Power Cables

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by cskippy, Mar 18, 2016.

  1. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    I'm looking at getting some longer power cables for my monitors and amps, probably 10ft. I am not going to buy stupid expensive power cables from cable builders. I was looking at maybe monoprice or some other more mainstream brand and was wondering what criteria I should look for? I'm assuming something like 18awg should be adequate for pretty much everything?
     
  2. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2017
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
  4. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
  5. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    What happened? Did it burn up?
     
  6. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Heh, no. Nothing went up in flames. It just really changed the sonic characteristics of my gear. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard it. And if you want those cables, they're yours for free. :)
     
  7. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    @steve from Norcal has the best power cable ;)
     
  8. steve

    steve New

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Milpitas
    Haha Nick I think you are referring to my friend, last time he brings weiss dac202 and shunyata :p

    Myself on the other hand is using one analysis plus power oval 2 and one JPS power AC+. I'll bring them to the meet this weekend if anyone is interested.:bow:
     
  9. GUTB

    GUTB Reddit rejected: Audiophile; SBAF rejected: Poseur

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I found an inexpensive cable manufacturer in Canada called Audio Sensability. Following reviews of the cables that seem to be the real deal, I picked up a 1.5m Testament AC cable, which is their second-from-bottom model for just $280, invoiced in US dollars too so no hit on credit card fees. Gave it about 4 days of continuous burn-in on my amp -- BIG improvement, best $280 I spent on the system. Highs were smoothed out nicely, and the low end got a big pick-up in body. The entire sound signature improved in clarity. Switching back to a standard cable shows just how much of a difference it made. In fact, before the cable, I was generally displeased with the amp for lacking bass authority and poor high end performance, and the Testament cable "fixed" it.

    Reviewers who say that AC cables are at the level of a major system upgrade are actually telling the truth. It's real. Highly recommend to try an audiophile AC cable.
     
  10. murray

    murray Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    478
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    N.Z.
    If you turn off the power, do you have to burn it in for another 4 days all over again?
     
  11. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,812
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Dijon / Burgundy / France / EU
    Yea. the cable needs to recover his own energy before any optimal performance .


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2016
  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    So I think I'm going to move closer to the power plant. I've heard that getting rid of as much of the crap cables and wires the power company uses helps tremendously with the sound.
     
  13. Enigmatic

    Enigmatic Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    297
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Don't go crazy with power cables. It's easier to get them wrong than right sound wise. *gasps I am declaring I hear a difference in powercords!*

    Generic ones from monoprice/dell power cords between 14AWG to 18AWG is pretty good. Saves you tons of headache.
     
  14. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,006
    Trophy Points:
    113
  15. GUTB

    GUTB Reddit rejected: Audiophile; SBAF rejected: Poseur

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Haha. Guys, I won't steer you wrong. I'm not here to hype up garbage. All those reviews? All those testimonials? They're true. Premium power cables not only make a difference, they make a large difference. I don't have a lot of experience in this realm, so of course I can't claim everyone's gear and every cable will have the same benefits as mine did. Go to a manufacturer that offers a money-back trail period -- you have nothing to lose.

    The "controversy" over power cables doesn't have anything to do with science, but rather, what amounts to class warfare. Don't be suckered into it, anyone unless you are literally a teenager without a job can afford a few hundred dollars if you're really into audio.
     
    • Respectfully Disagree Respectfully Disagree x 1
    • List
  16. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I've never bought a power cable with the hope or intent of improving sound. I have however inadvertently purchased a power cable that muddied up the sound of my system, and it was a shock to me. The EQ profile for my Ether-C has a +3 dB boost around 300 Hz, and with the "bad" cable that region had started to clip pretty noticeably. I had to set the gain to -2 to compensate for the cable and yet the whole soundstage was still pushed very forward. Everything did again return to normal upon reverting back to the previous power cables in the system.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2016
  17. Claritas

    Claritas Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,332
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Raleigh
  18. GUTB

    GUTB Reddit rejected: Audiophile; SBAF rejected: Poseur

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
  19. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

    Anti-SBAF PSYOPS Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,532
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    By someone, you mean your other alias on HC? ;) He's certainly silly enough to be. Also you must be lost, waving your money e-peen around in the Rich Old Farts Audio Society.
     
  20. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Ahahaha, f'ing LOL. What a thread. Cake!
     

Share This Page