Power Cable Break In - Such a Change!


I installed a new AudioQuest Dragon Source power cord from my Lumin X1 to my Niagara 7000. The power cord from the wall to the Niagara 7000 is also a Dragon but the High Current version. I bought that cord used.

So, when I first started using the new power cord everything sounded great. However, after a couple of days I started hearing a strident sound. Especially in the upper mid/ treble region. The bass was also constricted. I started blaming the sound change on another piece of equipment that was installed concurrently.

Now, I was under the impression that the Dragon power cord with its DBS system required no break in. But I did inquire about it to AudioQuest who responded that it would still need about 150 hours to break in. It's been close to that now and sure enough yesterday I started hearing the glorious sound that I heard from day one with the power cord only perhaps better.

I must say the difference during break in and now is quite remarkable, I don't remember any other power cord going through this amount of dramatic change.

ozzy

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tuberist,

It is strange that initially they sounded pretty good until they were used for a couple of days, they took a nosedive in sound quality. Then after a week they sound better than originally.

ozzy

fiesta75,

Perhaps you have purchased used cables in the past. But even with used cables they seem to take a couple of days to settle.

I must say though these Dragons were the most dramatic in change from break in.

ozzy

Wow, ~$4400 for a power cord, $1200 more than the cost of my Don Sachs' Kootenai KT88 amp.  It is vastly too expensive for my budget, but good for you finding joy with the cord.

Most of the cost is in the economy of scale.  They won't sell a lot of these high-end cables, so to make up for that, they have to charge a lot more.