Suggested Power Cable for Streamer


Fellow Audio Fanatics - 

I’m at the stage of fine tuning my system. It’s been roughly three years of investment, trial and error, and pure enjoyment. However, as many of you know, this hobby tends to make us obsessive over the prospect of making “incremental improvements.” 
 

Why? 
 

I think it’s simply because we’ve made adjustments over time that paid off. 
 

MY QUESTION 

I am currently using a NRG “The Five,” which is a heavy gauge power cable from a gentleman up in Canada. Great cable for the price! That said, my sense is it’s a cable designed more for power amp rather than source components like DACs or streamers. 
 

I’m wondering if I could improve the performance of my streamer with another cable more specifically designed for source components? If so, what cable might you recommend?  Your responses are greatly appreciated. 

I’m posting my system below for context. 

  • Innuos Zenith streamer with NRG “the five” cable 
  • Merason DAC1 with a LessLoss power cable 
  • Linear Tube Audio preamp with a cardas clear reflection cable 
  • Conrad Johnson Classic 120 with a Cardas Clear Beyond XL cable
  • Speakers - switch between Dynaudio Heritage Specials and QLN Prestige 3  

Everything is connected to a Puritan 156 with their classic cable. I will soon upgrade to their Ultimate cable which will plug directly into the wall.

 

 

 

128x128bluethinker

I would look at Voodoo cables. They have digital specific cables that make an audible difference. The Cable Company has some on sale and you can try them before you buy them .

@lwin - Thanks, Iwin. Having spent a good chunk of my life in the Bay Area, I've been curious about VooDoo cables since getting into the hobby. Thanks for the recommendation! 

Btw - do you have any personal experience with those cables? 

 Have you addressed your streaming cables: What ethernet / USB/AES cables are you using? Any filters? 

Have you tried swapping cables around- putting the NRG on the pre and the Cardas on the streamer? 

@bluethinker I use Nordost Heimdall 2 on my Aurender N200 and have had good results with AQ Tornado as well.
But…I think upgrading the cable on your power conditioner will give you a better ROI since it will impact all of the components plugged into it.
When you upgrade to the Ultimate, see if you can either try it first or go used. I ended up not liking it in my system when I tried it on PSM156 - it was a bit too much. Treble glare, sibilance. I sold it.

I use Transparent Reference on my Streamer (you might try a premium) … nice sonic improvement. Audio Quest Storm series as good as you can afford likely to be excellent on your streamer. 
 

But given you are happy, try, don’t just buy.