High End Cables Thread (digital, analog, power)

[Roasty]

trying out a new power cord. Furutech dps 4.1 with UK plug (gold) and NCF iec (gold). not a fan of the purple coloured cord so got it sheathed in black. a bit of purple still shows but it isn't very noticeable.

cord is thick, heavy and not too flexible. initial impressions are it does add a bit of meat throughout the range and it does take off some edge at the very top. a good friend with these cables told me the dps 4.1 sounds as it looks, ie slow and fat. lol.. thankfully that's what I'm going for.

this cord is going to be mated to my Primaluna Evo 400 pre. Will probably get a second cord for the power amp.
I'm terrible at DIY so got Sean @ Affinity to make this for me. he has done up several of the same for other folks.

this was from some time back, but also added an SOtM iSO-CAT7 and dCBL-CAT7u ethernet cable to the study rig. going from a sonore optical module to the Sotm streamer.

seem to be going down the Tellurium Q route more and more.. the Silver Diamond USB takes over some duty from the Sablon into the May KTE. Sablon 2020 has been moved out to the lounge temporarily. right now, have the Silver Diamond USB into the Phoenix USB reclocker, then the new Triode Wire Labs Passion USB out from Phoenix into the Holo May KTE.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with this cable. the TWL Passion USB cable hits way above its price. I intended for it to be used in my office rig between an rpi4 and a Schiit Modius dac, but when I tried it in my study rig, I enjoyed it so much I am keeping it there for a while longer (possibly for good). it is light, flexible and easily routed, with good firm connections on both ends. Pete @ TWL managed to improve on his Discrete USB a fair bit. I'd easily recommend this usb cable for anyone looking for something in this price range.

 

[Whazzzup]

Might as well add a few threads for the cables I tried and use

usb chord Sarum T digital super array. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-chord-company-sarum-t-digital-super-aray-usb-cable.884705/

interconnect xlr audio quest fire. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audio-quest-fire-xlr-interconnects.884708/

power cable ps audio perfect wave ac 12. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ps-audio-perfectwave-ac-12-power-cable.886654/

 

[lator]

I have the dps 4.1 with ncf plugs both ends. It's a nice cable for tuning more meat on the bones and not that slow perhaps average speed.

 

[Whazzzup]

Dhc prion 4 for my hd800S, fantastic cable.

 

[xtr4]

I have the dps 4.1 with ncf plugs both ends. It's a nice cable for tuning more meat on the bones and not that slow perhaps average speed.

I agree. It's the best power cord I own at the moment at it's price point. I'm currently trialing the Inakustik Reference Air AC-2404 mated with Furutech NCF at both ends. For it's size, the Inakustik is surprisingly "soft" and easily maneuverable unlike the DPS4.1.

 

[Roasty]

I have the dps 4.1 with ncf plugs both ends. It's a nice cable for tuning more meat on the bones and not that slow perhaps average speed.

its noticeably more meat! almost thick. sounds great with some music, but a bit of an adjustment for others. did u notice any change to this with use, or does it stay the same?

 

[lator]

did u notice any change to this with use, or does it stay the same?

Longest burn in with ups ands downs on the way. So long in fact I made new comparisons after about 3 months with other power cables and second round it did much better in comparison. More airy and balanced over time.

 

[RobertSM]

Does the Furutech NCF offer noise reduction or passive filtering capabilities?

 

[dougms3]

Does the Furutech NCF offer noise reduction or passive filtering capabilities?

I believe it's supposed to have a similar effect to the nano liquid.

It increases the conductivity of the contact points. Imho that translates as more detailed, clearer and resolving treble, microdynamics are improved, more impact in the bass, volume gets slightly louder. Just my observations from using it. Not a huge difference but easily noticeable, enough that if you put it on only one side it creates a significant channel imbalance.

 

[llamaluv]

I also really like the Furutech DPS-4.x. I have four of them: Two with NCF FI-48 rhodium connectors, one with NCF FI-48 silver, and a DPS-4 with less-fancy FI-15 gold connectors.

