Is stock power cord good enough?

[Still-One]

The OP was are stock power cords good enough.
Most stock power cords are "good enough" but far from the best option. During a discussion with John Hunter the principal designer of REL's G-1 and G-2 I asked whether there would be any benefit in acquiring upgraded neutrik speakon connectors for their subs. His answer was I would be better off purchasing a good power cord. When I had the G1 I used a Transparent Reference.

Most everything in this hobby is "Good Enough"

[Masterlu]

Everything is Good until you compare it to something Better.

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by junker

Forget those big $ cords IMO. Better cords have improved conductors, dielectrics, build quality, and usually some sort of RFI filtering. High frequencies attenuate very quickly so you are mostly concerned about reducing interference from local area lighting, fans, cell phones, microwaves, etc.

I really like the basic Kimber PK10 for amps and PK14 for sources etc. Similar cord and Wattgate connectors as their more expensive cords but without the silver or gold plating - and cryo I believe. The regular ones are a great value IMO.

kimber.com/products/powerkords/

That's only half the equation, however... I'd also recommend upgrading your wall outlets (to at least hospital grade) that have better metallurgy and contact pressure. I use the gold version. Silver is the same price as the gold. Silver might be better if you don't mind reseating occasionally. The other option available at a surcharge is Rhodium. Sure it's hard, shiny, and will hold up for many, many cycles but it is actually a comparatively poor conductor so stick with Au or Ag IMO.

wattgate.com/products/381/

wattgate.com/products/381ag/

My amp is fused at 15A and it can draw quite a bit of current so I feel that there might be less losses with the heavier cord and a better connection to your house lines. And the filtering can only help. In fact, I think you could argue this could be more important than doing the amp, but I did my amp first anyway...

Maybe not for subs, but for any mission critical components that draw a reasonable amount of current, the last power related upgrade would have to be the Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme Gold/Silver fuse.

+1...try the Kimber PK10 Palladian with WattGate AG ends...

Dave

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[Grasshopper]

I will look into new outlets. I am planning to finish my basement, which will become my dedicated theater/2 channel room. I'd like to run dedicated power as well.

I didn't notice a break it since i only have a demo cable in my possession.

What is a reasonable price for a 4' length Gold PK 10 (pre-owned/demo condition)?

Originally Posted by junker

Awesome! Thank you so much for the datapoint!

It doesn't surprise me that the power cord made a different impact on two different components. The Mc Amps usually have very good transformers and power supplies. Depending on the amount of noise you have and the length of the cord I could see it still lowering the noise floor a bit.

On a DAC your results don't surprise me at all. They can have smaller, less regulated PS's and maybe even use only a single transformer for the digital, analog, display, and power trigger lines. I don't know how yours is but a power cord could help with noise filtering and stabilize your power supply. I'm always amazed at how shielding, isolation, clocking, and power supplies can affect digital.

I can't comment on the other cords since I haven't use them. As far as price goes, the best value is for the "econo" PK10 and PK14. Mostly just giving up gold plating, but it does save money that can be used for other cords as well.

BTW since you had such great results on your DAC and have realized improvements due to your power supply I cannot recommend the Wattgate receptacles enough. They are out of production until 2014 but Audio Advisor still has some. Definitely worth it and it's something I would even do before hitting the cords. You won't believe how much better the triple-swipe contacts are. And the gold plating should help keep your outlet connections as good as possible for many years.

I don't think many people realize how much of a bottleneck to current flow this can be! I realized this again recently when vacuuming with a 12A Bosch 12A. That cord was getting so hot with it running at about 1/2 power for shag carpet. The MC452 is fused at 15A. That is a LOT of current - and there is definitely the potential for current losses resulting in heat. Think toaster oven filament here...

Did you notice any break-in with the cord at all?

Kimber is a humble company. You don't usually see a lot of hype from them. The Econo PK10 cord has these benefits:

• Excellent conductors
• Chroma free dielectric
• Handmade
• Made in the USA
• Robust construction
• Wattgate termination

Hard to go wrong and the music improvement can be dramatic...but don't neglect the outlets!

[junker]

PM'd

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by junker

PM'd

Thanks Junker!!!

[junker]

That's a freakin' insane cable! And some decent $ too.

I like the silver probably the most... just have to be willing to reseat it every so often.

Econo: best value
Gold: most reliable
Silver: highest performance

Originally Posted by f1 fan

+1...try the Kimber PK10 Palladian with WattGate AG ends...

Dave

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by junker

That's a freakin' insane cable! And some decent $ too.

I like the silver probably the most... just have to be willing to reseat it every so often.

Econo: best value
Gold: most reliable
Silver: highest performance

I agree, I love mine as well as my other Kimber products

Dave

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by junker

That's a freakin' insane cable! And some decent $ too.

I like the silver probably the most... just have to be willing to reseat it every so often.

Econo: best value
Gold: most reliable
Silver: highest performance

junker...do you use a Kimber power cord on your amp and sources, if so which ones?

Dave

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by junker

That's a freakin' insane cable! And some decent $ too.

I like the silver probably the most... just have to be willing to reseat it every so often.

Econo: best value
Gold: most reliable
Silver: highest performance

Ok,

So,I spent more time with the PK10 gold power cable this morning. I was swapping in and out various interconnects and back and forth between the stock power cord and the PK10.

In the end, it seemed to make the bigger difference in my system. The interconnects changed the level of detail, but the PK for whatever reason, tamed the brightness.

No idea how a power cable could affect system brightness via the DAC/preamp.

It got me thinking, how does the Kimber PK line compare with the comparable shunyata venom line? Price wise, there seems to be comparable offerings...any opinions on the sound of kimber PC's vs shunyata PC's?


Before I had been introduced to the Kimber PK10, I'd always associated Shunyata with PC's.