Nordost break in expectations

what about the power cables? nordost actually says to start there. not intuitive to me.

If possible you should attend a Nordost demo.

They did one with power cables at RMAF, and the difference between stock (black standard power cord) and the Nordost cables was easily discernable. The difference between the stock cord and the various Nordost cables as you moved up the Nordost line was also easily heard by me, and other attendees of the demo.

I was not a believer until the demo, but hearing is believing.

Do your ears a favor and get a Heimdall2 or Frey 2 power cord.
Demo models get listed here regularly.

Over time, I put H2/F2 from the wall to speaker(and everything in between)for considerably less than retail$$$.
There are othe brands on the same level or "better"(subjective),
but you can be endlessly buying/selling AND LOSING money in your quest for
sonic nirvana.

You may even hear the difference with your own Nordost demo.Switching just the power cord and keeping everything else the same, all other cables swaps within the chain may be extremely subtle. YMMV, naturally.