New power cord needed for speaker with powered subwoofer?


I just bought GoldenEar Triton 1 speakers.
They have built in subwoofers self powered with 1800 watts.
My question is would they greatly benefit from new brand name power cords?
Or do you think the power cords designed for them suffice?
128x128rvpiano
I am sure the manufacturer provided power cords will be sufficient. Only by trying a non-OEM cord are you going to find out. Though, to me, I think it will provide a minimal change. As long as the cable provides sufficient current to the amps in the subs, those low frequencies are going to be hard to hear a difference between cables-though I expect some may disagree.
I think you should listen to your system for a few months and then consider upgrading power cords. Only then, will you be able to discern if they do make a difference.
Bob
Everything I have has been improved with an aftermarket PC. I don't see why a powered sub wouldn't benefit as well. If you want to, forgo the expensive makes and go with Culllen Cables or something similar. He makes great PCs for a very reasonable cost.

All the best,Nonoise
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AWG is the gauge ( thickness of the wire). The lower the number the larger the gauge. The gauge is marked on the power cord!
@rvpiano...…………………………………..

I have Triton Ones and Triton Reference speakers and I am using the Pangea AC9 power cords.  I bought 2 meter lengths for 175.00 each and it did make a difference.  Bass impact is much improved  The PC is a 7 gauge cord.  The cheapo power cord that comes with the Triton series is of poor quality.  I wouldn't even use them on my computer.  Sandy Gross of GE recommends that for optimal results, aftermarket PC are worthwhile.
I definitely heard an improvement in the bass, with my Von Schweikert dB 99 speakers when I upgraded the power cords to the Shunyata Diamond Back power cord, which is a somewhat inexpensive power cord compaired to whats available.
Does anyone know if there is a difference in quality between Cullen and Morrow?
This should not even be a typical question. The answer is of course the bass will change with an aftermarket power cord. I do this continually with Legacy Audio XTREME XD Subs (reviewed). I wouldn't dream of using the manufacturer supplied dud cord for better LF.
Yep.  Like Nonoise above, every single component I have tried has been improved with the use of a suitable aftermarket power cord.  Not subtly, either.

My experience with Vandersteen Quatro's was that some Elrod Statements feeding their built in subwoofers brought worthwhile improvements in bass reach and tonality, and also brought better nuance and tonality well up into the midrange.  That surprised me.  The Quatro's come with a very heavy gauge OEM power cord, unlike many, but the aftermarket cords were definitely worth it for me.
@jbrrp1 Is it possible to boil it down to materials, gauge and manufacturing technique / innovations?.  The price for cables is all over the place. Just wondering if you can help. Thanks

I'm sure the cable that came with your speakers is just fine.
Before you go swallowing audiophile lore about cables and (likely) spending unnecessary money, consider:

The concept seems utterly ridiculous on it's face:  this idea that a manufacturer, especially a high end manufacturer, would obviously cripple his own product, merely by not choosing an adequate power cord.  I mean, are we talking about competent design...or not?  Why would you buy a speaker from a designer who was not competent enough to even choose a friggin' power cable with the right gauge or electrical properties for the job????

But, it's your money. In the land of the audiophile, anything goes....


Use the cord that came with the speakers unless they gave you one from a 1970 hoover vacuum cleaner. I agree why in the world does anyone think that the manufacturers of these expensive componets think they  turn into skinflints when it comes to the power cord. If they are that cheap then don't provide any cord and advise customers to buy aftermarket. 
@prof @djones51 But how does one reason about it, like maximum current drawn, material, gauge, length and contacts etc of the cable.  

There is some evidence of a good cable (mostly better AWG, for speaker and length etc) to make a difference(may be worth it or not is a personal matter) : https://www.lifewire.com/speaker-cables-make-a-difference-3134902

Something about power cables: https://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/power-cables, written with help of blue jeans so not sure if it is completely impartial. 

I seem to think that good construction(preventing hazards) , proper gauge for the application, length, material and rating are to be considered. I have seem some manufactures do not even mention the gauge and list for a lot of $.  I would stay away from them.

Once we have those objective factors it will be easy to see what one gets for the $.

@geek , I guess the OP could ask the dealer or manufacturer if the cable supplied with the speakers are the proper gauge and rated for use with those speakers. Why in the world does anyone  think this company which has been building speakers with powered subs for years would provide power cables that aren't sufficient for proper use and potentialy hazardous? Has there been a lot cases of people getting shocked or their houses catch fire from Golden Ear speakers providing lousy cables? 
It’s very tempting to dismiss the whole aftermarket cable business as hokum, and save a lot of money, but for the fact that I have heard with my own ears discernible differences that cables make.  Some either don’t hear the differences or consider them to be so small as to be insignificant.  Those differences, which are admittedly small, mean everything to some audiophiles, who may exaggerate them to the point that it makes no sense to the deniers.
The argument is really between apples and pears.  Each side is talking about different things.
 So, when someone tells me they have my speakers and aftermarket cables improved their sound, I tend to be on the side of:
”Vive la difference.”
@OP,
Like I said, give your ears a chance to hear the system. I do not doubt that changing cables will affect sound, but you need to know what you have before you will notice what you are changing.
B

Just giving something to think about rvpiano.  But as you already seem on the side of "it will make a difference" then, hey, it's your coin :)

It's best to remember that if you are not using a power conditioner, ie just plugging into a wall socket without conditioning, you are restricted to what the electrical feed is from that socket. A fancy power cable isn't going to enhance what comes out of the wall. In fact it may amplify the bad stuff.

