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!
hilde452,843 posts FWIW, I went back and forth on my REL 328 sealed sub and heard zero difference. I contacted REL and they said in their tests it didn't make a difference. They said, "A while back, REL tested some third party power cords with our subs but did not find a noticeable impact"
That has been my experience with a Rel sub as well. |
@oldhvymec I have two of those Rythmiks. I guess I'm curious what you'd suggest about cords for them. I ruled out a cord for the REL but maybe the Rythmiks are different for some reason? |
hilde45, williewonka gave you some great name brands and what to look for in cable constructon and cable materials. Pinwheel tech is all the rage for a reason. IT WORKS. How does it work on Bass application? I suppose wonderfully but I’d doubt you could hear a difference and that is all that counts. I recommend a certain construction type with bass anything. 1. HEAVY copper, fine strand, SOOW 10/2/g. Longer than 3 meters #8, 99.999 OFC in a polyvinyl and BR cover with cotton. This is the Minimun QC, type of dielectric and copper type. 2. Heavy red copper terminal ends. Here is the NUGGET for Bass power cable contruction: No Rodium, Gold, Brass, Iron, lead, alumunun, stainless or anything else. IF I use OCC for a bass PC the sound quality is the same. I notice no difference when used on plates other that a certain construction and it boils down to the ENDS on your PC. The size and length of the cable along with good construction techniques keep the quality control the same. I look at the cable under a 50-1000X and see if the cable is made correct. All the wire has to be pulled through the dye in the same direction OR did they GOOF and put the wire in the cable construction both ways. LOL I’ve seen it a few times in 3K cables. Their saving grace was red copper terminal ends.. Main Power Cables and for a full frequency devices, I use a different construction. It may be as big but usually there is a silver componant, teflon, cotton, contact enhancers and maybe mill spec silver over red copper terminal ends. I condition ALL my cables on my basement fan. :-) I hook them there for 3 weeks then on to a cooker for 10 more days. BTW that fan has been ON 24/7 for 18 years. It has never had any maintenance other that cleaning the impellar for balance. I can feel it through the wall. Merry Christmas Everyone... PS the spell check just quit working.. NO idea why it did, that happened before in the early revamp of AG.. Month or so ago.. As you can tell, I neeeeeeed it.. |
After reading the original post I was curious as to whether or not a power cable change on y REL T/7x would result in any improvements.
After having a positive experience with Zavfino Prima speaker cables, I got in touch with Raymond at Zavfino and ordered a Fina like gladmo did.
I'll be damned if it did not improve the texture and extension. Bass seems to stop and stop faster and sounds very real in my system with my ears.
Thanks gladmo for the insight. |
