1. Home
  2. cables
  3. 185547-2290

Some observations from a former skeptic - and a question

I had been firmly in the camp that power cables made little difference.  A few years ago, I purchased an AQ Niagara 5000 (very nice improvement by itself BTW) and had auditioned various power cables with it.  Nothing too fancy but I found differences difficult to perceive so I just used AQ Monsoon cables. However, I continued to read how others felt power cables had the most impact which I found curious. 

I recently decided to move the Niagara to a system in another home and was planning on getting another Niagara 5000. My local dealer (who carries both AQ and Nordost) suggested I try the Nordost QB 8 MK III which he claimed to be a notable improvement over the MK II variant.

I compared the Nordost and Niagara in home and found them different but not dramatically so. The Nordost I thought a bit more dynamic, the Niagara a bit “blacker” in background.

The same dealer was surprised and suggested we do an In-store demo of power cables going into the QB 8 (great move by the local dealer!).

And there it was. The benefit was clearly there in improved spatial cues - the better cables were more “open”. I tried the same thing in my system - and same result. Unfortunately, power cables do matter. I will note that the AQ Niagara - as much as I liked it (and it was the first conditioner that I heard that made a big difference) - was somewhat negating the impact of the higher end power cables (a nice benefit in hindsight). 

Power cables don’t make as much a difference as interconnects or high quality digital cables (to my ears, in my system) but the benefits are there depending on your budget and appetite for going down the proverbial rabbit hole. 

As an aside, despite Nordost’s claim otherwise, the dealer and I both found the cable from the wall to the QB8 the least impactful and the cable(s) from the QB8 to the amp and source most impactful.

My system now is mostly Valhalla 2s (interconnects and A/C from QB 8 to components. I never expected to get here given my previous experiences.

I need one more A/C cable to complete my loom - for my processor (part of my digital stack). I auditioned a Tyr 2 and it made a notable difference. Unfortunately.

My total expenditure in cables is now equal to the cost of the rest of my system which seems crazy on the surface, but the results have been really rewarding - and more audible than most component upgrades. 

Which leads me to a question: 

How does this group think an Odin 1 (several available on this website) would match with my Valhalla 2 loom? I’m gathering many users feel that Valhalla 2s are > Odin 1s.

I could just stick w/ Tyr 2 on that unit though the cost differentials are not that great between new Tyr 2 and used Odin 1, but Valhalla 2s are up there.  

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

mgrif104
jji666
662 posts
 

Wow, so much anti-science hostility. It’s one thing to argue about the efficacy of cables, but let’s not get off the rails! Science created audio reproduction. Science improves it. Science probably saved your life once. Science has a say in this matter.

I didn’t see anything in ahuvia’s post that was rude or should have drawn such hostility. If the mere idea of skepticism is so threatening, the "cables matter" side needs to do the work to feel more emotionally secure. Come up with some tests and prove it.

I do agree that you can only go so far referencing published studies and that personal experience does matter. I also agree that it doesn’t really matter what other people think about a tweak you make that you like in your system.

However, that goes both ways. You say you don’t care what people think but you only really don’t care what people think if they disagree with you. I would say that’s not the optimal attitude to learn things or to convince others. Clearly when someone posts about a positive cable improvement they do care what people think when people agree with the post.

Forums are not echo chambers. People need to learn to deal with dissent. There is a Truth here, and maybe finding that starts with showing some mutual respect?

(I’m skeptical that power cables matter outside of quality construction and gauge but as I have never done a test and wouldn’t have the budget anyway I am more interested in reading data, facts and experiences and find the flaming counterproductive.)

EDIT: to the OP, the above doesn't refer to you as I think your posts are pretty balanced and respectful. But a few of the above set me off. 

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

I have never done a test and wouldn’t have the budget anyway

Precisely, therefore this:

I am more interested in reading data

…. And raging in the Internet audio forums is my guess.
 

 

 

ossicle2brain's avatar
ossicle2brain
130 posts
 

 

@thyname 

Raging?   His post has more substance in one sentence than your usual sniper pot shot useless troll posts. 

You are really good at them.  

Anything substantive to add? What's wrong with what he said? It's light years more than what I have seen you say.  I could have written the same post.  He spoke my feelings exactly.  

 

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

@ossicle2brain : Chill dude. Did I offend you somehow? I am sorry YOUR feelings were hurt. I was quoting another dude. Are you policing the forums?
 

Really chill. Not worth losing sleep. Go pet an animal.

ossicle2brain's avatar
ossicle2brain
130 posts
 
@mgrif104 

 

Yes I read your post and I do believe you.  You heard a difference.  

 

And I admitted that I should get a better outlet and power supply cords for my amps. The wall sockets are weak and also the socket on the amp itself where the  cord plugs into the amp is probably corroded and also a weak point.  I should solder a direct connection there and eliminate the socket connection.

Even just plugging in and unplugging can make a difference as a new more solid copper to copper connection is made.

 

 

More to discover