to see new ones in the power cables battlefield. Still what connects to the power supply of a component is the starting point and not the finishing line.
You start from there and go all the way up to distribution panel. Simple. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,824 posts
 
There is repeated testimony that power cables can (not must) make a difference. The theory that *everyone* who claims to hear a difference is having placebo effect, a shill, not listening carefully is more dubitable than the claims for power cables. 

If I compare two theories and one is less fantastical, that's the one worth investigating. The "power cables can make a difference" theory is less fantastical than the "everyone is duped" theory. 

It is standard for old theories to find themselves tested by new phenomena which cannot be explained. That's why the sun is at the center of the solar system, and not the earth. 
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