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Diving into Power... Cable recs for my system and ears....?

Hello All,

 

I have been enjoying a full system upgrade over the past year... the interconnects and digital cables were an eye opener! Now I am bringing my attention to power...

I am currently running my components off a power strip that is 10' long... supposedly designed for audio. All my major components are plugged into this. This power strip is plugged into a wall outlet, which is shared with some lights etc. Also plugged into this power strip is my wifi router. 

 

I have a few questions:

-What is the most important in regards to impact to overall sound if I were to upgrade the power cords? My guess its: 1: Amp.... 2: DAC... 3: Streamer... is that right? Or is it the opposite? 

-Should I have an electrician setup a dedicated outlet to my electrical box, and run my main components off that? Is this worth it? or is there another setup between my electrical box and my components? Or if there is no detectible buzz, should I simply not bother?

-If I should begin looking into power cords as the first upgrade here, what cord would you recommend if I yearn for the following: Extreme startling presence and separation... magic midrange, highs blissful, voice acoustic jazz violin, piano... essentially startling presence as if the instrument is right there... 

I have been enjoying Anticables, and they have a well rated cable in the $300 range which supposedly is as good or better than $1000 cables... but I am open to recommendations...! 

 

Thank you all!

Richard

 

 

 

 

Currently my system (also outlined in my virtual system profile) is as follows:

    • SPEAKERS: Pure Audio Project Duet 15 Horn (Mundorf Silver Gold Oil Cap upgrade and customized crossover w/high pass filter and sweeter meds), Anticable 4.2 Flex Internal wire)
    • STREAMER: Nagra Streamer (Cardas Clear Coaxial)
    • DAC: HoloAudio Spring 2 Level 3 Kitsune edition (Silversmith Fidelium RCA Interconnects)
    • AMP: PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated (RAY TUBES EL34 Reserve power tubes, RADIOTECHNIQUE NOS 12AU7 Gain tubes w/Mullard NOS and Brimar NOS tubes (Anticables 4.2 Flex to speaker)
    • PHONO: Music Hall MMF-9 and McIntosh MP 100 Preamp (Audio-Technica AT160ML MM Cartridge, Anticable 7.3 and Silversmith fidelium Interconnects)
whyrichard
deep_333
2,436 posts
 

Right, he will have great improvements, dynamics and what not until some power anomaly broke something in his amp.

(It was good while it lasted indeed)

First thing. Plug your amp directly into the wall. You can do this now.  You will get very significant improvements with direct lines, 

buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
945 posts
 

@triton20trx  I have a Richard Gray 600 and when I replaced the included power cord with a Shunyata Venom HP I noticed an improvement. I have dedicated lines and Hubble outlets. @jasonbourne71 , I respect your opinion about your experience, but I’ve heard a difference in MY SYSTEM. Where I take exception is your blanket opinion that you apply to others in a condensing way. I have experienced power cables that had ZERO EFFECT in some situations, but have also experienced an improvement in a few situations. 

devinplombier
1,671 posts
 

Besides Luxman, Krell (who made world-class gear a long time ago), and Pass Labs (who still does) also recommend using stock power cords plugged directly into the wall (ie no power conditioners).

Respectfully, and without casting aspersions on the possible merits of audiophile power cords, I for one will take the advice of a living legend like Nelson Pass over that of a few Internet randos, any time and without any hesitation.

cleeds
6,582 posts
 
devinplombier

... I for one will take the advice of a living legend like Nelson Pass over that of a few Internet randos ...

That's one approach. Another is to experiment for yourself, and then decide.

devinplombier
1,671 posts
 

That’s one approach. Another is to experiment for yourself, and then decide.

Therein lies the rub. Experimenting takes time and effort, and the expected benefits are quite modest at best, unless of course an aftermarket cord happens to correct some kind of existing imbalance or condition.

It is understandable that folks who invested half a million or more in a finely curated and polished core system and sources would be tempted to experiment with audiophile power cords, if only for completeness’s sake / leaving no stones unturned.

But my system is nowhere near that level of refinement; although I have to say I am quite pleased with its current end sound, I still have a ways to go to optimize its core, let alone sources, so I feel that for me to experiment with cables at this point in time would be not only wasteful of my time but also counterproductive to the optimization end goal.

That goal is better served by not changing cables that are in place, thereby eliminating variables that would otherwise muck up the proceedings.

Additionally, I believe that a well balanced and highly refined system does not need, or want, coloration coming from its cables. Folks who use cables as tone controls should really complete their systems first; then they might find that transparent / neutral cables are simply more appropriate.

Your point is well taken, but I trust Nelson Pass for now and will verify later.

 

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