AC Power Cables Tested - Sound Quality Differences

[Zapacat]

I'm going to test (long term) several AC power/mains cables regarding sound quality.
Tested on a SMSL SH-9 headphone amplifier driving HifiMan Arya Stealth/Sennheiser HD-580 modded/diverse Philips top of the line headphones fed by Topping D90III Discrete fed by Windows 11 (stripped down) Audio-PC using Fidelizer & JRiver Media Player.

For the start I have tested 3 cables in several shootouts with very different musical styles:

ViaBlue X-25 - €43,- per meter:
Computer optimized. Super stiff and super thick silver plated copper with 100% shielding.

Most clean highs, lots of micro detail in the highs, mids are a bit restricted and somehow lifeless, female vocals fared not well, bass is rather soft and undefined. Soundstage is the smallest of the group. During hearing I registered myself losing interest in the music due to the sanded/defunct rhythm. This cable is a huge disappointment from a manufacturer proved himself with very good sounding interconnects and loudspeaker cables able to drive costlier cables into shame!

Lapp Ölflex 110CY - €6,- per meter:
German industrial high quality cable with nicely polished copper surface. Flexibility is very good.

Wide soundstage, smooth, rhythmic, it's airy but not very organized. Bass is good if not the tightest. Tonally balanced, nothing hurts.
For this price it's killer and obviously much better than any standard cable.

Supra LoRad MkII - €16,- per meter:
Tin plated copper. Swedish military grade. Flexibility is very good. They claim: Superfast current delivery and LOw RADiation.

By the hammer of Thor! This thing is really fast! Deep tight fast bass, textured mids with extra sugar coated female vocals which are very well defined and detailed. Mids are detailed and textured. Highs are detailed but never harsh or too much. Soundstage not greater than Lapp Ölflex but it is much better organized with pinpoint imaging. Rhythmically this cable drives the tears out of your eyes - fast paced, defined and involving. Tonally very well balanced.
This cable wins this shootout by a wide margin cos it would be illogical to save €10,- and buy the Lapp Ölflex.

 

[dougms3]

You should try out something like this.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255...7599416151.4000432394337&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised...

 

[Zapacat]

You should try out something like this.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800246079585.html?pdp_npi=4@dis!USD!US $18.00!US $14.58!!!18.00!14.58!@2101dee017211754462715673e51f8!12000022926043335!sh!US!836198439!&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_allItems_or_groupList.new_all_items_2007599416151.4000432394337&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa




I think you'll be pleasantly surprised...

Thx, did you try this cable? And if so how does it sound?

 

[dougms3]

Thx, did you try this cable? And if so how does it sound?

I haven't tested this one myself, but I have heard a few good reviews from people I trust regarding this cable.

I've tested quite alot of power cables and connectors over the years though.

 

[Zapacat]

I haven't tested this one myself, but I have heard a few good reviews from people I trust regarding this cable.

I've tested quite alot of power cables and connectors over the years though.

You use Furutech? This Swedish Supra cable sounds so good - and for only €16/meter. It also does not radiate.

 

[dougms3]

You use Furutech? This Swedish Supra cable sounds so good - and for only €16/meter. It also does not radiate.

Yes I have some furutech cables as well.

I'm not sure what you mean by radiate. If you mean that it does not set off a voltage detector, the furutech and some of the aliexpress cables also don't radiate.

 

[Zapacat]

Grey Knight Energy 3x 2,5mm - €19 per meter:
AliExpress cable. Flexibility is mediocre.

Clearly diminished soundstage, less detail, rather dark. Upper mids and highs rolled off a bit. Deep mighty bass if not the most refined. Very rhythmic and easy flowing. Forgiving with harsh recordings. Matter of taste. For me personally the soundstage is too claustrophobic and far too narrow especially in comparison to the Supra LoRad MkII. But if you want more bass and body and greater gestalt and like to tame the upper mids and highs this could be a good choice.
Does not show much ambient information. IMO only good for harsh sounding gear.

Ranking so far:

1. Supra LoRad MkII

2. Lapp Oelflex 110CY
2. Grey Knight Energy

3. ViaBlue X-25 Silver

BTW: thx to dougms3 for the suggestion!


PS: Please note, all cables were tested with Monosaudio gold plated pure copper plugs. Plugs do sound very different so it is crucial to use the same series from the same manufacturer.

