Power Cords

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Serge, you’re like a heat-seeking missile, you just have a Google alert set up to let you know when someone posts about power cords[emoji41]

Tony, no Google alerts on my end. I have had a whole bunch of power cords in my various systems. Still do. I am not particularly interested in them, just an interesting topic that fascinates me to this day how the audiophile ear/brain/memory works.

[HiFiHippie]

Well I cant say if it was my power cables or the Shunyata Research Everest that I recently added but, I was absolutely floored by the performance it took my system to after adding a Everest.

[John Jordan]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Tony, no Google alerts on my end. I have had a whole bunch of power cords in my various systems. Still do. I am not particularly interested in them, just an interesting topic that fascinates me to this day how the audiophile ear/brain/memory works.

Well put Serge.

I for one have spent too much time on this cable thing. IMO, the best wisdom is "you don't need to spend a lot on cables, but you need to spend some." Very happy with DIY DH Labs Pro Studio & connectors for interconnects and Red Wave with Wattgate or Furtech connectors for power cords. Using DH's Power Plus with Std. Wattgate connectors is a great value.

[Fbgbill]

Interesting discussions. What I am looking at is DIY. I like those kind of projects. DH Labs has cable and just need the connectors from Wattgate. I would need a total of 5 cables so I will compare DIY with ready made. Thanks

[Charles]

Sad to say I agree with Ivan. It would be nice to save all that money. Same goes with cables and IC's. But the quality of your system must be commensurate with the quality your power and connections. That's the key to me.

Don't connect your 250,000.00 system with Best Buy Monster Cable cables, cords, IC's and power conditioners to carry my point to absurdity. A system should have balance. Recently AQ has come out with the Niagara 3000 which has all the features of the 5000 for 2,000.00 less. It received a superb review in the Dec issue of Stereophile. If the total cost of your gear is 50,000.00, the cost for your power and connections should be about 12,500.00 or 25% plus or minus 10% depending on how much your are into "power".

For me, I think "power" the foundation of any high end system.

I also believe in sound signatures. Look at my Signature below and you will see what I mean.

I know that others will have a difference of opinion and I respect that.

Best

Charles

____________________
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house.

[Charles]

Serge, I'm not at all enthusiastic. Medicine is my field. I think points like the one you made which I cannot refute because I am not an engineer bring sanity to our hobby. Having said that, my opinion won't change. I believe that the quality of your "power" should on par with the rest of your gear. But your sage advice ought to make us think twice about the latest and greatest cable, cord, or power conditioner.

I appreciate your comments and hope you never refrain from making them. I believe Mac would agree with you.

Best

Charles

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Charles

Serge, I'm not at all enthusiastic. Medicine is my field. I think points like the one you made which I cannot refute because I am not an engineer bring sanity to our hobby. Having said that, my opinion won't change. I believe that the quality of your "power" should on par with the rest of your gear. But your sage advice ought to make us think twice about the latest and greatest cable, cord, or power conditioner.

I appreciate your comments and hope you never refrain from making them. I believe Mac would agree with you.

Best

Charles

Charles, It is not my intention to dissuade anyone from anything but it does make for an interesting discussion and pointing out some of the obvious flaws in "some" of the audiophile logic.

I enjoy audio and I love music like anyone else here and I seriously doubt any of this info comes as a shock to anyone nor will it change minds already set in audiophile stone.

I do not part with my money easy given everything that is going on in this world lately but when I do, I like it to be logical purchase with real and tangible benefits.

Clean power is definitely a good thing but the question should always be, "how dirty is your power to begin with"?

[McIntosh-maTRiX]

Originally Posted by Fbgbill

Where did you get your supplies from if I may ask.

Directly from the authorized distributors of the relative brands. Unfortunately in Italy they will be different from the American ones.
However, on each brand's intrnet site you can find who distributes the product where you live.

[PeterMusic]

Happily, haha, I am not burdened by technical knowledge.

A Nordost Red Dawn from a QBase power strip into the wall is a great improvement over a stock cord in my system. A Frey 2, is a big jump up from there. I cannot perceive a difference in power cords from my components into the QBase.

On the DIY idea--it would be hypocritical of me to poo poo that. I doubt it will help, but you should try and listen. Please report back.

I agree with Serge that any interested in power cords should demo for a few days, then decide.

[Fbgbill]

I do have a pretty expensive setup but I am not inclined to spend up to 25% of it value for cables.