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For those who have experimented with power cables, do they really make a big difference between one premium power cable to the next? It's really hard for me to swallow the price tag of a $300 power cable, let alone a $3000 power cable. All my power is conditioned by a PS audio Power plant, so how much more difference is using a super pricey power cable going to make? Any recommendations?
Follow Ups:
It's the same as high priced speaker cable, all that money spent on
cables that end up with 18ga common wire inside the unit it's hooked to.Lot of good it did right?
Your characterization is inaccurate. The $6.00 Volex 17604 power cord, which has been mentioned repeatedly on this board, sounds better than stock power cords, and has 14 AWG conductors.As for speaker cables, Kimber Kable KWIK-16 sounds better than zip cord, and costs all of $0.80/foot in bulk.
_____________________________"But this is the plastic age,
the quiet rage
is damned and civilized."
There are obviously two (or more) sides to this fence. I'm no different than many others trying different cords because of things i read, heard or believed from a salesperson. Yes, I heard differences with each new cord. Just when I thought I found the right PC for my sub ( mostly becuase it was a 'reputable' brand name-PS Audio Mini Lab), I took a chance on a lesser known brand (Voodoo Audio TESLA). My, what a difference. I called and talked to Bruce@Voodoo who seems to enjoy talking and explaining (he does his best to make electrical engineerspeak understandable) why his cables do what they do. The Cable Company has a lending library, so you could borrow some and decide for yourself.
The differences power cords make are the most underestimated of all high end components. If you doubt it read the reviews of the Elrod Statements on PFB, and the harmonix studio master on soundstage ultra audio. The conclusions of both review leave little to doubt.
It is hooked to Romax at the outlet and probably better wire within the transformers in the unit, but you still can hear a great difference.
The power conditioner may be doing it's job just fine, but how is the current being delivered to the rest of your system? That's the job of the power cords. There's unquestionably an audible difference between the stock power cords and the PS Audio xStream Statement power cords, which I have...No, I didn't make an exhaustive comparison between different brands.
I now have difficulty using big cumbersome pcs, even if I think they are pretty good, such as the Elrods and the old FIMs, and I think filters greatly affect how pcs sound. I had the PSAudio P300s but could not stand their robbing the music of dynamics and pace. All that I can really say is there are no sure bets out there, although the Mikro Omega charged pcs come close. Try everything if you can before you buy and realize that others' opinions, however sincere, are based on their systems and YMMV.
what does imho mean?
Howdyhttp://www.google.com/search?q=define:imho
-Ted
Not being a native English speaker I often got lost in these abbreviations, too. Check out the site below for future reference.Zozo
IMHO----- In my honest(humble)opinion
I think a big problem is that powercords require a tremendous amount of breakin at high current and a lot of people listen to them not fully broken in. Rhyno's recent review of the SLVR gave an excellent description of the changes it went through during 600 hours of use.
I also agree with Stephen. What I have also noticed is all of the aftermarket PC I have tried "require" burn-in time to be able to hear how it will interact with your gear. Full burn-in can take up to a few hundred hours! Are there big differences between one premium power cable to the next, in my experience it can be subtle to huge.In my opinion, aftermarket PC are worth trying. For me, with my system (which is SS gear and comprise of all Madrigal made products, mainly Proceed) the stock cables do not even come close to comparing to the aftermarket PC I have tried. I am from the school of change the cable only if it obviously sounds better. Since I cannot justify in my mind of spending close to or over a grand per PC, I DIY most of my PCs. I have many VH PCs.
If you would like to play around with a nice PC for your system without spending a ton of cash, I would recommend getting a VH Audio Flavor 4. You can purchase the PC assembled through Chris's website. If affordable to you, I would recommend using the Furutech gold wall and IEC plug. To save money, you can option for the all Cyroed version using the Wattgate connectors. If you are DIYing the Flavor 4, be sure to use ProGold G5 on the connectors and wires. Also pick up a burn-in adapter for $12.99 and use the PC on your fridge for about a week or so. Then try the PC on all of your gear that are equipped with an IEC outlet.
You will hear a difference. The thing is, only you can be the judge of how that difference feels to you.
Good luck and have fun!
One thing to bear in mind is that they may make a difference, but it may not be for the better.I spent some time trying a number of cords for my Krell setup and ended up returning to stock cords after a month or so. I suggest you search on some of my posts from last month.
I found that every cord I tried coloured the sound. If you like the changes they bring then fine. But in my case I felt it was a shift away from a "true" sound.
HowdyYep, you are not alone there. I used to think after market power cords were a crock. After a friend brought over a Black Mamba it was clear that they make a difference, but I sure never want one in my system :)
I do think the cords I have sound better than stock, but at least one other inmate (jeromelang) agrees with you.
-Ted
HowdyI've heard various Elrod's make a big difference in a system, but tho I've tried them and others in my home system, it seems to like TGAudio SLVR and Shunyata Taipan cords. I do like having spares around so I can see which works better with any new gear I get.
I agree with Stephæn, you should audition some and keep the one(s) you like and sound bets in your system after they are burnt-in sufficiently...
... for different courses. I once had a $60 PC in my system that
trounced a $400 PC. Does that make the $400 PC bad? Not
necessarily; it just wasn't the best one for my set-up. I've also
heard very expensive PCs that sounded better than the $400 PC.Fixed ideas are prefabricated conclusions about how things are.
If you continue to look through the lens of a fixed idea, you may
be attempting to interact with something that really isn't there.
...
Antonio Melo Ribeiro
..
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