drbond, what is "standard power cords for my amplifiers”?
power interconnect issues could be related to bad contacts, oxidation, etc., including IEC and wall connections; periodic maintenance helps.
Do I need upgraded power cables?
Hello and Good Day
I'm wondering about power conditioners and power cords. Here's my equipment:
Cronus Magnum lll Integrated Tube Amp / Focal Aria 948 DW Speakers / Kimber Kable 8TC Speaker Cables / 2 SVS SB2000 Pro A Subwoofers with SVS Sound Path Subwoofer Cables / Grado Sonata Cartridge / Pro-Ject 2 Xperience SB DC Turntable using the included interconnects / Denon DCD 1700NE CD Player using Kimber Sliver Streak Interconnect / Panamax MR4300 Power Line conditioner and surge protection
Upgrade the Panamax? - is it providing anything besides surge protection? Upgrade the power cords for which component? Or do nothing? Maybe my components aren't audiophile enough to justify purchasing upgraded power cords.
Any advise or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thank you
Bill
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- 86 posts total
I bought some new, but inexpensive standard power cables for my amplifiers to see if they sounded better than my old, but more expensive power cables. The new cheaper ones that I bought were just new extension cords with 12awg OFC copper wire, with just a black rubber covering. The contacts were tight for all cords. They didn’t make it sound much worse, but it was flatter, slightly more muffled sounding. However, a much more significant difference was comparing the standard power cable with an expensive one plugged into the pre-amplifier: very obvious, marked difference. As mentioned, prior to this experience, I had tried upgraded $100-300 power cables in various components, but didn’t hear any difference, so I did not think power cables really made a difference. |
Yes, people often don’t hear a difference when they "know" before that there cannot be any difference...Pass Labs includes very good quality cords, many companies do not...a nice bonus too is that used power cords are avilable at good prices and hold value a long time...I ended up with after market cords after extensive A-B testing with a friend (all cords were loaners, with free, simple return)...neither of us knew anything about power cords at that time... |
@bzawa - cabling- you’re on the right track, it’s usually best to upgrade from stock cabling but don’t go crazy. Many believe that the power cable is the most important cable. Agree you should also consider a better conditioner for further sonic benefits |
Check WTPC v2 (sale for $250 in Agon). I can hear clear sound difference in comparison video. Alex/Wavetouch 3 PC comparison - JPS, Zentara, WT (click time stamps) |
- 86 posts total