Worth noting, the gold plated connectors make for a pretty big difference in the sound character compared to rhodium and silver.

Here are a few posts I made pretty recently:

- DPS-4 FI-22 Gold with Bartok
- DPS-4.1 FI-48 NCF Silver with Bartok
- DPS-4.1 FI-48 NCF Rhodium with Cayin HA-300 amp

 

[Gkar]

trying out a new power cord. Furutech dps 4.1 with UK plug (gold) and NCF iec (gold). not a fan of the purple coloured cord so got it sheathed in black. a bit of purple still shows but it isn't very noticeable.

cord is thick, heavy and not too flexible. initial impressions are it does add a bit of meat throughout the range and it does take off some edge at the very top. a good friend with these cables told me the dps 4.1 sounds as it looks, ie slow and fat. lol.. thankfully that's what I'm going for.

this cord is going to be mated to my Primaluna Evo 400 pre. Will probably get a second cord for the power amp.
I'm terrible at DIY so got Sean @ Affinity to make this for me. he has done up several of the same for other folks.



this was from some time back, but also added an SOtM iSO-CAT7 and dCBL-CAT7u ethernet cable to the study rig. going from a sonore optical module to the Sotm streamer.



seem to be going down the Tellurium Q route more and more.. the Silver Diamond USB takes over some duty from the Sablon into the May KTE. Sablon 2020 has been moved out to the lounge temporarily. right now, have the Silver Diamond USB into the Phoenix USB reclocker, then the new Triode Wire Labs Passion USB out from Phoenix into the Holo May KTE.




I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with this cable. the TWL Passion USB cable hits way above its price. I intended for it to be used in my office rig between an rpi4 and a Schiit Modius dac, but when I tried it in my study rig, I enjoyed it so much I am keeping it there for a while longer (possibly for good). it is light, flexible and easily routed, with good firm connections on both ends. Pete @ TWL managed to improve on his Discrete USB a fair bit. I'd easily recommend this usb cable for anyone looking for something in this price range.

trying out a new power cord. Furutech dps 4.1 with UK plug (gold) and NCF iec (gold). not a fan of the purple coloured cord so got it sheathed in black. a bit of purple still shows but it isn't very noticeable.

cord is thick, heavy and not too flexible. initial impressions are it does add a bit of meat throughout the range and it does take off some edge at the very top. a good friend with these cables told me the dps 4.1 sounds as it looks, ie slow and fat. lol.. thankfully that's what I'm going for.

this cord is going to be mated to my Primaluna Evo 400 pre. Will probably get a second cord for the power amp.
I'm terrible at DIY so got Sean @ Affinity to make this for me. he has done up several of the same for other folks.



this was from some time back, but also added an SOtM iSO-CAT7 and dCBL-CAT7u ethernet cable to the study rig. going from a sonore optical module to the Sotm streamer.



seem to be going down the Tellurium Q route more and more.. the Silver Diamond USB takes over some duty from the Sablon into the May KTE. Sablon 2020 has been moved out to the lounge temporarily. right now, have the Silver Diamond USB into the Phoenix USB reclocker, then the new Triode Wire Labs Passion USB out from Phoenix into the Holo May KTE.




I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with this cable. the TWL Passion USB cable hits way above its price. I intended for it to be used in my office rig between an rpi4 and a Schiit Modius dac, but when I tried it in my study rig, I enjoyed it so much I am keeping it there for a while longer (possibly for good). it is light, flexible and easily routed, with good firm connections on both ends. Pete @ TWL managed to improve on his Discrete USB a fair bit. I'd easily recommend this usb cable for anyone looking for something in this price range.

Hey Toasty, can you describe the TWL Passion in comparison to Lush 3 and Black Magic?
Excuse the translator english.
Thanks and best regards!
G'kar

 

[Roasty]

Hey Toasty, can you describe the TWL Passion in comparison to Lush 3 and Black Magic?
Excuse the translator english.
Thanks and best regards!
G'kar

hey it has been quite a while since I last listened to the black magic and lush 3. I'd say the black magic is quite musical, slightly rolled off/smoothed up top and somewhat dense sounding. the phasure cables I've tried all seem to excel in transparency, but also comes at a price ie they're a bit more mid/forward sounding and lean towards the slightly brighter side.

