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Years back I didn't believe power cords could make a difference, a store lent me one to try, I rotated it around to my different components amazed, I ended up buying a cord, the same one, for each component I owned with a detachable cord. So all my components had same brand power cord.
I recently was given a Clarus cord to try, I placed it on my preamp and there was a difference but more of a trade off from what I was using, I placed it in my CDP and there was only an improvement over what I was using. So I got a second cord placing one on both preamp and CDP, I should mention some time back I had a dedicated line ran for my power amp and at that time installed a Clarus Crimson on it, so when I placed the Clarus on the other two pieces my 2-channel system was all Clarus power cables. Here's the interesting thing, with all Clarus in the system the result was much better than when I was rotating just the one around, meaning mixed cords provided mixed results where when I had all Clarus the result was outstanding.
I have a theory forming that it may be better not to mix brands of power cords, any one else have similar experience, or different, like better with mixing?
Follow Ups:
30 years experience has taught me that having a "One brand" wiring loom throughout the system is not essential.
Most cable companies seem to have one star product that outshines others from the same stable, so it is still a lottery whether or not you can match the quality of cabling throughout.
In your particular situation I think it was the replacement of the first power cord in the chain that showed where the weak link was and that replacement would show an "improvement" no matter what other brands of cable were in there fitted to the rest of your system. A simple test would be to put it back to original and change that first cord in the chain and note the result.
If I am wrong I will be delighted!
The British take on cables:
http://cablejunction.boards.net/
Peabody-
any updates or upgrades lately?
I've done a lot of tweaking and upgrading in my system...when it comes to cables I have found that the power cables actually have the most significant impact. Not that interconnects or speaker cables don't make an impact. Just that the power cable had the BIGGEST impact...and to qualify the power cable to your amps. The impact to your peripherals such as CD player won't be as "big". If you have a power conditioner or strip that you have the rest of your components hooked up into then spend some cash on the power cable going from your wall to our conditioner/strip. After power amps, I'd go to preamp, and then down from there...i don't think power to DACs or CD players have as much of an impact as that to Amps and Preamps...JMO.
That's what I've found, too.
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I have tried identical power cables and a combination of brands. I am inclined to agree that each piece of equipment will behave different with a particular cable. For example, I like the Clarus Crimson on my ARC pre amp but not on my ARC CD player. There I prefer the Cardas Clear M. On my sub amp I prefer the Nordost Hemindall. Go figure, that's the combination that works on my system. I found the Clarus has a beautiful sound stage. It does ever so slightly tone down the highs. The Cardas is too bright on the preamp but restores the overall system balance when put on the CD. Its slight brightness offsets the slight softening of the Clarus. The bass on the Clarus is excellent. I tried the Clarus Aqua and it did nothing. The Crimson on the other hand was an eye popper. I find that each piece of equipment is affected differently and cables can be used to balance a system. Change one cable in a system and change the sound. It's like tube rolling.
I just purchased a Crimson Power Cord for my McIntosh MC402 Amp and it started off sounding so bright, a week of use later and it is working so well with my McIntosh amp. With this amp it is very open, yet not bright at all, the bottom end is so good that I had to adjust my Martin Logan Depth i sub settings. Purchased this on a lark on Audiogon. Goes to show you just never know when there is gold waiting for you.
PJB
Peabody -
have you tried/bought any new (to your system) PC? If so, which one(s)?
I was very impressed with what the Clarus Crimson power cords done with my system so I bought them, I have the "power" on my power amp and the "component" cable on my CDP and preamp. It's hard to describe the effect, it's like the music is interpreted better, each instrument being better defined and in it's own space and seemingly more emotion from the music coming through.
I really like the Crimson power cords but don't really care for the IC's up to this point. I tried the IC's when I was using my former power cords and didn't like the result. I have to admit I have not tried a complete loom of power and IC yet.
A friend tried a Triode Audio PC and it was really good, not as good as the Crimson but it wasn't quite a fair comparison since the Triode model we had was the lesser gauge, we'd need the 7 for a even match. The Triode was better than a 8 gauge Pangea or entry level Analysis Plus and Transparent. One thing about the entry Transparent, it was able to do it's job with the least amount of effect on the sonic signature, hence the name I suppose :).
Second note,
your gear is far too good for entry level Analysis Plus & Transparent PC- you will certainly need to move up the ladder.
You are a lucky man having that ML #512 player, it is really sweet. What PC is one this player?
