2. cables
  3. 1221614106

Power cords and soundstage

So I made a couple of changes in my system yesterday. I've acquired new power cords, and replaced/rearranged the power cords for two of the amps.

By the way I consider myself as semi-skeptic and semi-believer of good cables. I've heard subtle difference and improvement on some of the cables. But in most cases either I can't reliably tell which is which, or if I can tell the difference it is very small. I don't own exotic cables. Some of the brands I own include Audioquest, Kimber, Analysis Plus, and a few home-brewed, but well received power cords.

When I changed the power cords yesterday I heard immediate, and distinct difference. I can't say whether I like or dislike the changes yet, but the change is unmistakable.

Even my wife, who is music enthusiast but indifferent when it comes to the system change, commented today and said she thought the center speaker is "too strong". I've then explained that there is no sound coming out from the center speaker with the CD that she was listening.

Some of the differences that I've heard with the new power cords are the following:

Bass: Immediately I heard and felt that the amount of bass from the main speakers were smaller. It is definitely less boomy, and became tighter. I'm afraid the bass doesn't extend as low as before. So I've gained some and lost some.

Focus: focus, soundstage, whatever you call it, has tightened up as well. The bright side of it is now the speakers have completely disappeared. However it doesn't sound as extended from left to right as before. And as my wife noticed the sound is seemingly coming out from the center speaker, although the center speaker is off. No, I didn't hit dolby pro logic button by mistake. The only speakers that are producing any SPL are left and right speakers. The instrument location is still clearly defined, but overall left right soundstage is now much smaller. Here again, I've gained some and lost some.

Depth: This is one area that clearly was improved. It may sound like a cliche, but the noise floor seemed to have decreased, there is more micro dynamics, and it sounds deeper.

Now I'm more confused than ever, and I'm questioning my sanity..
jylee
palerider
46 posts
 
09-19-08: Tvad

09-19-08: Palerider
Tvad

I really don't understand how the difference in PC's ability to deliver current would affect phase issues created by electronics or component set up.
I did not say the power cord change was causing a phase shift. What I wrote was that the change in sound I have heard in the past as a result of changing a power cord was similar to the sound of a phase shift. "

Yeah, and if you read my answer carefully you might get my reply to that. AC current phase-unbalance between components ruins 3D
palerider
46 posts
 
09-19-08: Rodman99999
A properly designed power cord(ie: Teflon dielectric, counter-rotating geometry, etc) will reduce or eliminate intra-conductor interactions that add noise and distortion to audio signals. The right geometry will cancel unwanted magnetic interaction. The same technology is used in many interconnects, but is even more important in a PC, given the much higher currents and stronger fields dealt with there. Most high-end cords will have an EMI/RFI trap built in also. The bottom line is the same as the benefit of a good power conditioner: cleaner, quieter power to your system, which lets you here more of the info on your source material(more apparent detail/better focus/greater ambiance retrieval).
Rodman99999 (Answers)

At least this is what mumbo cable"designers" wants us to belive, but it`s far from the truth. Any PC will reduce the powersupply`s dynamic capacity as long as it`s multicore/stranded, even if real thick PC`s helps a bit. And a good PC is of course totally shielded.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,511 posts
 
Yes..4030 is Accrolink. The Tunami cord in comparison is a bit quieter I am told, however, it doesn't provide the depth, air, and clarity of the Accrolink. Chris ( I think it was he) told me that's because of the heavy shielding on the Tunami. As far as being quiet...my system is DEAD quiet..even with the volume up.
Post removed 
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
Jylee, I'll be interested to hear what has happened to your imaging and soundstage after these new power cords have had some time to run in.

I've had a recent experience with power cord swaps myself. I got a new class D integrated amp a couple weeks ago (Onkyo A-9555), and I broke it in using a Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler. This was one of the first aftermarket power cables to get significant notice in the mid-'90s.

Once the amp finally broke in after 100 hours (the Onkyo has a long hard break-in), the sound got smoother, but ambience, details, and transients became muted or disappeared. It reminded me of the sound you get from an overdamped tonearm.

I swapped in a 2-yr-old PS Audio XStream Prelude, and the soundstage, depth, lushness, detail, transients, and ambience all came back in a big way. Class D amps are notoriously sensitive to their power sources.

So who knows, some of it may be system matching, some of it may be design evolution over a 10-year period. I always thought that SR AC Master Coupler was my best power cord. It's certainly the biggest and heaviest. But it was *killing* the musical aspects of my new class D integrated amp, and the PS Audio brought it back to life.
More to discover