I would recommend buying a power conditioner or regenerator before new cables.

@rvpiano Have you tried a statically sound testing procedure?.  You have to have someone not tell you which cable is used and play the same track/track section over an over again in the same room at same SPL level and collect data. And if you could discern the difference and stay at or above 3 standard deviation from a coin toss (the mean) that would be something. A large sample is important to get good result.


 

Rvpiano,

Yep, me too! It's all I use now. I did purchase an extra Isotek cord to use from conditioner to the amplifier, but having swapped the standard to the Isotek and back, I could barely notice the difference, if at all. Maybe my hearing isn't as sharp as other's.

There is no benefit in substituting an "audiophile approved" power cord to your sub.
I use two PS Audio P10 regenerators for my system, and this past year I upgraded my system's sound purely with changes in aftermarket power cords.  Yep, even with a really good regenerator between the wall and the equipment I found the improvement significant enough to plunk down my dollars, and this was with a significant home trial period allowed.  Just the change in power cords seem to bring my system's sound significantly closer to the sound of live music, with better dynamics and truer tonal quality.  Just my experience, in my system, to my tastes, YMMV, etc.

I'm an engineer, and I used to believe on principle that power cords could not make a difference (assuming adequate current capability).  But actual listening trials converted me from a skeptic on "theory" into a believer in practice.  I'm just saying "Give it a try".  With return privileges is best, then what do you have to lose?
There are many companies that will give you an audition period for their power cords and all you have to do is pay for return shipping.
Try it yourself and let your ears be the judge, as mentioned by jbrrp1.
I had changed to a higher quality power cord in one of my source components and one of the first things I noticed was a change in the mid to upper bass range. Trying different cords made the sound range from muddy to much improved clarity. Especially in the upper bass range.

amg56
"
A fancy power cable isn't going to enhance what comes out of the wall. In fact it may amplify the bad stuff."

A power cord is a "passive" device and is unable and incapable of amplifying anything this is introductory, basic, and fundamental physics otherwise you would have perpetual motion! 

now that this discussion has cleared up the issue for you...just borrow a few cords, or buy some with return privileges and listen...some of my gear came with real good cords, others with junk, as if they knew no one would use the supplied cord...
Observations are biased inculding mine, yours, everyones.  Trying to filter out those biases to make a decision is the hard part. 
jbrrp1,

I’m an engineer, and I used to believe on principle that power cords could not make a difference (assuming adequate current capability). But actual listening trials converted me from a skeptic on "theory" into a believer in practice.




Sighted tests, I presume? Being an engineer (or scientist, or having experience in any field) doesn’t make anyone immune to sighted bias effects. That’s why blind testing protocols arose in the first place
.

jl35,

now that this discussion has cleared up the issue for you...just borrow a few cords, or buy some with return privileges and listen.


That sounds like a great idea. I’d just add that if rvpiano really wants to know if the sound is changing, vs his imagining it, he could just have a friend help him do a little blind test shoot out, his pal switching the "audiophile" cables with the supplied cables, without rvpiano knowing which is which. I mean..he is asking if they would make a difference. If he really cares to know, those steps would help him find out.

It could be a very informative outcome for rvpiano :)





used power cords hold their value a long time, and some are quite inexpensive to begin with,  so really no risk here...
Prof,

I have a vivid imagination, but when comes to music and things aural, I have a pretty good ear.

rvpiano,

I have a vivid imagination, but when comes to music and things aural, I have a pretty good ear.

Then you are well placed to do a blind test.  Of course no one is forcing you to and I don't mean to at all.  What I'm saying is that you are asking if an upscale power cable will perform better than the supplied cable.  If you really want to know, you could try a cable with a return policy and do a shoot out.  Blind testing AC cables are one of the easier tests one can do (in terms of casual home tests).

I've done it before, was easy with a pal swapping them, and the results were quite educational. 

I saved quite a bit of money ;-)


@rvpiano lol!, our biases are quite strong, run a test like @prof is suggesting. You may be surprised at the result. Remember to run the experiment few times.

@clearthink I understand that a power cord is a passive device. But if "enhanced" power cords make a "change" to a listener's system, then is supposedly does "something". If a new and expensive P/C makes any change to the power from the wall socket, it's not going to be a good one.

A good P/C from a conditioner may be another thing altogether. It didn't work for me. Maybe my system isn't revealing enough, or needs a few $0,000s worth of tweaking material?  

I also have the Triton One speakers. Although I have had excellent results using after market power cords on my electronic components, I wasn't sure how much of a difference they might make on just the woofer amps in the speakers.

I found a pair of Cullen Crossover cords used at a great price, so I took a chance and I'm glad I did. The bass tightened up and became more dynamic with the Cullen cords. Individual notes became better differentiated and it was much easier to follow a bass line in the music. These are only 12 gauge cords, so now I'm wondering if a heavier gauge cord would provide an even bigger improvement.
rvpiano, did I read above early in your thread that you have Morrow MAP4 power cables ? These are after market cables. Did you buy them with the expectation of hearing a difference, and in fact, did you ? If you did, you are answering your own question. AMG = American Wire Gauge. ( Yes, the thickness of the cable ). Enjoy MrD.
Mrdecibel,

Yes, I did hear a difference using the MAP4’s.  I just wasn’t sure if the same results would apply with the subwoofer cords.
From two reports above by Agoners who have my speakers, evidently it’s worth getting the aftermarket cords.
Update:
Just got Morrow MAP3 power cords for subwoofer component of GE’s.
BIG difference!
Bass much cleaner and more focused.
Very good addition.