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Cables Galore Speaker cables, Interconnects & Power cords

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  #11  
Old 11-01-2017, 04:30 PM
Catcher10 Catcher10 is offline
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Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
Unlike signal cables, the conductor material itself is not the key parameter for power cables; what matters is their ability to 1) deliver current as fast as possible (dynamic transient current delivery) and 2) ability to reject noise and keep noise from escaping from the cable and contaminating other components and unshielded cables.

Shunyata Research uses a very pure from of copper, OFE Alloy 101, for their power cables, for example. I'm using a full set of their power cables for my system and I admit to be being biased towards their products because I'm of the view that their products are based and designed on a truly deep scientific, materials sciences, and physics domain knowledge and understanding. As well as patents. And as a scientist myself, the way Caelin Gabriel thinks and designs products just works for me, as do his products.
Thanks!
Yes shielding is a major issue, agree it must be shielded to the max!!

I'll keep researching.......Cheers~!
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  #12  
Old 11-01-2017, 04:38 PM
PHC1 PHC1 is offline
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I could never categorize in what order of magnitude the difference may be because some IC’s brought a bigger change than before, other times it was indeed a power cord with an already good pair of IC’s in place and vice-verse. It’s all a cumulative effect to me. But as always, the chain is only as strong as the weakest link. Cable up boys!
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  #13  
Old 11-01-2017, 04:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Catcher10 View Post
Thanks!
Yes shielding is a major issue, agree it must be shielded to the max!!

I'll keep researching.......Cheers~!
I don't what "shielded to the max" actually means, but if my understanding is correct, the type of shielding is what is important. If I understand it correctly, the type of shielding required for rejecting low bandwidth noise components is quite different in nature than high-bandwidth noise components, e.g. those from computers, DACs, etc with high-bandwidth microprocessors. Computers are notorious for spewing out a lot of garbage-y noise at high bandwidth, for example. This high bandwidth noise can actually be picked up by unshielded speaker cables and be fed backwards into power amplifiers as noise. Noise that then gets (re)amplified by the power amp. Not good. This is why at one point, Shunayta used different types of power cable and distributor construction for analog vs. digital components, and why they developed the DPC class of products.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.
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  #14  
Old 11-01-2017, 05:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PHC1 View Post
I could never categorize in what order of magnitude the difference may be because some IC’s brought a bigger change than before, other times it was indeed a power cord with an already good pair of IC’s in place and vice-verse. It’s all a cumulative effect to me. But as always, the chain is only as strong as the weakest link. Cable up boys!
Indeed.

Yep, it's all a system, and with any system, there are interactions, some of which may be beneficial and some of which may be deleterious. And the end of the day, it's about maximizing S/N; maximizing signal and minimizing noise. Noise is the Devil when to comes to audio reproduction.

Grant Samuelson of Shunyata finds that, and I think he would agree that, as a broad generalization, in order which type of cable drives the largest impact it's 1) power cords, 2) speaker cables and 3) interconnects. In my limited experience, I would agree; I've gotten much bigger gains from a $95 Shunyata Venom 3 than a $900 pair of interconnects.

I haven't experimented with speaker cables at all, but based on what Grant has said, I plan to look into this pretty soon.

Shoot, adding my Triton power distributor alone was like a major preamp upgrade. And it's a completely passive device, which is all the more remarkable.

Noise is the Devil....
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components.

Last edited by Puma Cat; 11-01-2017 at 05:06 PM.
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  #15  
Old 11-01-2017, 07:23 PM
Catcher10 Catcher10 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Puma Cat View Post
I don't what "shielded to the max" actually means, but if my understanding is correct, the type of shielding is what is important. If I understand it correctly, the type of shielding required for rejecting low bandwidth noise components is quite different in nature than high-bandwidth noise components, e.g. those from computers, DACs, etc with high-bandwidth microprocessors. Computers are notorious for spewing out a lot of garbage-y noise at high bandwidth, for example. This high bandwidth noise can actually be picked up by unshielded speaker cables and be fed backwards into power amplifiers as noise. Noise that then gets (re)amplified by the power amp. Not good. This is why at one point, Shunayta used different types of power cable and distributor construction for analog vs. digital components, and why they developed the DPC class of products.
The term (to the max) just was to mean the cable should be shielded very well, as to not allow or eliminate any outside interference from entering the system or as you describe back into the amplification portion of the system. Which of course would then be amplified back thru the speakers as noise.

I don't have any computers near my audio system, computer aided music is not part of my listening menu. On occasion I do connect my laptop to my Parasound DAC to play DSD files, but this kind of listening is less than 1% of my regime.

I'm simply shopping for a PC to replace the stock Parasound power cable.

Cheers
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  #16  
Old 11-01-2017, 07:25 PM
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I just replaced a component's stock power cord with an upgraded power cord I received yesterday. The magnitude of improvement I hear--nothing subtle about it--exceeds the improvement I've heard with upgraded IC's on the same component.

