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Mating power cords with APL 3910

While waiting for my (Denon) APL 3910 to arrive, I need some help in coming up with a short list of power cords to audition with it. In addition to listing the PCs you liked best with this unit, it would be most helpful if you could provide some specificity. In particular, what sonic and musical virtues are the offspring when the particular PC is mated with the APL 3910? Sonically speaking, which PCs didn't do as well with it? Are there any PCs that mate well (or don't mate well) with digital sources in general?
puremusic
sean
6,231 posts
 
Once again, threads are overlapping. Rather than double post, here's a link to the other thread where Grant ( Tvad ) and i discussed alternatives to the Hydra. After reading all of this and seeing the opportunity to fill a void in the market that has now been highlighted for all to see, i'm sure that a manufacturer will start producing such a unit sometime shortly. Sean
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PS... Rgs92, thanks for pointing that out. I never saw your comments about the Hydra as most of these type of products don't interest me for the aforementioned reasons. Having said that and as i've mentioned before, one doesn't necessarily need to listen to a product to have a good idea as to what to expect out of it. That is, if they know how to dissect it electrically and can understand what those electrical characteristics may translate to sonically. Someone should point this thread and the others where i've posted similar comments based on logical deductions to Jtinn and and his group of cronies. They don't seem to think that such things are possible.
rgs92
974 posts
 
Yep, I have to go along with Sean, since his analysis has proven right to my ears. For the record, my Edge NL-12 amp is much smoother & warmer (but still conveys all the details & dynamics) through the Hydra 8. I have all my source components (EMMs) bunched up in the analog outlets. The digital ones made them sound strained.
Other power conditioners I have tried did make things sound smoother, but made amp sound compressed and the source components kind of lifeless. I have had more luck with better power cords, where I have experienced major improvements. I have always been suprised how power cords can be as influential as interconnects.
puremusic OP
226 posts
 
Tvad,
Besides the FeSi-1002, the differences in the filtering are also in the Venom Noise Filters. According to the specifications on the Shunyata's product page: Model 2 uses a 4 element Venon Noise Filter, while Model 4 uses 7, Model 6 uses 10, and Model 8 uses 16. Whether these differences in filtration are reflected in Clement Perry's subjective experiences, is an open question to my knowledge

My current view is that if I get the Hydra 8, then I will plug in all my major components into it in the manner I described previously. However, I liked Sean's suggestion on the other thread for inserting parallel line filters at each of the outlets feeding the amps. If that turns out to be a viable solution, then using Hydra 8 for APL only is wasteful, but , probably more optimal.
John
puremusic OP
226 posts
 
Ozzy,
Thanks for sharing your experience about using one Hydra versus two in your system.

Is here a sonic difference in using the APL with Hydra 8 versus with Hydra 2? If so, is the cost difference worth it? Or, let me ask it in another way. What motivated you to get the Hydra 8 for your digital source instead a Hydra 6 or 4?
John
puremusic OP
226 posts
 
Rgs92,
Thanks for your observations about the analogue outputs on the Hydra 8. If I do get the Hydra 8, I'll keep that in mind.
John
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