 

[amix]

Supra LoRad MkII - €16,- per meter:
Tin plated copper

There seems to be a 40th Anniversary version which is silver plated: https://www.ebay.de/itm/26617101207...ZnpIuBJSe2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
for 29€/m

 

[Zapacat]

Preffair P111 €10,- per meter
AliExpress cable. Flexibility is mediocre.
Silver plated OFC copper.

Very similar to the Supra LoRad MKII. It is a tad shinier, the bass/body is a tad bolder. Frequency extremes were presented exceptionally well. But the soundstage depth and the air between the instruments are not in the same league. For me personally the soundstage is very important. With the Supra violins in a orchestra were better resolved and more ambience info was heard with different classical works. The soundstage is a tiny bit more upfront with the Preffair clouding the depth and air. Supra is a bit more forgiving regarding upper mids and highs. Still the differences are not enough to dismiss this cable entirely. The Preffair shows more detail in the highs but misses some detail in the mids. For 10 US dollars/meter this is a good performance for sure.

Ranking so far:

1. Supra LoRad MkII

2. Preffair P111

3. Lapp Oelflex 110CY
3. Grey Knight Energy

4. ViaBlue X-25 Silver



PS: Please note, all cables were tested with Monosaudio gold plated pure copper plugs. Plugs do sound very different so it is crucial to use the same series from the same manufacturer.

 

[TheManko]

There seems to be a 40th Anniversary version which is silver plated

I have tried both and I prefer the regular edition. The silver plated does the sonic equivalent of changing the gamma setting on a computer monitor or TV, ie gives more pop and contrast. But it also hardens the sound in a way that can be unpleasant. One cable in a system can work, but I tried using the silver plated cables on a whole system with DDC, dac, pre-amp and amplifier. It was unlistenable. Far too harsh and hard. The regular edition does not have this effect. If your system sounds boring and flat, then you could try the silver plated version. I also recommend the silver plated version for all cable sceptics, because you'd have to be deaf not to notice the dramatic effect it has on the sound.

 

[Zapacat]

I have tried both and I prefer the regular edition. The silver plated does the sonic equivalent of changing the gamma setting on a computer monitor or TV, ie gives more pop and contrast. But it also hardens the sound in a way that can be unpleasant. One cable in a system can work, but I tried using the silver plated cables on a whole system with DDC, dac, pre-amp and amplifier. It was unlistenable. Far too harsh and hard. The regular edition does not have this effect. If your system sounds boring and flat, then you could try the silver plated version. I also recommend the silver plated version for all cable sceptics, because you'd have to be deaf not to notice the dramatic effect it has on the sound.

True words.
These are the same reasons why I avoid the Ann. Silver Edition. The tonal balance of the regular is simply perfect - IMO. You hear every detail and air but without any harshness or accent. Further I want to mention that the brighter sounding AC power cables dazzle the soundstage and diminish the soundstage depth. As if someone holding a bright light into your face. I also listen to symphonic music/ECM Jazz - soundstage/3D/air between instruments is vital.
The civilized prices (Supra Cables) and the rather seldom seen flexibility are also welcome side effects.
And your recommendation is clever...

 

[dougms3]

I have tried both and I prefer the regular edition. The silver plated does the sonic equivalent of changing the gamma setting on a computer monitor or TV, ie gives more pop and contrast. But it also hardens the sound in a way that can be unpleasant. One cable in a system can work, but I tried using the silver plated cables on a whole system with DDC, dac, pre-amp and amplifier. It was unlistenable. Far too harsh and hard. The regular edition does not have this effect. If your system sounds boring and flat, then you could try the silver plated version. I also recommend the silver plated version for all cable sceptics, because you'd have to be deaf not to notice the dramatic effect it has on the sound.

Sometimes it just needs some burn in time.

Pure silver is the worst, it takes forever to burn in. Especially anything solid core.

 

[TheManko]

Sometimes it just needs some burn in time.

Yes, it's possible burn-in could have helped, although it would've taken a lot to make that system sound good with those cables. The experiment wasn't a complete waste of money because I repurposed them all for use with home electronics. In most cases silver plated copper doesn't work well in my experience. For example, the stock HD 800 cable is silver plated copper, and I much prefer how HD 800 sounds with just regular copper cables. From what I've read the connectors make a huge difference and can "save" an otherwise nasty sounding cable. But a safer choice is to just go with a regular higher quality continuous cast copper, or just silver. The regular Supra power cables use tin plating. They also use tin plating for many of their speaker cables. I get the impression this is rare, because it's easy to find silver plated cables, but I can't remember anyone else doing tin plating.

 

[b4dm00n37]

If you want to burn Power cable easily plug them to the fridge for 2-3 weeks.