power cables? What can I expect?


I have a pair of Martin logan speakers, and a Audio Refinement amp, they have only the original cables that came with them, I do however have all nordost interconnects and speaker wire, I am only able to spend $50, per cord at this time since I have a new daughter ( and new bills ) I know I can't afford nordost what about monster or just something else that would be good? Thanks for any infor, Nick
128x128happynick

Showing 1 response by lak

Check it out. In my opinion this is the best bang for a limited budget. Retail $59.95 Internet Special $49.95

The Absolute Power Cord is a joint effort between Damoka International and GTT Audio & Video. Both share similar philosophies about the “Absolute Sound.”[1] While auditioning much of our super high-end gear we noticed a sameness to the sound, we call it coloration. Power cords were found to be the source of this coloration. So the search began for the “Absolute Power Cord.” Whether it is well-known manufacturers or home brewed power cords we came to some conclusions after auditioning many different types from both sources.

We found that for the best sound the conductor had to be oxygen free stranded copper with the correct proportion of strands per gauge. We also tested all the top brand plugs but again all seemed to have coloration to them. Then we started soldering the conductor to the connector instead on screwing it down. Now we were getting somewhere. There was less microscopic electrical arcing going on. Then we tried different dielectrics and shielding to make the cord look COOL. We discovered that the more we put around the conductors - the more coloration we got and the more it seemed to choke the sound. Knowing what we wanted in a power cord we needed to know where to get them. After all, our expertise is selling High-End Audio - not manufacturing power cords. Sure we could have been happy with our home brews, but how would that look to our clients? What we demonstrate is what you can have at home.

After contacting some US based wire manufactures and realizing the enormous cost involved we decided to go to the Far East and take advantage of the low labor cost. We contracted Cheng Chang in Taiwan to manufacture the “Absolute Power Cord.” Cheng Chang is one of the largest OEM specialty power cord manufactures in the world with the capability to pump out over 6 million cables per month. We knew that we were in the right place. So the Absolute Power Cord is a Hospital Grade 14 gauge stranded copper cable with soldered and molded Hospital Grade IEC and Plug. Most of the well-known power cords in High-End Audio are not UL Approved. Try explaining that to the insurance company when your house burns down. The Absolute Power cord is UL Approved[2].

These cords do not sound the same as a 14-gauge hospital grade Belden, in fact quite a bit different. You can not buy these cords out of a catalog etc…The plug, wire and iec were put together to meet our specs specifically for sonics but don’t just take our word (ears) for it.

As avid audiophiles and classic music concert goers that are in the business of selling super high-end systems we would like to think that we know what sounds neutral and what sounds colored. It was time for a reality check. We went to musicians and recording engineers. Chesky Productions has wired their equipment with the Absolute Power Cord.[3] Also Classical Music Hall of Fame Composer, Conductor, Pulitzer Prize Winner and Recording Engineer George Walker has wired up his systems with the Absolute Power Cord. In addition, his son, Concert Violinist and Conductor of the Boulder Symphony Gregory Walker is also using the Absolute Power Cord.

At: Retail $59.95 Internet Special $49.95

The Absolute Power Cord is a joint effort between Damoka International and GTT Audio & Video. Both share similar philosophies about the “Absolute Sound.”[1] While auditioning much of our super high-end gear we noticed a sameness to the sound, we call it coloration. Power cords were found to be the source of this coloration. So the search began for the “Absolute Power Cord.” Whether it is well-known manufacturers or home brewed power cords we came to some conclusions after auditioning many different types from both sources.

We found that for the best sound the conductor had to be oxygen free stranded copper with the correct proportion of strands per gauge. We also tested all the top brand plugs but again all seemed to have coloration to them. Then we started soldering the conductor to the connector instead on screwing it down. Now we were getting somewhere. There was less microscopic electrical arcing going on. Then we tried different dielectrics and shielding to make the cord look COOL. We discovered that the more we put around the conductors - the more coloration we got and the more it seemed to choke the sound. Knowing what we wanted in a power cord we needed to know where to get them. After all, our expertise is selling High-End Audio - not manufacturing power cords. Sure we could have been happy with our home brews, but how would that look to our clients? What we demonstrate is what you can have at home.

After contacting some US based wire manufactures and realizing the enormous cost involved we decided to go to the Far East and take advantage of the low labor cost. We contracted Cheng Chang in Taiwan to manufacture the “Absolute Power Cord.” Cheng Chang is one of the largest OEM specialty power cord manufactures in the world with the capability to pump out over 6 million cables per month. We knew that we were in the right place. So the Absolute Power Cord is a Hospital Grade 14 gauge stranded copper cable with soldered and molded Hospital Grade IEC and Plug. Most of the well-known power cords in High-End Audio are not UL Approved. Try explaining that to the insurance company when your house burns down. The Absolute Power cord is UL Approved[2].

These cords do not sound the same as a 14-gauge hospital grade Belden, in fact quite a bit different. You can not buy these cords out of a catalog etc…The plug, wire and iec were put together to meet our specs specifically for sonics but don’t just take our word (ears) for it.

As avid audiophiles and classic music concert goers that are in the business of selling super high-end systems we would like to think that we know what sounds neutral and what sounds colored. It was time for a reality check. We went to musicians and recording engineers. Chesky Productions has wired their equipment with the Absolute Power Cord.[3] Also Classical Music Hall of Fame Composer, Conductor, Pulitzer Prize Winner and Recording Engineer George Walker has wired up his systems with the Absolute Power Cord. In addition, his son, Concert Violinist and Conductor of the Boulder Symphony Gregory Walker is also using the Absolute Power Cord.

At: http://www.gttgroup.com/avframe.htm

Just my opinion, I am not associated with any company other than "trial and error of hard knocks". When you have a larger budget look at the "BMI Whale Elite".

I hope this is helpful :-}