Can you hear matched power cables?


I recently read some Shunyata marketing material on the Venom 3s which posited that an audio system should have a matched set of power cables (V3s, of course). I have a couple of (really heavy) Virtual Dynamics cables, a Pangea 9, and a couple of cables delivered with the components. I'd like to upgrade those remaining generic cables, and wonder what the difference is between a mixed set and matched set of cables. I can't really hear any difference when I switch my current fat cables around.

The question becomes, is it worth replacing the Virtual Dynamics and generic cables with Pangeas, or replacing all cables with V3s, or just get a couple of either the Pangeas or V3s to replace the generic cables?

I'd be interested in hearing your experiences with this. Of course, my ears will tell the story, and some companies will let a buyer return a cable, so tell me what you discovered.
128x128cmjones

Showing 1 response by samuel


This is pretty typical of information intended to help in terms of "evaluating power cords", that gets confused in translation when recounted.

When evaluating power cords of any type, if you bring brand x home and have 2 brand z, 1 brand y and 1 brand a, then the performance of the new sample cord is heavily influenced by the rest of the power cord system...

Some cords are designed with massive gauge and have heavy inductive signatures, some use ribbons or have a capacitive signature, some are silver, some use copper. Power Systems of any make-up are interactive by nature. To get a real idea of any power cords contribution, its best to evaluate as a complete set_ when possible_--especially when replacing stock. Obviously, this cannot happen often, but it does represent an "ideal" for of an evaluation.

A great deal of the divergence of opinions on the internet with regards to different power cord models comes from testing them in mixed power system contexts. If someone tests a Cardas cord in a system that has three Nordost cords, one Pangea and a Synergistic, they will likely gain a different result than someone who tests the same cord in the exact same electronics context but with a different mixture of other cords.

If there is an actual point to the design of one companies cords, say "lowered resistance" for example, then getting one of those cords and mixing it with high-resistance cords will give a unique result, could be good, could be bad, could be a null result. Applying any cord of a particular design as a system will yield generally very consistent results that are _easy_ to discern and describe.

That was the point of what I wrote, not that you had to run out and buy extra Venom 3's.

It's explained clearly here without any mention of brands:http://www.shunyata.com/Content/ac_guide.html

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding.

Regards,

Grant
Shunyata Research