Power cords or power conditioner
I’m at a cross roads and I’m looking for some advice from those have have gone down this road. I recently added a 2 channel integrated amplifier to improve my 2 channel performance. I had been using my Datasat LS-10 for music and while it sounded really nice, it was missing the depth and clarity that I know my speakers are capable of. My speakers are KEF Reference 3s, rest of my 2 channel set is is as follows:
Luxman L 509x
Luxman D-03x
Roon Nucleus Plus
Lumin U2 Mini
Transparent Audio Super speaker cables
Nordorst Red Dawn XLR, Blue Heaven USB
Wire World Platinum USB
All power cables are DYI using Oyaide Tsunami V2 cable
So what I feel I am missing is that 3D holographic sound stage. It was there with the Luxman 509 when I demo’d it, but I am unable to get that experience at my house. I feel that majority of equipment is up to the task but I am curious if I should ad a top shelf power condtioner like a Shunyata Triton or Torus AVR20 into the system or replace my Intergrated’s power cord with a Shunyata Alpha NC? I’m getting tapped out, so for now it can only be one or the other.
Or should I skip the above and focus on room treatments?
@wheelndeal1099 I've never tried a good power conditioner - something to do in the future, for sure (if I still have money after energy bills and black market food, that is) but I've had some power cords having a deep effect on depth and width of the stage, amongst many other benefits. My take on it however is that if you go for a power conditioner, you will still need good power cords... everything matters. |
Sure, I'll pile on with more anecdotal stuff.. What is very interesting is the general and maybe overall support for power cables, but such a mixed range of support on cables relating to the actual signal itself. A few folks mentioned power conditioner 'no' cables 'yes', it's in the power arena I personally have experienced the least in SQ change either way - sure if the power cord is flimsy, absolutely go 12AWG copper or something, but haven't had these changes significantly impact.. What did benefit me in a huge way was ripping out a power conditioner I had - this thing acted as such a sound suffocator it was unreal. In fact, doing that and realizing the improvement it made me go the other way in maximizing power wire gauge all the way through the chain, building my own star-wired boxes w/12awg, and even adding copper outlets and plugs - while fun, none of it really made much impact beyond removing the power conditioner, it affected my DAC the most, like a blanket over the speakers. |
@wheelndeal1099 "I have an 80" TV in the middle of my sound stage so I tossed a thick blanket over it and it helped. " - I suggest you try diffusion instead (you could try any similarly sized uneven surface) - Absorb first reflections on the side walls - To finetune yr spark placement, try listening to only one speaker - Regarding power chords, are you using good quality connectors? They make up much for the difference in sound. Good luck! |
@rickysnit some of the (cheaper) power cords I purchased did absolutely nothing. But most of the other ones I own made me go through a "wow" moment, when placed on the right device. I don't think there's an universal power cord that works its magic on source and amps, digital and analog... |
