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Holo May KTE Power Cord

First, I am fully aware of all the arguments that cables don't make a difference and I would prefer not to have this thread polluted by all the trolls asserting that opinion.

I love my Holo May KTE DAC that beat out a number of other excellent DACs in my system.  It came with an Audience Forte F3 power cord and that is what I used with it until recently when I decided to try several other more expensive, but not crazy expensive, power cords with it.  To my surprise the inexpensive Forte F3 has outperformed the other cords I have tried.  I am curious if anybody has carefully compared power cords on the Holo May KTE and have one they have found to be significantly better that isn't wildly expensive (lets say <$1000 used).

I'm interested in your specific experience with the Holo May KTE not a bunch of random power cord recommendations.

Thanks.

pinwa
lanx0003
856 posts
 

+1 Pangea AC-14

tkrtrb125
373 posts
 

Great products http://signalcable.com/digitalpowerHC.html

I think they have better build quality than the Pangea cable and are flexible, that is nice for May DAC and Innuos Streamers where you may need to snake the PC into your rack system. I have 2 of them and they work well.

mitch2
4,006 posts
 

You probably like the sound of your Audience Forte F3 cord because of the large sized (10awg) copper conductors and noise rejecting geometry (usually means twisted conductors). The literature does not mention shielding. The specs are more in line with a cord that would be used for power amps (i.e., an unshielded, high-current cord) but if Holo Audio includes it they must like the sound.

The Pangea cord recommended by @yakbob offers shielding, gold plated connectors, and smaller (but probably adequate) 14awg copper wires.   The Pangea cord is probably more aligned with what most would use on a source component.

Assuming the power supply in the May is adequate and you do not have EMI/RFI noise issues, I would be surprised if you heard much difference between the cords. The only way to know is to try.  OTOH, if you don’t have a problem, why go looking for one?

Audience Forte F3 PowerChord

The Forte f3 powerChord is a high current 10 AWG design made with high purity stranded copper wire so it is flexible and user friendly. It’s geometry is a proprietary design that rejects noise while balancing energy flow for lowest eddy current resistance. The brass contacts have been cryogenically treated at the Audience cryogenic laboratory.

Pangea AC-14 power cord

Pangea Audio’s AC-14 power cable is specifically designed for source components, which do not require the same large amounts of current as receivers and amps. The AC-14 provides more than enough current while offering multiple shielding and other features that facilitate extremely clean and noise-free power.

 

jackd
1,068 posts
 

Triode Wire Labs Digital American II is what I use on the May KTE and all other DACs and streamers. Starting at $549 new for 5 feet. 

 

https://triodewirelabs.com/product/digital-american-2-series/

pinwa OP
287 posts
 

I have the Pangea AC-9 power cord and did try that on the May KTE and liked the Forte F3 better.  The May KTE actually generates a fair amount of heat so I don't think a smaller gauge cord like the AC-14 is necessarily appropriate.

@mitch2 I bought the DAC used.  The seller simply included the Forte F3 cord.  

@jackd I have the Triode Wire Labs Obsession 20 amp cord connecting my Puritan PSM-156 to the outlet and thought it was a nice improvement over the stock cord so I'll take the Digital American II under advisement. 

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