I can say that the Passion USB sounds really similar to my Sablon 2020, but perhaps a little punchier on the low end and really good with macro dynamics. seems like somewhere in between Sablon and FTA usb. at the price it is going for, it really is quite a fantastic cable. do give it a go if you can. Pete at TWL is a pleasure to communicate with.

 

[Gkar]

Hey Roasty, sorry for the Toasty, I had night shift and was not really awake .

I already know Pete, I bought three "The Obsession" and one "High Power Digital American" from him at the beginning of the year.

I am planning a larger cable test on my speaker setup for the end of July.
I read about black magic at bacon audio and ordered a cable a few days ago.

I would also like to try a Tubulus Concentus USB. About the I²S is written much positive, about the USB there is not much info, but is priced in the same range as the black magic. I didn´t want to spend more than $ 500 for a USB cable.

I also need an I²S cable for the connection between DI20HE and MAY KTE.

I was recommended a Transparent Audio Premium HDMI here in Germany. A Tubulus Concentus I2S I also want to try, it should be the best of Ral and Argentus.

 

[dcguy73]

iFi’s active SupaNova power cable is an amazing bargain (at $349 when I bought five of them in 2021 and at its current $499 price). It’s up there with the Cardas Clear Reference XL and the Shunyata Sigma NC V2 among the top three noise filtering power cables I have in my system. I don’t know of any other “active” power cables in that price range.

I wanted a little more clarity and pop in my system so I swapped the SupaNova in for the Shunyata Alpha NR V2 I had powering my ethernet switch and swapped a second SupaNova for the Cardas Clear Reference XL I had powering the Gaia DDC.

After swapping in the two SupaNova cables, I queued up my server/endpoint and listened to Sting’s “A Thousand Years,” off his Brand New Day album. I could physically feel the sub-bass at the start of the song vibrate through the Susvara ear cups. I didn’t even have the volume turned up that high.

The SupaNova‘s active noise canceling really lowers the noise floor to bring out subtleties and enhance bass frequencies in music. It doesn’t match up well with some power conditioners, as the combination of passive noise filtering and active noise cancelling can make the sound thin and bright. That’s why I use the cables judiciously in my system.

The closest passive cable I have to the SupaNova is the WyWires Platinum with Furutech NCF ends, but that cable can be bright-sounding compared to the more neutral sound of the iFi cable. Compared to Cardas cables, the SupaNova doesn’t add warmth, but it’s not analytical or bright either.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

iFi’s active SupaNova power cable is an amazing bargain (at $349 when I bought five of them in 2021 and at its current $499 price). It’s up there with the Cardas Clear Reference XL and the Shunyata Sigma NC V2 among the top three noise filtering power cables I have in my system. I don’t know of any other “active” power cables in that price range.

I wanted a little more clarity and pop in my system so I swapped the SupaNova in for the Shunyata Alpha NR V2 I had powering my ethernet switch and swapped a second SupaNova for the Cardas Clear Reference XL I had powering the Gaia DDC.

After swapping in the two SupaNova cables, I queued up my server/endpoint and listened to Sting’s “A Thousand Years,” off his Brand New Day album. I could physically feel the sub-bass at the start of the song vibrate through the Susvara ear cups. I didn’t even have the volume turned up that high.

The SupaNova‘s active noise canceling really lowers the noise floor to bring out subtleties and enhance bass frequencies in music. It doesn’t match up well with some power conditioners, as the combination of passive noise filtering and active noise cancelling can make the sound thin and bright. That’s why I use the cables judiciously in my system.

The closest passive cable I have to the SupaNova is the WyWires Platinum with Furutech NCF ends, but that cable can be bright-sounding compared to the more neutral sound of the iFi cable. Compared to Cardas cables, the SupaNova doesn’t add warmth, but it’s not analytical or bright either.

Thanks so much for the great write-up here and your continued love/support for our stuff!