I could hear a difference after installing each of four tweaks: cleaning connections, new power cord, new receptacle, new fuses. This leads me to think it's possible that I hear a difference because I'm listening for a difference. It's not that i have an expectation of improvement, but that possibly my state of listening has changed. I'm not being snarky, and I did say it is "possible," and I'm keeping all the tweaks. Just saying that this might contribute to the experience that "everything makes a difference." Somewhat like the washed car drives better. Perhaps, "Personal attention to a system produces heightened appreciation of its performance." I could be wrong, which is okay because I like taking care of my system and hearing the results.
Hearing is believing?........power cables.......
For anyone who is skeptical about the difference a high quality power cord can make in your high quality audio system........try it.......hearing is believing. About 10 years ago when I bought my first "entry level" hifi system (B&K amp/preamp, Canton speakers) my audio advisor dropped off a Tara Labs Prism power cord. He said just try it for a week and if you don't think it makes a difference just return it. I, like most unfamiliar with high quality cables, was skeptical.......how could a cable 1 meter long from the wall to my equipment make a difference? I put it on the power amp and yes I could definitely tell there was a more defined bass and overall clearer soundscape. I'm a musicians, so I figured maybe the "non audiophile" can't hear the difference. So my brother-in-law who is a bricklayer came over and we did a blind listening test. I randomly switched the Tara, sometimes trying to fool him......told him I switched but didn't........he could tell every time I used the Tara! So I was convinced that it was "wishful thinking on my part or particularly sensitive ears. If you don't think a great power cable can make a difference........take the challenge. Try one for a week and see (hear) for yourself!
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Nonoise, I think that if those that do hear a difference can explain exactly what differences were heard, then those people that have a hard time believing, will actually take the time to listen more intently from that point on. Personally I find no value in phrases such as "the veil has been lifted". It tells me nothing I think that for the most part, many of the cables on the market i.e. within each specific "snack bracket", provide a similar level of performance to the untrained ear and so no improvements due to cables were observed Personally, I have a collection of tracks that I use to assess component performance and I have found that not all the tracks have always highlighted improvements. So listening to just those tracks would make it seem that there is no improvement. Over time the tracks in that list has changed dramatically, but even now I still find other tracks that highlight a specific aspect of a cables performance, so I add it to the playlist. It's no different from any other obsession, golf, cars, photography, etc. etc. At least we get to choose to comment or not.:-) Cheers |
@williewonka holy crap. I have blisters on my hand from making this last cord. Wrapping 12.5' of 12 gauge wire around a fiberglass rod 3 times is hard work. And I'm a rock climber! The helix cable was made with: : Silver plated copper sonarquest IEC and mains connectors :5' 10awg silver plated, teflon insulated copper live conductor : 12.5' 2x12awg silver plated, teflon insulated copper neutral conductors : 12.5' 12awg THHN stranded copper ground conductor Both the connectors and live conductor were used in previous cables, so are somewhat broken in What I've noticed so far: : Bass is more powerful and smoother : Increase in mid and high frequency presence and separation : A faint hum I've had when using my turnable has been reduced Differences are relative to my last cable: braided cat 5 plenum, equivalent to 9awg per conductor, with there same connectors (silver plated sonarquest) I'm hoping that the highs calm down as the cable breaks in. If they don't, I'll have to get the same OCC conductors I have on the PCs on my amps. Or a solid silver conductor.. oooh. |
Todd - I hear ya (LOL) I just finished a 9ft extension cable... - LIVE: 9ft of DH Labs Power Plus http://www.silversonic.com/docs/products/PowerPlus.html - NEUTRAL: 3 x 24 ft -14 gauge conductors - Cryo Mil-Spec silver plated stranded Copper https://www.takefiveaudio.com/products/1097-mil-spec-14-awg-silver-plated-copper-cryo-treated-green - GROUND: 12 gauge Teflon.Copper (home Depot.) The ground and the neutral conductors provide close to 100% coverage of the live conductor, so it is very well shielded. The three 14 gauge neutral conductors were coiled onto the rod all at once, but for a cable that long you need a 6ft rod. I had to lay the three neutral conductors out down a hallway to prevent tangles My thumbs were numb after that, even though I used gloves. The three 14 awg neutral conductors are equal to a 9 gauge conductor, which makes it a little thicker than the 11awg live conductor. Seems a thicker neutral is the way to go from what I am reading. And it's much easier to wind. Glad to hear there were mostly positive results, but I agree with your assessment about allowing plenty of time for burn-in - about 50-60 hours should do it, but 100 will be better. The cable should become more mellow, but with much faster dynamics Did you happen to notice any image improvements - like - better 3 dimensional presentation front to back and up and down - wider image - image envelopes the listener - i.e. you hear things behind you You should hear that once you get a Helix IC between the pre/main amps :-) Keep the updates coming - thanks |
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