Power cord


Looking at spending around $1500 2 m audioquest or Nordost

conrads1

Make your own & put the saved money to a better use.

Furutech OCC copper & plugs. Just my $.02

No one can give you any advice based on your question. And if someone claims they can, call 🐂 💩

I spent around that per cord 1.5 meter for Furetech DPS-4.1 with ncf plugs, I also see the prices have come down $100 per meter.  
 

It's not just oxygen free copper as some say who are not familiar with it. Ive only compared to Analysis plus ultimate oval which are more expensive and not as good to me in my system.

 I paid a lot less for those used. And that oval plus won't fit all the way in to the ncf plugs, I know because I replaced the ends on the plus with the ncf's. 

Assuming you have the sound quality you want and do not want the tonal balance changed at all, I recommend a used AudioQuest Hurricane. High level Nordost are great … but at this intermediate level (for Nordodt), I would recommend the AudioQuest. This might be out of your budget… but 2meters sound better than 1 meter power cords. I use Transparent power cords on all my components except for my power amp… that is a Hurricane. I cannot recommend it enough. I would have gone with a high current Transparent but it was several times the price.

@audphile1 is absolutely correct.

Don’t buy any power cords you haven’t auditioned in your system!

Just because a set of cords sounds good in someone else’s system doesn’t mean it’s going to sound good in yours.

Have a friend or maybe spouse help you with some blind testing before you make your expensive decision (that doesn't affect the sound one iota).

Start with a 20 amp dedicated CCT for your system. To add another name to the pile, I started with a $350.00 Nordost power cable, I have all WIreWorld power cables now. I did audition them in my house on my system. They work well with my gear. 

@danmar123

+ 1 and many more. You realize that you’re picking the pockets of the mighty AudioQuest + others and taking the blowhard out of peoples sails. That aside I’m of the belief most of these cable posts are born just to further the controversy. At least once a month the same old same old. 

The OP posed a tricky question

1. There’s no information on what the cord is for - source component, preamp, amp, active speakers, power conditioner. Is the $1500 price range for a used cable or new

2. What brand/model component is it

3. What’s the system consist of

4. Preference for sound - warm, dark, bright?

Everyone will try to recommend what they like. Every system is different and even if someone has exactly the same component or even the exact same system, no two rooms sound alike. The way the question is posed it’s impossible to make even a remotely valid recommendation.

I’ve used 3 different AQ power cords and I don’t care for them. I also tried Furutech DPS 4.1 with NCF for connectors. I have all nordost power cables now. All this tells you is what I like in my system in my room. Means nothing to you.

I’m of the belief most of these cable posts are born just to further the controversy. At least once a month the same old same old. 
 

this is one of the very few times I agree with you @1971gto455ho 

Have you auditioned both and arrived at these two brands as your final choice?  Of the two at your price point I would choose AQ.  If you have not auditioned, add WyWires Platinum.  I preferred them over similarly priced AQ. Very neutral, spacious and  detailed SQ without being cool and analytical (like how I find Nordost).  Personal preference. Read pro reviews and add to your audition list.  The designer, Alex, is a pleasure to work with. 

@brunomarcs I sure would like to know where you are seeing DPS 4.1 power cable for $100 a meter.  VH Audio lists them for $394/meter.

Neither, get Acoustic Zen, Krakatoa or better, those are by far my favorite cords, they are magical... Or maybe Acoustic Revive but those are kinda harder to find, I have one of the ones that's like $1300 and it’s really good but kinda stiff.

As danmar123 said, make you own. I made cords for all of my components and could custom size the lengths. I used Furutech components from the cable store.  

@pinwa  DPS 4.1 is $100 per meter less than it was previously @480.00 per meter from Douglas connection and elsewhere! This suggest to me that Furetech hasn't been selling much of this stuff and wants it gone more than likely, probably had a bad review! The plugs are also  $20 less than previously.  We all take a hit.
 

The hit is much smaller if you DIY with a little research and bulk buy cable. Not only rewarding its fun. 
Cheers 

Why not spend less than $500 and purchase a power cord that delivers like a $2000 power cord. Veritas Cables power cord, a small new company that has started up. I've only seen items on USAM.

 

Someone suggested Furutech NCF power cords and I was curious. So I investigated. Information from their website is pasted below, which can only be believed by the most gullible, faith based, snake oil believers. If I am wrong please explain the science of nano-crystals, carbon powder, conversion of thermal energy into far infrared, etc. 😜


FEATURES

It takes just a moment to hear the difference that Furutech’s NCF Clear Line can make to your audio or video system.
Why just a moment?
Furutech’s Nano Crystal² Formula, also known as NCF, has resulted in a number of truly innovative and effective products over the past few years. NCF features a special crystalline material that has two distinct properties—it generates negative ions that eliminate static, and it converts thermal energy into far infrared.
When combined with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder, these crystals become the ultimate electrical and mechanical damping material. Created by Furutech, NCF is found exclusively in Furutech products and nowhere else.

Conrads1, As others have mentioned, you need to let us know what you are trying to do with this cord. 

Post removed 

@1971gto455ho stick to audio and stay out of politics. And stay on topic. Do you have any experience with $1500 AQ and Nordost power cord? If not, shut up.

@unclewilbur I’m sure people at Furutech are much more qualified to answer your inquiry than anyone on these forums. Let us know what they respond with. 

