2. cables
  3. 130192-4374

Can upgraded power cords help my setup?

I have some KEF LS50 Wireless speakers and decided to use them with a Bluesound Node 2 via a Lifatec optical cable. Can I see a significant and worthy improvement if I swap out my power cords for something like Pangea cords? Do I need the AC 9SE MKII on the speakers or will the AC 14SE MKII be good for each speaker and also the Node 2 (C7?)? Power cords seem to be the only place left for me to tweak the most out of my setup.

Thanks for any input.
asahitoro

Showing 4 responses by helomech

helomech
1,496 posts
 
@tjassoc, 

Where did you obtain your engineering degree? Electrical?
helomech
1,496 posts
 
@dlcockrum 

"Well said?" What did tjassoc say that proved anything? Quite the contrary in fact. A power cable is not going to dissipate "contamination" from a light dimmer, or any "contamination" that made its way to the outlet. It's the same garbage that perpetuates through these forums by those who claim to be jack-of all-trades engineers. 

I've worked alongside actual electrical engineers who have been dealing with electrical noise issues for 40 plus years. They laugh at all this power cable nonsense, but I guess they're just a couple of blockheads.



helomech
1,496 posts
 
@dlcockrum 

I should've mentioned that I have tried cable "upgrades" in various forms, including power cables. I had my girlfriend swap them for me in an attempt to be objective. My conclusion was that if there is any difference, it's too insignificant to justify even a $50 outlay, let alone hundreds. I actually wanted to believe in cable magic, but even the old audiophile expectation bias didn't cause a perceived difference. 

The engineers I mentioned design and repair avionics systems for a living. EMI noise is a frequent problem in aircraft communication systems. When it comes to the wiring, other than grounding, shielding, and routing, nothing eliminates the problem.

Now if someone tells me a shielded cable can better reject EMI than a non-shielded cable, I'd agree, of course. If someone was using a cable of too small a gauge and switched to a larger gauge, I can buy into that as well. Maybe tjassoc can explain how a an aftermarket cable will outperform a shielded, well-made OEM cable. Other than EMI rejection, he is basically claiming that high-end power cables do something to filter noise that originated upstream of the outlet. Funny, I don't see any filtering components on 98% of aftermarket cables. 

It doesn't matter I suppose, no one here is going to concede to the other side. Enjoy wasting your cash on cables.
helomech
1,496 posts
 
@pennsy,

This thread is no place for real electrical knowledge and logic. There's people here referencing Shunyata papers as proof of the science behind high-end cables.
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