Power cords or power conditioner


I’m at a cross roads and I’m looking for some advice from those have have gone down this road. I recently added a 2 channel integrated amplifier to improve my 2 channel performance. I had been using my Datasat LS-10 for music and while it sounded really nice, it was missing the depth and clarity that I know my speakers are capable of. My speakers are KEF Reference 3s, rest of my 2 channel set is is as follows:

Luxman L 509x

Luxman D-03x

Roon Nucleus Plus

Lumin U2 Mini

Transparent Audio Super speaker cables

Nordorst Red Dawn XLR, Blue Heaven USB

Wire World Platinum USB

All power cables are DYI using Oyaide Tsunami V2 cable

So what I feel I am missing is that 3D holographic sound stage. It was there with the Luxman 509 when I demo’d it, but I am unable to get that experience at my house. I feel that majority of equipment is up to the task but I am curious if I should ad a top shelf power condtioner like a Shunyata Triton or Torus AVR20 into the system or replace my Intergrated’s power cord with a Shunyata Alpha NC? I’m getting tapped out, so for now it can only be one or the other.

Or should I skip the above and focus on room treatments?

wheelndeal1099

Thanks OP for the post. Good luck with your future mods. Yes, intergraded are in no man land for conditioning as all amps go directly to the wall.

Nelson Pass is at the top of my audio hero's and not only doesn't endorse any cable manufacturers, but he also disregards tubes as well. 

Absolutely tune the room, positioning and equipment first.

This is NOT an endorsement for Denafrips nor does it address sound stage directly, just what naysayers want... some type of proof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSN5UjCA4Zc

Audioquest's take on supplying power cords with their power conditioners:

Niagara Noise-Dissipation Systems do not ship with an AC cable. Why?

"The cable that feeds any power product is the most important AC cable in the audio/video system. For any power product to maximize its ability to dissipate noise, the attached AC cables must be Direction-Controlled to drain induced radio-frequency noise. AudioQuest AC cables include ZERO-Tech for uncompressed current transfer and optimal Noise-Dissipation. Further, our patented GND-Tech (Ground-Noise Dissipation) pulls RF noise out of any product it’s attached to.

When partnered with a Niagara power product, our Direction-Controlled AC cables create a complete Noise-Dissipation System, ensuring the most effective and efficient dissipation of RF noise.

We allow our customers to select the appropriate length of cable for their systems and to decide how completely they’d like to optimize their Niagaras."

This is not an issue here for most, but it is a long held fact that your best/highest quality power cables should be on your front end. Sub's benefit the least.

I do agree with several members here on Shunyata power distribution/power cables. They are a no brainer but far from my price range. I DIY all power cables.

An interesting tidbit from the manual for an Audioquest Niagara 1200 power conditioner:

"The Niagara 1200 has a five-year warranty, but it was designed to last for over two decades. Provided that the Niagara 1200 is used inside a home, store, studio, or office with a reasonable climate (45 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with less than 20% humidity), it can be left on continuously; there are no parts that will wear out."

While I live in Reno, NV where current outside humidity is a normal 17% now, it is 50% inside as I use a water cooler. I grew up and lived in the Midwest my first 40 years and <20% humidity.... NO WAY LOL!

 

@wheelndeal1099 thanks for the follow up post! I would allow about 24hrs for the used cables to settle. I believe you will attain more depth and layering in the soundstage when you begin to address your room acoustics.
At some point you should also try Audioquest Tornado or Hurricane high current power cords on your Luxman integrated amp(get the latest version). There’s synergy with the AZ interconnects there, at least in my system.
 

Good luck and enjoy this journey!
 

OP,

 

Thanks, congradulations. After transport and non-use… it can take a while for cables to settle down. I would give them at least a few tens of hours. Weird… I have been really surprised how consistent and long it takes.

Had the same cables also for 15 yrs...good pairing.It took days/to a week for my zavfinos to really start to  open up (bought used).Same with my venhaus.Dont over stuff your room...leave some liveliness imho.

In MHO, power cables, treatments and room treatments will add nominal improvements at best (unless your room and current cables are FUBR : )

Perhaps a very good DAC can add some dimensionality and image layering?  Soekris, Mytek, Briscasti etc  Lots out there and most give you a 30 day trial.

 

Cheers,

 

P