Power cords or power conditioner
I’m at a cross roads and I’m looking for some advice from those have have gone down this road. I recently added a 2 channel integrated amplifier to improve my 2 channel performance. I had been using my Datasat LS-10 for music and while it sounded really nice, it was missing the depth and clarity that I know my speakers are capable of. My speakers are KEF Reference 3s, rest of my 2 channel set is is as follows:
Luxman L 509x
Luxman D-03x
Roon Nucleus Plus
Lumin U2 Mini
Transparent Audio Super speaker cables
Nordorst Red Dawn XLR, Blue Heaven USB
Wire World Platinum USB
All power cables are DYI using Oyaide Tsunami V2 cable
So what I feel I am missing is that 3D holographic sound stage. It was there with the Luxman 509 when I demo’d it, but I am unable to get that experience at my house. I feel that majority of equipment is up to the task but I am curious if I should ad a top shelf power condtioner like a Shunyata Triton or Torus AVR20 into the system or replace my Intergrated’s power cord with a Shunyata Alpha NC? I’m getting tapped out, so for now it can only be one or the other.
Or should I skip the above and focus on room treatments?
Room first for sure. I went with Shunyata power conditioners and NR Shunyata power cables. This changed dynamics and texture, but I don’t recall a big change in soundstage. There was a better image but not an expanded soundstage...like more air surrounding the vocalist. What I did with power was to purchase with 60 day trial, but in my system and with my power the Shunyata products worked for me. |
Wow, like all threads you have so many contradictory posts, but you can figure things out for yourself if you can return what doesn’t work. I think that @ghdprentice got it right. Even McIntosh wants you to plug your integrated amp into the wall, but notice the word "almost" in his remarks. Personally, I’m sold on Shunyata for power, but others look elsewhere, but with power cables, you are going to spend $6K to $13K on a conditioner and the proper cables just for your conditioner and integrated.. Now you enable the dynamics of your power amp and not dull the dynamics. For me, that’s not spare change, so I demanded a real noticeable..not subtle improvement. The problem here is how far do you want to take it? I still have to buy NR power cables for my DAC, streamer and phono preamp. I know that at $2400/cable I’ll have close to maxed out my system and I have bought into Shunyata’s Noise Reduction cables where component noise doesn’t contaminate other components. I purchased less expensive NR cables for my subwoofers and I think this worked well, but buying more $2400 cables is tough. So the problem with conditioners/regenerators is that you have to spend a small fortune to do it right. |
Given the spectrum of opinions, I think that we can conclude that you should buy your power cables, conditioners and regenerators with the ability to try and return if they don't meet your expectations. Also, you must be willing to spend big money if you have high expectations. I spent more on power than any one component and I purchased with 60 day return..but the benefit was not subtle. It is hard to spend money on that last six feet. It just doesn't make sense that this would make a difference..but it can if you go all out and not buy an intermediate solution. |