Jim
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Bedroom: Aurender N150, TEAC UD-505 (AKM version), EMIA Cu Elmaformer passive line stage, conrad-johnson MF2500, Paradigm Studio 20 v5. Shunyata Delta D6, Altaira CG hub. Shunyata Alpha XC, Delta NR v2, Alpha USB, Alpha and Venom CGC/SGC. Wireworld Eclipse 8 interconnect & speaker cables. Stillpoints footers, Butcher Block Acoustics maple platforms. Stillpoints and GIK acoustic panels.

Home Office:Windows 11 PC/JRiver 31, TEAC UD-501, Luminous Audio Technology Axiom II Walker Mod passive, conrad-johnson Sonographe SA-250, Paradigm SE-1. Shunyata Hydra (Original Version), Venom 10 NR. Wireworld Eclipse 7 interconnects. Blue Jeans speaker cable.

Living-Dining Room: Windows 11 Laptop/JRiver 29, Oppo BD-83, TEAC UD-501 DAC, SOTA Sapphire TT, Graham Slee Era Gold V, Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh MR-77, c-j Sonographe SC-25, c-j MF2500, Paradigm SE-3. Wireworld 8 IC, Blue Jeans SC. Shunyata Hydra 8 v.2, Shunyata Delta NR, Venom NR. GIK 244 bass & scatter-plate panels.
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  #17  
Old 11-01-2017, 08:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimtranr View Post
I just replaced a component's stock power cord with an upgraded power cord I received yesterday. The magnitude of improvement I hear--nothing subtle about it--exceeds the improvement I've heard with upgraded IC's on the same component.

Jim
Hi Jim
What power cable did you get?

Thanks for your post
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  #18  
Old 11-01-2017, 08:44 PM
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Hi Jim
What power cable did you get?
Wireworld Electra 7. For my bedroom-system DAC.

Jim
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Bedroom: Aurender N150, TEAC UD-505 (AKM version), EMIA Cu Elmaformer passive line stage, conrad-johnson MF2500, Paradigm Studio 20 v5. Shunyata Delta D6, Altaira CG hub. Shunyata Alpha XC, Delta NR v2, Alpha USB, Alpha and Venom CGC/SGC. Wireworld Eclipse 8 interconnect & speaker cables. Stillpoints footers, Butcher Block Acoustics maple platforms. Stillpoints and GIK acoustic panels.

Home Office:Windows 11 PC/JRiver 31, TEAC UD-501, Luminous Audio Technology Axiom II Walker Mod passive, conrad-johnson Sonographe SA-250, Paradigm SE-1. Shunyata Hydra (Original Version), Venom 10 NR. Wireworld Eclipse 7 interconnects. Blue Jeans speaker cable.

Living-Dining Room: Windows 11 Laptop/JRiver 29, Oppo BD-83, TEAC UD-501 DAC, SOTA Sapphire TT, Graham Slee Era Gold V, Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh MR-77, c-j Sonographe SC-25, c-j MF2500, Paradigm SE-3. Wireworld 8 IC, Blue Jeans SC. Shunyata Hydra 8 v.2, Shunyata Delta NR, Venom NR. GIK 244 bass & scatter-plate panels.
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  #19  
Old 11-01-2017, 08:50 PM
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Once upon a time I attempted a review of cables. I started with power cables compared to stock and that was extremely noticeable. Then I tried interconnects and then speaker cables and actually did not finish the review since they were not as discernible. So my vote is power cables first and foremost. From there you will want to finish the loom per your choice.
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Home Theater 7.2: McIntosh MX150, MC452, MC207; B&W 803D2 Diamonds, HTM2 center, CWM7.3 surrounds; JLAudio F112 x2 subs; Panasonic TC-P65ZT60 65" Studio Master Plasma; Oppo 205; Crown FM Two Tuner; Sonos with W4S Remedy; Apple TV; Furman Elite 20 amp PFi x2; WW and AQ Cables/Cords; Salamander Synergy Four Bay Cabinet
Office 2ch with McIntosh vintage refurbished gear: McIntosh MC275V6 x2 tube amps; Klipsch Cornwall I vintage speakers (1982); AQ Dragonfly Red DAC/Jitterbug/cables; PS Audio Dectet Power Center; Mcintosh C28, MC2105, MR78 (with mod), MQ101, each with original walnut cabinet and panloc (1976), MCD7008 (1996), ML1C speakers (1976); Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4002 turntable (1976) with new SoundSmith SMMC20CL cartridge (2015); Salamander double rack
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  #20  
Old 11-02-2017, 12:34 AM
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Power cords, power cords, power cords. 1, 2, 3. everything else after that.

I remember that when I replaced the stock cords with WW silver electra on a total of 7 components, plus a new Torus power conditioner, the difference was jaw dropping. It was absolutely miraculous. It was probably a total of 10-12K retail in cost to do this.

Right now I am auditioning the Nordost Odin 2 Speaker cable and am A/B'ing it to my pre-existing WW gold eclipse SC (45K vs 8K). Although the Odin 2 sounds far better than the Gold Eclipse, it by no means supercedes the difference I heard when I switched stock cords to WW power cords and added my Torus conditioner. That difference was shocking. I was almost angry that a stupid power cord could make such a profound difference.
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