Power Conditioning - How Important for Digital and Analog Source Components vs Amp?


I have two questions:  1) Is it worth installing power conditioning ONLY for my source components, and if so, 2) should I plan to use the same grade of power cords to my sources as I have with my amp (Gryphon Diablo 300)....

How impactful is using a conditioner (say an Audioquest Niagara 1200) on source components, as compared with amplifiers?  Is it worth getting a conditioner ONLY to use for my source components while leaving my Diablo 300 connected directly to the wall (as recommended by Gryphon)?

I can hear major differences with different brands of power cords connected to my Diablo 300, and I'm wondering if I need to invest in the same grade of power cables (3 of them!) for my conditioner (AQ 1200 potentially), turntable (VPS Prime 21), and digital source (Innuos Zenith Mk 2).  Can I cheap out a bit on the source power cords, or are these source power cords just as important as the power cord to my amp?

And finally, if I am JUST using the conditioner for my sources, do I still use a high-current power cord to the conditioner itself?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

 

 

 

nyev

I completely agree with your list ghdprentice and yes power cord to amp makes SO much difference. Can make or break a system.

what is still a mystery to me is how important the cord going TO the conditioner is. Is this a place that you can skimp out a LITTLE? Because, I would think that the cords taking the conditioned power to the source components would be much more important than the cord going to the conditioner?

For what it's worth I've been told by friends (whom I consider true audiophiles with great listening skills) to use a very good power cord on the conditioner for the best results. They claim that's where they heard the greatest difference. Over the years of tuning various high-end systems, I've learned is there is no one answer that works for everyone. Trial and error and trust your ears.

Thanks, I suppose I will need to do a test of a basic cable connected to my conditioner vs a more spendy one.  Since I can’t swap my high end amp power cord without ruining the test results, I’ll need to find a demo cable to try.  
 

Despite my amp power cord making a world of difference, I somehow doubt the cable to the conditioner can possibly matter as much…. But this is just my unfounded speculation.

Maybe I’m a sucker but I did upgrade to a AQ Diamond USB cable to my Gryphon’s DAC module, and I’m strongly considering upgrading my Ethernet cable to my InnuOS streamer / Roon core.  Even when I can’t actually hear a difference at all in the sound vs a standard $3 USB cable.  I know the Gryphon DAC module has some fancy voltage stabilization and clock sync tech for the USB input, so maybe my AQ Diamond USB cable isn’t needed…..

I hear massive differences with the amp power cord and also when swapping out speaker wire…. Now I’m getting to the nitty gritty I guess.

Thanks, I suppose I will need to do a test of a basic cable connected to my conditioner vs a more spendy one.  Since I can’t swap my high end amp power cord without ruining the test results, I’ll need to find a demo cable to try.  
 

Despite my amp power cord making a world of difference, I somehow doubt the cable to the conditioner can possibly matter as much…. But this is just my unfounded speculation.

Your logic makes sense to me.

If the power conditioner is a cure-all then it should not need a PC on top.````````````

I am using the same high quality power chord into my PowerCell conditioner and from the PowerCell to my Diablo 300.  The combination was decided upon after  different manufacturers, variations, and combinations were employed in trials in the actual system.  As far as the Gryphon Diablo DAC module, even though it is run off its own isolated capacitor bank power supply it does perform better with a quality USB cable from a quality server.  It was very revealing of the different USBs that were tried and the one I found best in my system was not the highest priced that was employed in the trials. It is a great amp just feed it well and it will reward…