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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
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,358 posts
 

@mclinnguy ​​@bluethinker 

my system never sounded bright except in two instances - 

1. Ultimate on PSM156

2. Shunyata Alpha v2 NR on amp

I used AQ Hurricane on the PSM156 and it was smooth and I liked it better than the Puritan Ultimate. I actually preferred Puritan Classic to Ultimate on PSM156. 
I sold the PSM156 after I ran two dedicated lines - I have all my components plugged into the wall outlets. Yes the PSM156 takes the noise floor down a bit but there’s a reduction in dynamics and extension and the compromise, in my system, to me, wasn’t worth it. I ran my amp at the time, Pass Labs XA30.8 straight to wall. The Puritan tamed the DAC and preamp bit much and I didn’t like the effect. You may have a different result in your system depending on components, power and preferences. Not saying the Puritan is a bad unit, it’s not. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,358 posts
 

I’ll add…completely forgot…I swapped the connectors on the Puritan Classic for some Furutech and it improved the sound. It’s not the best power cord but it’s not the worst either.

panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
561 posts
 

@jhnnrrs With you completely. 

I challenge anyone who claims a cable makes their system quieter (a quantitative claim) to produce a spectrum analysis showing that to be the case.

Likewise 'improved dynamics', another quantitative claim that requires the suspension of at least a couple laws of physics. But hey, show me how for a given gozinta a cable can give a bigger gozouta and I'll shut up. Double credit if it's in the digital domain because that would require additional bits.

anotherbob's avatar
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anotherbob
344 posts
 

jhnnrrs & panzerwagn - I replaced the power cable on my NAD integrated with a sub $300.00 power cable and immediately noticed a positive difference in sound, don’t know if it was the larger gauge cable and/or the shielding from interference, but if my 64 (at the time) year old ears could tell a difference, I’m betting most other people would, too!

timothy_m
40 posts
 

@bluethinker It was eleven years ago when I did a comparison courtesy of the Cable Company. The no longer available VooDoo Audio Crystal Vajra powercord sounded best out of several evaluated  No notes on what we heard but ended up purchasing two cords.

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