Cable Asylum

Posted by Dan W (M) on April 22, 2002 at 10:10:46

In Reply to: Question about the relative degree of improvement with power cords. posted by Jim on April 22, 2002 at 07:56:24:

To answer the question about how big the differences were between power cords and/or upgraded power cords compared to stock, I can say the following:

The whole reason that I started this quest was because I initially thought that power cords were all hype. Quite honestly, it still defy's logical thought in my mind.

I had borrowed a Shunyata cord from a friend to try in my system and found the difference to be startling and obvious. Based on this, I decided to see just what could be done for < $400 in terms of power cords.

To answer the first question, it did not require careful A/B'ing to here an improvement of a quality power cord over the stock. In the same vein, the difference between power cords were also typically fairly obvious. It isn't that some were good and some horrible, they simply each had very distinct and not subtle character.

I would like to preface these impressions with the understanding that I do have a fairly resolved system. I am using a good AC line filter, I have OTL (Output Transformerless Tube amps), very neutral interconnects and speaker cables, the best digital source that I have ever heard and no preamp. I have built my system with the intent of having a very revealing system that will allow me to hear these things. This system also represents a sizeable investment and is not necessarily indicative of the average audiophile's system.

What I am saying here is simply that - "your mileage may vary". I am also however, consciously cynical about tweaks and cables. Bottom line, if I don't hear it in the first few notes, I don't feel it is worthwhile. I personally believe that a tweak, component/cable change or mod needs to provide and clear and obvious improvement. I enjoy the music and anything that will clearly improve my music enjoyment is all good. I don't enjoy so much, the process of trying to decide IF it makes things sound better. If I have to try to hear the improvement, I am not interested.

>For example, in my system I would rate my tweaks something like this >(on a scale of 10 where 10 is a dramatic improvement): Room >treatments - 10, speaker positioning - 8, high quality silver >cables - 4, dedicated AC line - 3, power conditioning - 2, component >isolation devices - 1, etc..

Well, I haven't worked much with room treatments yet, but it is next on my list. I would agree in general with your rating of the tweaks and their relative merit. I would have to say that the improvement of a good power cable is very much in-line with the benefits of good quality analog cables. I am not a fan of silver in analog cables, but that is just a personal preference. I would actually have to say that I heard a larger degree of difference and improvement, going from one power cable to another, than I have heard when going from one analog interconnect to another. In short, to me it is a significant upgrade.

I personally feel that power is one of the most key areas to audio. Starting from the power from the wall, to a good line conditioner, to a good power cable and on into a well designed and treated power supply. It seems like a very benign part of the system, but AC power has a HUGE impact on your system. If you think about it, AC power IS actually a 60Hz (plus a whole lot of secondary high frequency wave forms travelling with it) analog signal...

My review really only focussed on power cords at the digital source and this is because I focus most of my time and work on this are of systems. I have found similar improvements at my amplifiers also. I merely had to limit the scope of this "review" due to time constraints.

I hope this helps answer your question. Some people stil say that they don't hear a difference in their system with different power cords. I don't know what to say about this, except to come on by some time and tell me you don't hear a difference in my system ;).

Dan W.