I would say by my experience that each piece of gear can benefit from different power cords. The most glaring example for me was my previous AES DJH preamp really sang with a Steath Cloude 99; and the full version was better than the smaller one.
That said, I have since found that BMI power cords are the best for pretty much all gear and that is all I use these days. It has be a few years, but I previously tried a couple dozen power cords at least. BMI cords make a huge difference.....I have turned a number of audiophiles onto them and they have all bought them and some I know have recommended them to others who have done the same. You don't see many on the used market......Just sayin'.
There are too many products out there to mix 'n' match
and try anywhere near enough combinations to be sure of what's best on a given component.
Clarus PCs are not cheap, either.
I like their ICs tho.
You are right there for sure. I found what I like and stuck with it.....although once in a while a change is good. MG audio is a great s/c and the Cu2 a nice i/c. The full loom idea is very attractive though. FWIW, there is an Oceanic for 3300 on agon and a Hammerhead 3 went by a few months ago for 800 or so. Still a lot of dough, but who pays retail?! Anyway, enjoy the tunes and the fall. Nice out there today.
How did you manage to do that?
Regards,
Geoff
years and patience. just bmi...eel, 3 orcas, 2 whales, 4 hammerhead and 2 oceanic....already a dozen. audiences, stealths, elrods, esp, dcca, fusions etc. and a partridge in a pear tree! not that hard over 15 or more years really....if you are truly nervosa, i guess.
how about you. what do you like? what have you tried?
Budburma, glad to read about your experience with BMI pc's. I have a Whale Elite and a Whale Supreme in my system used on an Arcam AVR 400 receiver and an Oppo 105 cd player played through Acoustic Zen Adagio speakers.
In your experience, what would be your best guess on the type and DEGREE of improvement that I might experience in moving up the Hammerhead. Do you think that I should even consider the Oceanic, before upgrading my equipment?
kendo
I'll ditto Duster. I've found that different components respond uniquely to different power cords, mostly. Just recently, replacing my cd player led me to swapping cords around and acquiring a couple of new ones in order to tweak the sound. And, surprise of all surprises, I found that one of my least expensive, an Audioquest NRG-2, is superior for my preamp. Systems may vary, but my approach is to use whatever brand on whatever component in order to obtain the best sound.
Peabody -
another opinion;
at this juncture, I really like the Stage III Concepts power cord. It is offered via Aaudio Imports and jives well w/ other brand IC and speaker cables.
It's just hearsay when folks claim that choosing all of the same-brand cabling with a "house sound" is superior to choosing a mix and match approach based on particular component synergy within a specific audio system. The reputations of both methods are based on anecdotal evidence.
That said, I prefer a mix and match approach, since audio components tend to respond uniquely and with potentially beneficial synergy with various cables (and with each other), regardless of brand.
However, if a listener really enjoys the house sound of a particular cable brand (and a single-brand audio component system, for that matter), there is nothing wrong with that kind of approach, since the essential effect might provide a desirable sounding synergy from a system tuning perspective. That type of single-brand cabling approach has been called a single-brand "cable loom" by some folks.
Nice! Peabody.
power cords are the 1st step, in upping your game. This must be done in pairs (not 1 sole PC). You are correct, in that, the preamp and cd player stock cords are re placed in concert.
I was lucky and got a sweet deal on the 512, that's a piece a guy like me would only dream about. I'm using the large Clarus Crimson on my power amp and the step down, or smaller, Crimson, since they only have two, on the 512 and preamp. You're right though, these power cords took my system to a new level. So I use Crimson power cords and every connection between components are Anticable Reference. I've played around with some other IC's like from Clarus and Wire World, they changed the sound in ways but once I got used to the clarity of the Anticable it's hard to accept anything else.
All of us audiophiles have a certain stake in the different facets of our hobby. Mine, is cables/cords. Once your eyes are opened to the possibilities, it is a no-brainer.
I really like Transparent, but, you have to start in the middle of their product ladder. Wireworld builds the best HDMI (silver starlight) out there.
Their other cables are okay, unless, you step up the the Platinum Series.
Still, this is a bargain compared to Analysis / Transparent reference-level
offerings. Keep me posted as you break-in your new PC(s).
I've tried the wireworld eclipse and at first liked it, but after a while it sounded thin with no bottom. I have entry level analysis Plus and it works great in my system. Its very possible I will move up the line.
Thanks! for sharing. AP cables really shine (no pun) in their silver offerings.
Partly because not all cords/brands work on all gear, and partly because some of my favorite cords aren't made any more. Whatever works for you.
Jack
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