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Power Cords

I currently have Wireworld Silver Electra power cords with upgraded Platinum plugs. I had two 1M Wireworld Platinum power cords, but rearranged my system and required longer cords. Yesterday I borrowed two Shunyata Sigma NR power cords. On the first note my wife softly said, "that sounds better". She said it was clearer. I listened for a couple hours, changing the power cords a couple of times. In my system and to my ears this is my conclusion:
The Sigma's are cleaner, definitely has more bass, a dead silent and completely black background. The Wireworld cords are more detailed, with a wider soundstage and better spacing/separation of instruments. All things considered I'll keep my Wireworld, but I'm curious to listen to other power cords.
After inserting the Sigma's I just don't understand how anyone that listened to different power cords could conclude that they can't hear a difference. There is a difference, but like any other component the individual has to decide if the change is worth it. $6K for two power cords is relatively expensive. Expensive, but oddly maybe a good value? In my system there was a definite improvement with better bass impact and articulation. Would spending $6K or just changing amplifiers yield similar results? As with most components there are trade-offs...is there a power cord out there that has the benefits of the Sigma's and Wireworld Silver Electra's? If so, at what cost?  
ricred1
ricred1 OP
2,044 posts
 
highstream,

I respect your opinion. I’m sorry, $3000 for a cable is not cheap. After it settles for 48-72 hours from movement it should be okay to audition. It’s my understanding that the Shunyata NR cables are already broken-in and don't need to be played a long time to reach optimum sound. I hear a difference, I just don’t prefer Shunyata Sigmas in "my system". In general I know if the sound I’m hearing is something I prefer or not.
ricred1 OP
2,044 posts
 
A friend that I meet through Audiogon sent me an Audioquest Niagara XLR interconnect cable to try. Several months ago he came to my house and listened to my system. He thought the Niagara would be a good fit. Again, to my ears cables sound different. The Niagara adds air and more detail compared to the Wireworld Platinum cable it replaced. I only have one Niagara cable and it goes from my DAC to the preamp. 
My problem is when I hear a difference like this, it makes me want to keep investigating. There are just so many options out there for cables and I just don't have the time and/or access to everything.  
pops
2,275 posts
 
Any of you slummed like me and used the original - SR Master Coupler?  I am using 2 on my monoblocs and 1 on my linestage - plenty of head bobbing in my room!
highstream
207 posts
 
ricred1, I appreciate the quandry about money vs. time. I just went through it with two five-cord looms. My repeated experience is that many developers claim that their cables are burned in wholly or in part before sending them out, usually on that cooker, but I’ve yet to find one where it was ever close to sufficient - and I’m talking by at least two weeks, 300+ hrs, if not the full three weeks, 500 hrs.

The other thing I’ve found with some consistency is that around 300 hrs in, better cables go through a magical change, as if someone threw a switch. It might be an explosion of detail or soundstage or bass, or some combination of characteristics. It’s immediately evident when it happens and gives a much more substantial appreciation of what the cable can do. The example that most stands out to me was the Sablon Reserva power cords, which one day after two weeks exhibited a level of detail well beyond anything I’d ever heard before or since from a cable. In the end, it didn't overcome some reservations, but had I liked it more an earlier comparison and decision would have been way off the mark. 
ricred1 OP
2,044 posts
 
highstream,

I don't know anyone that will loan me cables for two weeks. In all honesty I just don't have the time to audition something over a two week period. I know it may not be the perfect way to audition cables, but it's my only option.
It my appear that I'm so unhappy with my current cables, but I'm not. I'm always open to the idea that a different cable may take my system to another level. I'm not dedicated to a particular company, only to a certain price range. If I don't hear what I'm looking for, I'll keep my Wireworld cables. During the process, all I can do is report on what I hear in my system. 
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