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Explain to me the importance of a quality power cable (if any)
I've been hunting around and reading various amp reviews and have noticed a couple comments on upgraded power cables. Now I understand and have heard the advantage in upgraded IC's but I'm a bit lost on the power thing. Would anyone care to comment on this? Is there a value in picking up something like the K|A|S Primus?
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"That's the problem with people like you, you want results but you never want to get your hands dirty. You'd better start rolling up your sleeves. I'm gonna need a hacksaw." - Jack Bauer
---------------------------------------------------- Headphones - UE-11 - Westone ES2 - Grado PS-1 (reversed bowls) Amps - Headamp Pico in Slate Gray (yup, that be all I need!)
There is no point to using anything other than normal, copper wire. Lowe's extension cord would be fine. All the power cable does is conduct the electricity from the romex wire running through the wall to the power suppy of the amp. Note that this is 'only' based on knowledge of physics and electronics. I'm sure lots of people will show up to discuss how power cables really do make a difference in sound, which I never have doubted. Placebo effect is very real.
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You can approximately replicate the sound of my stereo system by listening to your stereo system while wearing shooting muffs full of BBs and eating cheerios while stomping on a Speak-and-Spell.
You'll prolly get a few different replies for this. I am of the opinion that with a properly designed power supply, the only factors needed in a good power cable are shielding, and wire gauge adequate to the current draw. You can get such cables for under 20 dollars in lengths appropriate to most systems.
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M-Audio Delta 410 > B&K PT3 series II pre> B&K M200 Sonata Monoblocks 400wpc @ 4ohms > Magnepan MMG loudspeakers and Rythmik DS12 servo sub
well imo it all depends on where you're getting your source of power. Ok i live at home and my parents house is under 5 yrs old. Our lines are new and clean and i think the transfer is pretty new its a new sub division built all at the same time. My friend lives with his gf in a mobile home in the next city over. Its a run down nieghborhood 30+yrs and i think the mobile home (not a trailor with wheels, the double wide i think its called)
ok im my house i hear no buzzing and power anomilies what so ever. However, in his house, i soon as a plug in, i hear buzzing. It really sucks sound wise to try to listen to something while hes got a cheap walmart lamp plugged in on the same circuit as my rig. It sounds like im outside near a powerstation in the summer. Its that bad. So i think conditioning will only help relative on how clean your power is from the start. The cleaner it the less filtering you need, just like water.
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Work In Progress, so far i got my power conditioner...
I have seen my fusebox. No fancy power cable is going to make up for the fact that it looks like crud. I also know that the wire inside the walls is nothing special either. Let's not get started with the power grid, and so on and so forth. A nice 12-14ga power cable is more than enough. If placebo could be bottled...
Headphone Setup: HT Omega Claro -> Ebay Glass Toslink -> Zero DAC -> Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 RCA -> Dynalo -> Grado RS-1 *S/N 2760* w/Flats (Thank You Afrikane, You Are The Best!!!)
Anything that costs more than $5 is a total waste of money. I would be suspect of anyone who recommended an expensive power cable to me. Even assuming they mean well, it shows a lack of understanding of simple physics that might indicate that they don't know what they're talking about in other areas as well.
The replacment of power cables in my system substantially reduced some sibilance I was experiencing. Power cables may indeed make a difference in your system. It may be worthwhile to give it some of the offerings a try, especially if you can do so on 30-day or 60-day return, in which case you really may have nothing to lose. As for the categorical statements to the effect that they make no difference and nobody should ever spend more than $X for a power cable, some people who make such statements have no experience with the product. Others seem to have no purpose in life or on this forum other than to troll for these types of threads and make dogmatic statments about what something is worth to others. Ignore it and make up your own mind.
$3k Nordost Valhalla power cord is great, I use it for everything. Amp, CD player, DAC, power conditioners, computer, projector, LCD monitor, you name it!
It didn't make a big difference for my video gear though, but I love it for audio!!
Explain to me the importance of a quality power cable (if any)
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