[Puma Cat]

Hi Matt,
I think Caelin's detailed and thorough reply has provided you with the insights, context and information required to build out your power distribution system. As it seems you will have enough wall receptacles to connect all your components, I think you'll be fine for now to go that route.

I'm also glad to hear that you're going with Shunyata Venom NR power cords across the board, so to speak. An analogy I was taught was is that the AC system in your home can be thought of as a swimming pool, filled with fresh, clean water (the water being the AC power "reserve" required to power your system). Using generic, OEM black power cords is like throwing mud or dirt into the pool...now all the components are seeing the same dirty, muddy water rather than fresh clean water. The NR series of power cords keep noise from your component's respective internal power supplies from coming back out of the components and contaminating the rest of "the pool", so the "water" stays clean. This way, "everyone", i.e., all the components, benefit across the entire system.

As for the power cords for your system, I think the guidance you've received from the gang is correct and accurate. As Caelin pointed out, if using a power distributor, the most important cord is the one that connects the power distributor/conditioner to the wall AC receptable. The next most important one is for the power amp(s). This is because one of the key attributes the amp must be able to do is deliver current as quickly as possible during transients or when the music content is "scaling". Shunyata Research has done extensive research around this key functional response and characterize it as Dynamic Transient Current Delivery aka DTCD. Its the top, #1, requirement for any power cord because DTCD functionality provides a response by the system that listeners overwhelmingly prefer in listening tests as it gives the presentation life, openness, vividness, dynamics, scale and verisimilitude. So, for your power amps, its best to use the largest gauge power cord you can afford in your budget, so the Venom NR-V10s are the ones you want to go with here. Your preamp and DAC can be powered with NR-V12s, but NR-V10s will ultimately provide a more engaging and lifelike experience. If there are budgetary constraints, I'd put an NR-V10 on the pre and an NR-V12 on the DAC. FWIW, I use an NR-V10 on my pre, and an NR-V12 on my Schiit Gungnir MB DAC, and I am VERY happy, so don't discount the NR-V12.

As for the Venom V14Digital. This PC is really designed for digital peripherals e.g. routers, NAS, Ethernet switches, streamers, and network bridges, and/or the power supplies that power these, particularly if these power supplies are the dreaded switch-mode power supply, which cause all sorts of nasties. I would say the V14D would be well-suited for your Aurender, and if you're using your Blu-Ray player for movies as a video source, it would work well there, too (BTW, using one on your TV itself provides notable improvements in the video quality).

However, if you're using the Blu-Ray player as your principal DAC and its outputting to your pre, it might be better to use an NR-V12, or if budget allows, an NR-V10, as it will benefit sonically from the increased DTCD capability.

Hope this helps and let us know if you have any other questions.

cheers,
PC