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Model: | DIY Mains Power Cables |
Category: | Cable |
Suggested Retail Price: | $0 |
Description: | DIY Mains Power Cables |
Manufacturer URL: | Chris VenHaus DIY Cables |
Review by Martythomas (A) on May 03, 2003 at 15:54:03 IP Address: 198.81.26.172 | Add Your Review for the DIY Mains Power Cables |
I built some 83802 power cords and reviewed them 2/2/02. In that review I noted that there was a top end glare that did not disappear after break in. I finally gave up on them. Chris has now found a new power cable that shows more promise. I am now using all power cords with broken grounds and where possible no shielding, so I chose Flavor 2.I purchased some bulk Flavor 2 cable and made 4 power cords 5 feet long. Before making the cords, I burned in the cable for 150 hours with a 100 watt light bulb. I am currently using CPCC Top Gun Power Cords which I used as a reference to compare the new Flavor 2 cords with.
First I replaced the cords on my Unison Research Smart 845 mono block amplifiers with the Flavor 2. The top end was smooth and extended, unlike the glare I experienced with 83802. The mid range and top end was more detailed and transparent than the Top Gun, a $600 cord, but the bass end lacked the real depth that the top gun cords produce. I had purchased extra cord so I decided to try using a double run of Flavor 2, this would equal 9 gage. I had to open up the wire guide hole in the plug and IEC connector to fit both wires . I lightly twisted the already twisted individual lengths of cord together and connected 2 black leads to LINE and 2 white leads to NEUTRAL, kind of like the old cross connecting scheme.
Now I had a deep extended bass that was more detailed than even the Top Gun cord. The mid range and top end remained detailed, transparent, and glare free, vocals have more clarity and presence, massed string passages in classical recordings have less edge and grain. I have now utilized these cords on my amplifiers, preamp, turntable and power conditioner with the same good results.
Product Weakness: | None in my system |
Product Strengths: | Great bass, smooth glare free mid range and treble |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Unison Research Smart 845 Mono's |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Ayre K-1 |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Linn LP-12 Fully updated with Graham Arm and Ruby 2 cartridge |
Speakers: | ProAc 2.5 |
Cables/Interconnects: | Diy silver interconnects, Double run of Audioquest Volcano speaker cable, Transparent Ref Digital link |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Classical, Jazz, and Vocal |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 18 x 13 x 8 |
Room Comments/Treatments: | Bass traps, silk plants, diy room lenses |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 2 months |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | MIT Dou Iso , BPT Balanced Power |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Your System (if other than home audition): | Home |
Follow Ups:
Martythomas,how did you manage to fit the cablesinto the plugs?
As I stated in my review I had to modify the connectors. The plug has a plastic piece with guide holes for 12 ga wire, this is held in place by a small plastic nib in the center. Cut the nib and pry the the Plastic guide off , exposing a slot that the wires will fit into. Throw away the plastic piece.
On the IEC end, if your using a Wattgate or equivelent connector you have the same plastic guide, it is held in place with a screw. Remove the screw and CAREFULLY lift off, this holds the connector contacts together. Drill out the guide holes with a 7/32 drill and CAREFULLY replace the guide plate. If your using a Shurter, solder a wire long enough to clear the housing and solder the two wires to it.
Hi ,
In your mail you mentioned about "broken grounds".
What do you mean by "broken grounds" ?I am also concerned about what you mentioned about the "top end glare" and preferring "no shielding".
I had already bought much 83802 and and almost finished making a 9 feet EXTENSION CORD (i.e. from wall-socket to my equipment Distribution Rack) using the following construction [derived from the Flavor-2 but plus (c) below] : -
(a) Double run of 83802 but re-twisted in a StarQuad.
(b) House it inside a Garden Hose
(c) Lined the outside of the hose with Aluminium-Foil and Copper Braid shieldings, and terminated ONLY at the wall-socket plug. My understanding is that this helps lower the Capacitance and/or Leakages from Live/Neutral to Ground, as well as keep EMI/RFI nasties from getting to the Live/Neutral and invading the equipment).
(d) Add Ground cable above the shieldings in opposite twist from the live/Neutral.
As i understand, the "glare" is caused by the conductor size of the 83802. And i note you preferred with no shielding.
Is my DIY project above seriously flawed in it's construction ?If i keep the project and strictly use VH Audios's cables for the final cords from Distribution-Rack to my Equipment (Amp, Pre, CDPlayer, DVD) , would it save the day?
Steve,There is nothing wrong with your design, I would keep it and try it out now that you have the 83802 cable. If you have a glare, which is heard as a smearing of high frequency notes in the upper mid range, you will know it.
My design is based on cords that I have made and tried in my system. I have a power conditioner that separates the digital and analog, the ground is broken internaly. That means that the ground wire is disconnected. I find that in my system the sound is better with all the ground wires on the power cords broken. I ground my preamp to the wall socket and all my components are grounded to the preamp through the interconnects. This is probably not the safest way, but it does sound the best. Shielding is also a trial and error coclusion.
If you havent built your component cords, you could try one out of Chris's new cord for comparison.
Marty
Hi Marty,
Thanks for your reply ; am much relieved.I was also reasoning it this way : - We experienced improved sound using exotic cords that we plug into the wall mains-outlet without much regard for those "untilities wiring" (i.e the in-built housewirings, and miles of wirings between that and the power-station). Then the material/construction used in my diy Extension Cord should better those "utilities wiring" and will be helpful with its current refining qualities such as : -
(1) the 9 feet of twisted Live/Neutral providing good length for EMI/RFI cancellations.
(2) the foil+braid shielding preventing furthur EMI/RFI intrusion into the Live/Neutral cables.
(3) Low Self-Inductance of the Live/Neutral twist
(4) Low Capacitance since the Ground is well distanced from the Live/Neutral using the hose , plus the Shieldings in between providing furthur protection against leakages from Live/neutral to Ground.
(5) Ferrite-Ring added ONLY on Ground cable near the equipment end preventing EMI/RFI polluting the equipment via the Ground path.I am already using 83802 based Flavor-2 and 3 for my Amp and CDplayer. (And yes, my system does suffer from some mid-high harshness/sharpness that i had thought was due to equipment, interconnect or speakercable, and never expected could have been caused by the non-audio-signal-carrying Power-Cords).
I have already ordered a Finished Flavor-2 Power-Cord and the CVH Audio raw cable to experiment and compare with my 83802 based cords.
...posted in this forum of the new power cord's sonic performance compared to the 83802 would be an appreciated. Thanks :-)
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