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Power Cords - Just Say Yes

I'm the biggest cable skeptic on the planet. I've never been able to tell the difference between one speaker cable over the other. I've never a/b tested because I just can't handle that sort of thing when all I want to do is listen to music. The power cord however is a whole different beast. I know. I just replaced a 18/3 that was powering my Rogue Cronus Magnum for two years with an Audioquest NRG4. I know some people aren't fans of AQ but that's what my local guy sells and I support him 100%. He sold me a broken in demo which is exactly what I wanted. I didn't do an a/b test and I didn't have to. I pulled the old one out and tossed it in the copper recycling pile and replaced it with the AQ. I fired up my amp this morning and let her warm up. I pulled out Sylvain Luc & Bireli Agrene's 'Duet' and hit the play button on the remote. Right off the bat I had to blink my eyes to make sure I was actually in my house. Everything tightened up with a dead silent background. I feel like a fool for waiting so long to come around on this one. I'm still skeptical of whether or not I will notice a difference when I replace the power cord to my CDP, but if you tell me I'll notice I might believe you. Either way, that's my next investment.
donjr
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,484 posts
 
"Perhaps this makes a better power cord on the turntable even more important than on an amp?"

Answer: Yes, it's more sensitive to changes and easier to hear difference(s) in my experience.

If you want to go further crazy, try one of these and swapping in some of these later on.

My power cords are from here throughout my system.

"Wherever the electricity is choked off or it's flow is restricted or polluted, you should be able to hear the effect when these problems are dealt with."

Well, tonight I'm measuring and recording voltage at my outlets for fluctuation, interesting as it gets later past midnight.

Good luck and happy adventures Lacee. As usual, YMMV.
horchai
67 posts
 
Hi guys, what about changing the iec inlet of the equipment to something better like furutech? Or perhaps changing the internal wires from the iec inlet to pure copper or silver? It could be cheaper than investing in a high end power cord.
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,484 posts
 
Horchai, click on my post links above ^^
lacee
811 posts
 
I just did that.
I changed the old IEC on my Acoustat tube servo amps for the top Furutech ones.

Not an easy job, some widening of the opening and some innovative(glue/sealant)mounting of the Furutech iec, but well worth the cost and effort.

Everytime I do something to upgrade the electrical pathway to my components it always improves the claity of the sound.

I didn't get more or deeper bass after this upgrade, but I do notice more inner details such as cymbal shimmer and better defined background voices/instruments.The timing of the system, if you are into that, also picks up,the music doesn't plod along anymore.Like taking away a beaver dam blocking the flow of a river.

I can't state it enough, everything you do to improve the quality of the electricity from the panel to the component,will improve the sound of that component.

The quality of the products you use do matter.
Furutech hasn't disappointed me yet or make me regret the cost.
Try the GtX receptacle at the end of a 20 amp dedicated line.
Then add some Furutech electrical ends,to some quality Furutech wire and plug into a Furutech quality IEC.

Look at this as a component upgrade.
You may not feel the need to swap out gear as much.
rockyboy
335 posts
 
My 2 cents. We have to remember that this is a hobby (and an expensive one). For most of us, we don't have "needs"; we have "wants". Fact - some wire can sound better than others. Fact - it can be ridiculously expensive. Fact - we don't need it; what we currently have probably sounds pretty darn good. But if we have the extra money, would it be fun to "improve" our sytem? - yes. I look at it this way, as long as you're paying your bills, keeping food on the table, providing for your family, etc., buy the better _______ (fill in the blank), provided you can afford it and have fun with it.
But the reality is, there's the law of diminishing returns in this hobby. At a certain point it costs a lot to reap a small gain in a system (wire being a good example). Again, it's a hobby; enjoy it while you can.
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