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After market power cable for headamp? Voodoo?

post #1 of 18
2/3/02 at 4:18am
Thread Starter 
I was really skeptical about after market power cords. When I needed a cable for my newly aquired Corda I just bought a $3.99 computer cord from ratshack and thought it would do fine.

Well, it sounded okay, but the frequency extremes in particular were somewhat muddy with the radio shack job in place. This seemed odd as the Corda amp has received good marks for its performance at the frequency extremes. So I ordered an "Absolute Power Cord"(what a clever name) on Dark Angel's rec. What the hell I thought.

Well, all I can say is this cable is quite an improvement. The sound is most obviously improved at the frequency extremes and the sound on the whole is more neutral now - not more euphonic, but cleaner and clearer, and more balanced. The Corda amp sounds more like how it was described - relatively honest.

Anyways, I almost feel like a moron saying that a power cable can improve an amp's performance, so I hope others with their experience can back me on this.
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post #2 of 18
2/3/02 at 4:30am
No, you're a nut.





Just kidding! Actually, I was shocked to find they can make a difference with my Max. I'll make mention of the few I reviewed when I finally post those cable reviews (yeah, yeah, I know....I'm way behind schedule).
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post #3 of 18
2/3/02 at 12:55pm
I also use the Absolute Power Cord. I bought one to try, listened for a while, and bought several more for other components. It seems to have its best effect early in the system: sources/preamps seem to benefit most. They are extremely noticeable with CDP's and DAC's.

Since digital components benefit a lot, I'm starting to wonder what would happen if I put these on my computer
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post #4 of 18
2/3/02 at 2:02pm
Just for background I have tried many AC cords up to $500 range each from Cable Co and other sources, the ones all the magazines and chat rooms rave about, I was using the highly regarded Shunyata AC cords, SR Master Coupler etc and had tried
the Absolutes not expecting anything........the add seems to promise too much (wish they would rewrite that) and at first thought they didn't make any improvement. When I inserted the old cables back I noticed also came back treble hardness and slightly less pleasing overall sound.

The Absolutes make your digital sound system very smooth, at first you think you are missing detail, then you realize what you are missing is the grain/hash and treble hardness that other cords produce. You realize you are actually hearing more detail
in a more relaxed/natural sound. Anyway hard to describe but I have sold all my much more expensive AC cords and have a lifetime supply of Absolutes for both systems. I also like the fact they are lightweight/flexible because I use bearing isolation under some gear.

Also two points, these are not generic green dot cords you buy from industrial supply houses these are custom designed and manufactured to GTT Audio design specs. Second you must give any cord @100 hrs of use to really hear the final product so be Patient. In case you wonder I do not work for GTT audio or get money from them, just passing my audio experience on to other audiophiles.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.p...9326&demo&3&4&

BTW the Corda sounds great with Absolute AC cord and if I may put a plug in for the Homegrown Audio Silver Lace ICs, remarkable performance for the price and I have tried/owned many much more expensive ICs, for under $250 retail you have great AC cord and silver IC pair!

I believe Hirsch is currently using this combo with his Zotl if my eyes are not playing tricks on me.
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post #5 of 18
2/3/02 at 6:43pm
Quote:
Originally posted by DarkAngel
BTW the Corda sounds great with Absolute AC cord and if I may put a plug in for the Homegrown Audio Silver Lace ICs, remarkable performance for the price and I have tried/owned many much more expensive ICs, for under $250 retail you have great AC cord and silver IC pair!

I believe Hirsch is currently using this combo with his Zotl if my eyes are not playing tricks on me.
Your eyes are 20/20. I'm using the Silver Lace and Absolute Power Cord with the ZOTL, and they sound great.

I'm going to have to sit down and right a full review of this thing at some point. The more I use the ZOTL, the more I'm finding out just how good it is. Berning really got this amp right.
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post #6 of 18
2/4/02 at 3:30am
Thread Starter 
I also use Homegrown Audio, Super Silver though. I tried many cables, including some Kimber, but I thought the HGA, overall, did the least harm to the signal. Great company that charges a realistic price, especially for diy.
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post #7 of 18
2/4/02 at 10:47am
Oh, does this mean the Carda HA-1 is not supplied with a power cord? I was going to order one this week, and that means more outlay.
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post #8 of 18
2/5/02 at 1:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by JML
Oh, does this mean the Carda HA-1 is not supplied with a power cord? I was going to order one this week, and that means more outlay.
Yup.
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post #9 of 18
2/5/02 at 4:59am
*cough* nuff said
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post #10 of 18
2/5/02 at 11:46am
[sigh] [sound of wallet opening]
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post #11 of 18
2/5/02 at 12:04pm
From what DarkAngel tells us (thanks for sharing that good tidbit), it makes sense to get one of those good AC cords for a headphone amp to smooth out the sound (huge impact over long periods of listening?). I'm considering this buy. However, I'm still way skeptical about getting them for my speaker system, they're not the most revealing, and they're laid back and warm, so that grain and hardness actually adds a nice coloration to the sound. Purists may frown at this, but this is what I find enjoyable...
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post #12 of 18
2/5/02 at 7:29pm
Dont tell me you guys believe that a power cord is worth that kinda money?
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post #13 of 18
2/6/02 at 12:33am
Yep. At $50, the Absolute Power Cord is a bargain.

It tend to have maximal effect on front end components, such as CDP's or preamps. Less so with power amps. IMO it's a good cord for a headphone amp, particularly after break-in.

I haven't tried power cords in a big way, but still have an Electrocompaniet power cord on my power amp (for over 10 years).
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post #14 of 18
2/6/02 at 8:00am
Just curious have you did a blind test with a normal cable and a "audiophile" power cable?

If you find the audiophile cable sound best 90% of the time...I might be interested

I think its just all in the head...personally

Unless the cable comes straight from the power station
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post #15 of 18
2/6/02 at 2:36pm
I think it's HELL OF A LOT more of an issue of AC to DC converter on a power unit than the cable itself. Current through any copper wire should be sufficient, even if it fluctuates A LOT, a good DC converter should be able to regulate this and provide a smooth flow of power to what ever.
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