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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
lemonhaze
410 posts
 

@gladmo, the svs sub does not use the standard connector on their plate amp. I have the smaller SB 1000 Pro which uses a C7 I think it's called. Does Zavfino give you the choice of connector.

Also the Fina you mention is 14AWG which is considered a bit lightweight  for power amps. Why did you choose this instead of their 12AWG version? I realise of course that the heavier cable will cost more.

rodman99999
5,993 posts
 

@gladmo -

     Based on your experience, as a musician: what percentage of knowing when the rhythm section is right, would you attribute to, "feel" (physiological/tactile)?

                       In both performing and listening scenarios, that is.

 

 

raysmtb1's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
raysmtb1
792 posts
 

Never run SVS units with Teflon cables. The Teflon at high levels goes into helium gasified state that can work its way down into the driver motor thus giving off a burping sound around 85db. Careful out there!

coralkong's avatar
coralkong
593 posts
 

The current is sourced from a transformer placed somewhere far away outside the building. Then it passes several long cables to the building main panel where is distributed through other cables to each apartment or whatever place. Then it goes in the home distribution panel and then to each plug.

If someone is saying that the last 2 meters of cable can change the sound of a subwoofer while the current is passing through hundreds or thousands of meters of cables and hundreds of connectors + a few panels ... maybe they can explain us how !

but the power cable can do absolutely nothing unless it is damaged or too thin.

 

@ciprian This is an incorrect, oft misunderstood concept, so this is not a shot at you at all.

Electricity is not water, and it does not "flow" as such. It’s alternating current, which means it moves back and forth. As such, the power cable isn’t the last link in the chain, it’s the first link in the chain that your component is exposed to.

I think you’ll find that if you upgrade/try some nice power cables, they can and do indeed change the character of the sound of the device they’re plugged into.

ciprian
9 posts
 

Actually you are wrong.

Alternative current is actually a sinusoidal wave and it's not moving back and forth. 

It doesn't really matter what cable you are using for powering your amplifier: if it did then a 10.000 euro amplifier would be sold with a better cable than the generic one (let's say a 500 Euro cable). 

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