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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
tyray
1,034 posts
 

We are only here to share.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,942 posts
 

As to Nelson Pass’ take on power cords…

Any Pass Labs manual after the original series and starting with .5 series amps states the following 

Power Cords: Pass Labs provides a power supply cord that meets all legislated requirements for the market in which the product was originally sold. If you choose to substitute an after-market product we urge you to choose one that is fully safety rated by the necessary local authority.

I owned X250.5, XA30.8 and X260.8 mono amps. Each of these amplifiers responded to power cord upgrades. Some power cables resulted in better sound quality, some had adverse effects. All depends on system synergy.

I’ve not read or heard in interviews with Pass that he’s against after-market power cables. I’m debunking this myth about Pass swearing by stock cables. Logically thinking it could have never been true. The stock cords supplied with Pass amps are your generic 14 gauge variety. Pass amps draw healthy amounts of current and anyone using stock 14 gauge cables is missing out on what these amps can do. 

earthbound
295 posts
 

Well perhaps we aren’t capable of actually measuring everything when it comes to sound and how humans perceive it. I’ve certainly experienced significant sound difference when changing speaker wire before. Not sure if it was measurable but I know what I heard. So, anyone who isn’t open to the possibility that perhaps there’s more to this than they understand, well I will be nice and not add the adjective here. The world has become filled with close minded individuals who need absolutes. Enjoy the music

tyray
1,034 posts
 

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.

Not only do I hear greater sound and tone quality cable designed by highly trained electrical/mechanical engineers versus the DIY cable I’ve used, I also adhere to the idea of upgrading stock tubes that come with any tube gear and couldn’t be more pleased with the overall sound and tone results I’ve gotten over the years. To me, your mind and ears are the most accurate and precise measuring devices I know of when it comes to listening to one’s own rig.

And last time I checked, the best designers of hifi audiophile equipment will take a product and build it over and over until they have it voiced and tuned to exactly the standards they are looking for. And they do this not only by making measurements with professional grade electrical measuring gear but by listening.

devinplombier
1,670 posts
 

@audphile1 

Given the current levels of polarization, any high-end audio manufacturer that declared "against aftermarket power cords" might as well shoot themselves in the foot.

In other words, alienate power cord aficionados at the risk of alienating... your own customer. Thus diplomacy is of the essence.

Here is a good interview of Nelson Pass on power. He does not discuss cords per se but the framework they operate within. As always with Nelson, it's a tiny master class, and an accessible one:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/power-according-pass

 

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