Budget Power Cords, which brand to choose?


I know budget means different things to different people, I am talking below $1000 new and $600 second hand. I also know they are very system dependent.

I use an Ayre QB9 DAC fed by a Mac Mini and NAS
TW Accustic Raven one/ortofon 309D/SPU synergy
Modwright 36.5 Pre
ARC Ref 75 Power
Daedalus DA-RMa speakers
Bybee stealth power supply

My power cables are Lessloss original and Sablon Audio and very good they are. There appears to be a number of new small companies getting good reports and reviews, particularly WyWires, Silnote and Triode Wire Labs. I already use Wywires Speaker cable and one XLR interconnect, so that may be the obvious choice. Any thoughts on these or other cheaper cables I haven't thought of? Thanks
david12

Showing 2 responses by lissnr

I've been a big TWL fan since Pete first hit the streets. I have used his earlier series of cables and recently decided that his new stuff has got to be worth auditioning too so i recently swapped in a new Digital American into my beloved Lampizator Big 7 and got "Wammoed" with another round of " How can this thing possibly sound better?" What a perfect match. Both products feature the same dominant emphasis of the music and go together hand in hand: they're "NATURAL". Unforced, simply 'flowing'... UN HiFi! My Dac loves this cable!
Recently I treated myself again... I had been itching to try a new cable in my TRL Dude so I asked Pete about it. "Sure thing" he said., with a little chuckle, "I've got just what you need". And yesterday it arrived : a stunning High power version Digital American that was pure eye candy to any audiophile worth their listenig chair... And when clamped down into my Dude I think my preamp felt like it was drinking its juice from the wall via the Hoover dam... Clean, pure, unlimited power. Dynamics snapped like a lightnig strike on a tree at 30 feet away. Base plunged like a diver off a 10 meter board and the open "SILENCE" between notes was downright spooky.
All I can say is just when you think it can't get any better , something this impactful ups your game another whole notch and you just keep shaking your head in disbelief. Thanks [Again] Pete.
Hello again David12, I was looking over your system components again and my bet is it probably leans a little bit onto the "revealing side" of midstream? A friend of mine had a pair of Daedalus speakers and aside from their gorgeous woodwork they were very eloquent with vocals and beautifully open and expressive. The ref 75 is probably the best sounding ARC amp made (not that I've heard them all but I have heard it several times and it's superb). Which power output tubes are you running? If you haven't tried the KT150's you owe it to yourself to do so...they are wonderful in that amp. Ironically you probably don't "Need" the extra power with those speakers but I'm sure they would add to the listening experience much more than you would imagine.
As for power cords the most important thing to do of course is to try until you find a winner which is fairly easy to do with outfits like the Cable company and any cable manufacturer who offers in home trial periods.
My enthusiasm for TWL cables is quite sincere, they really do open your system's heart and soul AND Pete offers a generous home trial period. Your stock cables can always be included with whatever equipment you're selling, just so the new owner can turn it on and know it works...otherwise just put them in an obscure box in a forgotten closet and get yourself something aftermarket. In my experience I know of no other easier way to find instant obvious improvement in your system than finding a well matched power cord for your system...it's worth the time.
Good luck with your search and happy Lissn'n!