Dear audphile 1, Not nice to tell people to shut up.. especially when their conversation or comments weren’t directed towards you personally. This is a public form and I’m not privy to your location nor do I care, I will say this is also good for you !! I’m a very big very well trained individual that try’s to get along with even the simplest folk with or without manners. I’ve had time to think about that, so let’s stick to audio…and stay healthy.

1971gto455ho

476 posts

 

Dear audphile 1, Not nice to tell people to shut up.. especially when their conversation or comments weren’t directed towards you personally. This is a public form and I’m not privy to your location nor do I care, I will say this is also good for you !! I’m a very big very well trained individual that try’s to get along with even the simplest folk with or without manners. I’ve had time to think about that, so let’s stick to audio…and stay healthy.

Clearly you either didn’t have enough time to think about it or you didn’t think about it enough. Not very smart of you to threaten anyone in a public forum. Keep your politics, your threats and your baseless statements to yourself. Try’s to think about that a bit…may be you will get along even better with everyone if you re-evaluate your manners. Have a good night, very big and very trained amigo

Apparently it’s you that has to learn to read. My original post wasn’t directed at any individual. You chose to tell me to shut up and stay out of politics which I said nothing about in the first place. Perhaps knots in your panties ? With regards to threats, wouldn’t take much of a Lawyer to realize there is no direct threat Implied. Sounds to me as others I’m sure, you take pleasure in your pontification. So buddy we’ll move on from this, I’ll shut up you should eat a few Gummy’s Find a bag of chips and a friend.
Cheers

1971gto455ho

477 posts

 

I’ll shut up you should eat a few Gummy’s Find a bag of chips and a

What the heck is Gummy’s? Anyways take a deep breath - we’re done here. 

 

Furutech DPS 4.1 cable at $100/meter? Where? At that price, I would back up the truck. I'm seeing $400/meter. (And worth every penny; I own three of these PCs.)

If you really want good sound try Nagomi from

Combax harmonix it will change your perspective 

about what a power cable can do.

Please don't waste your money on Nordost power cords at that price level you will not hear any difference, Nordost begins at Vahalla 2 and through the Odin line which is not in the same price range. I have personally demo'd every Nordost cable on my system.

Also I agree with a lot of the others if you can the best way is to borrow them from a an authorized audio store and hear them yourself on your system, listening to them in stores is a waste.  You need to hear it yourself on your system not components that are not yours, in rooms that are not yours.

 

Good luck if you find the right cable power cords can make a huge difference but you must find the right cable. 

 

Hello,  (this is an update to my previous response on power cable options.  I've added another source for raw cable/connectors.  A few other responses suggest "...build your own...". I prefer to add a few source websites to that suggestion so that you can further research the diy option).

I'm a DIY'er and prefer to assemble my own cables.  Using this option allows one to assemble high end audiophile cables at a 50/70% savings vs the same ready made cable(s).  Another benefit is making them the length that is needed.

Here are my primary sources for raw cable and various terminal ends.

webstore@performanceaudio.com

https://douglasconnection.com

https://www.vhaudio.com

 

If you have not yet diy'd cables there are several videos that serve as tutorials/guides.  No special tools or soldering needed, just good quality wire cutters, wire strippers, Phillips screwdriver, heat shrink tubing (various colors to give the cables your "signature"look) and a heat gun.  Take your time and you will produce cables you can be proud of.  Oh and the bank that you save can be invested toward other elements of your rig.  Enjoy

In what world would any true audiophile support another enthusiast in buying a $1500 power cord. Those of you should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves for perpetuating such a ridiculous level of snake oil. You're either lying or willfully ignorant.

I have some upgraded power cords going to my amp and CD player. I never could hear the difference, but I had them around so I use them. Most of my system is plugged into an old Monster AVS 2000 Transformer. I have no idea how much that helps make my system sound better. I bought it many years ago and did A/B tests then, but have forgotten the results. (So, they didn't realy matter that much.)

My amp is plugged into the wall, as advised by people who say amps need to draw a lot of power sometimes and transformers and such can act as a bottleneck when the amp needs that rush of power. Good amps have internal power supplies, however, where they store the power they need.

So, I don't exactly understand what an expensive power cord buys you. Yes, I can see that it would provide cleaner power through better metals, but the power is going to get stored inside the amps power supply. Will the amp really know if that power came through a better pipe? Isn't it all just power once it enters an amps power supply?

Forgive my ignorance of electronics.

It just depends on what the op needs. Does he want to warm up a bright system, does he want more resolution.  It's kind of hard to help.

 

 

I guess all these ridiculously expensive power cables will compensate for the typical Home Depot 12 AWG Romex wire found in the walls.

Check out Cerious Tech Lumniscate power cords. I don’t know a soul who doesn’t recognize a significant bump in SQ - ESPECIALLY when used with digital gear like DACS, streamers and servers. 

 maybe I'm getting old but you guys have lost me. As long as a power chord is thick enough to carry the current without voltage drop, isn't that all that matters?

@nasaman "Ferrari or Lamborghini?” OP Q sounds more like: to buy Ferrari class Steering wheel for Ford escort/toyota/etc., and then to report better car performance! 

@conrads1 "Looking at spending around $1500 2 m audioquest or Nordost” Why? 

As most have said, cables are going to be different in everyone's system. Nordost good stuff really does start at the Heimdall and above. Audioquest PC start at Thunder and above.

For my system, I had Nordost Red dawn and Blue Heaven for all of my components. I made a single upgrade on my amp to an Audioquest Tornado HC PC. After that, I upgraded most of my components to Audioquest Tornado's, they just sounded better. To be fair, the Audioquest cables were 2x the price of the Nordost cables I had.