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Power Cables on Subwoofers do Matter

I read an opinion somewhere on this site that swapping the power cable on a subwoofer has a minimal effect and may not be worth it. I have a very different opinion. Power cables can completely transform a subwoofer’s performance.

I have an SVS SB-2000 powered sub and my preferred power cable, a Zavfino Fina, has made it sound like a different animal altogether. It has much more punch, freq response linearity, and liveliness. The manufacturer included power cable makes it sound slow, bloated, and almost out of tune just because it’s sloppy, in comparison. The only drawback to the Fina is that slam below 30-40 hz is a little recessed but it’s not major and is still clearly my choice. I also compared five other aftermarket power cables from other components in my system and they ALL had a different effect on the sub. For testing, I used various crossover points and most of the testing was with the loudspeakers off in order to isolate the sub for critical listening.

Cheers!

128x128gladmo
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lak
4,537 posts
 

Strange...my Pair of REL T/7i subs improved with my upgraded 10 gage copper power cords.

docknow
303 posts
 

A couple of years ago there was an article on another audio site (PosFe), that I can’t seem to find right now (maybe someone can), that said that improving the power cable to the sub not only improved the bass, but also the higher frequencies. I had already swapped my stock power cord to my Martin-Logan BF210 with a Signal Cable I had lying around to good effect, so I decided to move higher up the food chain, as I could always use more midrange clarity. I got a significant increase in clarity and resolution across the entire range of frequencies by replacing the Signal Cable with a Shunyata Alpha v2. Was very happy with the improvement. Like we often say, it seems everything matters!!

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

This is a servo plate amp, LOOK at what you really need to do it right along with complete speaker decoupling from the entire room. A Turntable delight right down to a flat as a pancake 20hz or lower sub responce. NO woofer pumping AT ALL ever..

Plug a crap PC into this amp, you'll hear it.. 

Normaly when manufactures make a statement like couple the sub to the floor or power cables make no difference, that type of sub manufacture/owner likes to FEEL the sub through their bottoms, feet, and that type of thing.. They kind of loose the plot when it comes to TOTAL distortion and distructive harmonics and effects on all the other gear, not just "their" sub..

It's very districtive to super clean MB, mids and high drivers too. Vibration is vibration.. It dosn't mater what it's rattling. It also delivers a delayed responce way out of time with the actual drivers and the rooms reflected responce.

I like a ground UP approch other than TAME an issue after the fact. Plates falling off the walls, kitchen cabinets rattling.. I know glue them to the wall. ALL FIXED. :-)

Regards

lanx0003
674 posts
 

So i see the price of the power cables that were found having significant impact could range from $200 ish all the way to $2000.  Could someone with more technical background / expertise provide justifications on the price difference in terms of their physical properties such as conductivity, impedance, insulation, etc. AND, most importantly, how these properties affect the sound.  The venders of these "high end" cable seems hardly publishing those technical data.  

nlitworld
57 posts
 

@gladmo which power cables did you try before settling on the Zavfino?

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