AFFORDABLE 20 amp power cord for a Hydra?

The cord from the wall to your Hydra will give you the most signature so choose carefully. The Shunyata Helix cords will set the soundstage back some or more middle row and the non-helix cords are more front row. At least that is what I experienced.

I second Larry's (Lak) statement. I also own two Voodoo 15A>20A adapters, and I find that they tend to 'smear' the sound a bit. Still a useful tool for judging cords, but once I found one that I like I would get the appropriate plug and not use the adapter for long term listening.

Cheers,
John

Lak & Jmcgrogan2, please explain more of how the Voodoo adaptor color's the sound. I just bought one as well. I read other reviews that is does not change the sound.

How would I know if it changes the sound if I dont have both version of the power cable in 15amp and 20amp to be able to make that conclusion?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Obviously there are a couple of ways to do this. I found the most definitive to be using the same cord, one with a 15A IEC through the adapter and one with a 20A IEC. Now as I said earlier, it is a useful tool, as it did give me some insight into power cord differences, however, when I decided on the cord I wanted and ordered it with a 20A IEC, I was able to compare the same cord with 20A and 15A IEC's. Another way would be to use the 15A cord on other components with 15A IEC connections to get a good feel for the cord's sound, then use the adapter to run it through the 20A IEC. This is a bit more difficult, but is what led me to order the cord I liked with a 20A IEC. It gave me suspicions that the adapter was altering the sound.

In general, I found there to be a slight hardening of the sound, akin to a glassy-ness (is that a word?) in the upper midrange using the adapter, as well as a small, but noticeable, loss of resolution. This is what I was reffering to as the 'smear', a sort of softening of the note attack if you will.

All that being said, I am not bashing Voodoo products, and I still own two of these adapters (you'll never know when you'll want to try them). I also own a Voodoo 15A>Nema adapter so I can try other cords on my Hydra. FWIW, I don't find them anymore offensive than other adapters, like RCA>XLR adapters. My point was just that they are great tools for experimenting and trying different cords, and that's how I feel they should be used. Not as permenant staples in a system. Of course as with all things audio, YMMV.

Cheers,
John

I agree with John’s thoughts and statements. I would have never known there was a slight difference in sonics when using my Voodoo adapter (which I still own and use on an as needed basis) if not for eventually having one PC in the 20 amp version vs. the identical 15 amp PC using the 20 amp adaptor.
I have heard a bigger difference (which I didn’t care for at all) using RCA>XLR adapters. One must remember that each system and geographic location can effect all equipment differently.