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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
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.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,517 posts
 
Tvad...no, I have used the Tunami but with the V=046, and P-046 plugs. I removed and replaced the plugs The Accro link is better in all ways. This may be true only in my system, and may be different in other systems. I am using all Ayre components with Vandersteen 5A's.
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
Mr P- I don't actually expect you to learn anything from this, as your "mind" is already made up, but- let me introduce you to something called, "science": (http://www.columbia.edu/itc/chemistry/photochem/spin/08.pdf) As I stated earlier, and you(so eloquently) quoted, a counter-rotating geometry can counteract the couplings mentioned in this article. Thick cables(solid or multi-strand) do nothing whatever to change the vectors that generate these fields and couplings, but only provide less resistance/impedance. It's further been proven(via simple electrical tests) that braiding(or simply twisting a pair of) conductors actually lowers capacitance and inductance compared to two conductors run side by side. OH- That paper originates from Columbia University's Education Dept., NOT a cable company. BUT- This is a free country. Believe what you chose.
jylee OP
306 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.

It's been only a few days and I think it's still a little to early to say for sure. My ears got acclimated to the smaller soundstage presentation, and it doesn't bother me as much. The stronger focus is still noticeable. Tighter and less flabby bass is still noticeable.
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