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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
pinwa OP
291 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. 

willywonka
270 posts
 

@jackd I use the same power cord on my May KTE. Use other TWL cords on the rest of my equipment. Also own the PSM-156.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,314 posts
 

F3 is a decent cable. Go up the Audience line to AU24se or newer StudioOne. Great cables and Audience always worked great on all DACs I used to own. StudioOne will be more refined than the F3. It’s an improvement top to bottom plus you will improve soundstage. 

pinwa OP
291 posts
 

@audphile1 I do have the original Audience PowerChord.  That does provide a slightly more refined, detailed and larger soundstage.  The downside is it doesn't have the rich tonality and timbre that the Forte F3 is giving me.  Acoustic guitar or a single drum stroke or bass pluck have a kind of plumpness with the Forte F3 that I am in love with.  And the Forte F3 also strikes me as a bit more dynamic.  Perhaps they are contradictory goals but I would like to find a cable that gives me both of those positive qualities.  Do you think the higher end Audience cables offer that?

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,200 posts
 

I have found in several of are Audio shootouts the AQ  Tornado - Source power cord is excellent it’s active 72v  shield really helps lowering the noise floor and excels in naturalness 

I bought 2 from Perrotta Consultants and got a very good deal.

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