Power supply / cable advice

[phoneslave86]

So just trying to see what potential gains there are here. Power supplies and power cable stories sound real and make some sense. So far I've been keeping to my extreme value philosophy spending no more than $1k or so used as well. I'm really happy with what I got so far but if some cables or a linear power strip had enough value to rival some of the stories from higher end stuff I think I would pull the trigger and would rather enjoy the gains now then wait.

PC is the source with a WOO WA6 SE, Pegasus DAC and Gustard U18 which all use the big DC power cables. I do have a neo 200 SE streamer coming which will use a small DC power cable.

I already have smoothed things out by plugging everything far away in a different outlet from my gaming PC source into a $40 RF/EMI Furman power conditioner SS6B. I also already invested in 3 IFI GND defenders. All of that did alot to improve the noise floor, grounds ect.

Is it smarter to get 3 $200 power cables and sell my GND Defenders or go for say a $800 linear power strip? Are power supply strips in this range worth the money? Also I was thinking maybe it's best to get individual power supplies one at a time instead of a power strip.

 

[dunring]

Check audiosciencereview and power cables have been measured and make no difference over an Amazon basics power cable. A 14 gauge power cord for $15 is all you need for practically anything. One site compared a garden extension cord to a $500 power cable and there was no difference at all.

 

[vhild]

One thing I can think of that would bring benefits, might be the shielding found in better cables.

 

[phoneslave86]

Check audiosciencereview and power cables have been measured and make no difference over an Amazon basics power cable. A 14 gauge power cord for $15 is all you need for practically anything. One site compared a garden extension cord to a $500 power cable and there was no difference at all.

Well I believe in alot of audiophiles using these things personally and that it's not placebo/marketing after what I've personally seen I think it's likely it can do things with tube amps or if you have some remaining issues with static/rf/emi ect. I definitely have issue with RF. My phone interacts with my usb, tubes, headphone and all other cables. These cables can help add to system stability by uniquely filtering out RF and other things that defintely interact with audio equipment negatively. My system is very dirty no doubt but it sounds great to me and I'm happy too. Systems become incredibly sensitive and smoothing out tiny instabilities can substantially increase more blackness, separation and micro dynamics more 3d texture ect. I'm sure my system has alot more than small issues haha.

Of note often the same people from the science influence also tout that you don't need more than a $200 dac, fuses are fake as well as other cables and everything else is a RIP which I've personally seen is all untrue and going a bit far for me. Not saying they all do this and that I don't think measurements are just useless but I'm not convinced a few measurements tells me everything I need to know. I like audiosciencereview and what you said is food for thought. I think maybe cables are not worth it at the time at my level of stuff and might never be but I want to try one on my amp at least.

It also comes to my mind why a bunch of the worlds best systems/audiophiles also use expensive cables ect. I doubt they spend all of that money just to sell products or the placebo effect although it looks like there is plenty of that out there too.

So yea any good linear power supply strip out there that actually does something substantial for under 1k would be amazing.

 

[phoneslave86]

https://shunyata.com/products/power-cables/venom-line-power-cables/venom-v10nr/ Pretty cool cable supposedly measured dropping the noise floor. Not sure I got the guts to shell out $600 on a cable though. What's really cool is their power strip incorporates the venom cable for $300 more with 8 outlets sounding like alot more value here. https://shunyata.com/products/power-distributors/venom-line-power-distributors/venom-ps10/

 

[Dogmatrix]

One thing I can think of that would bring benefits, might be the shielding found in better cables.

The external noise would need to be very high power to override the noise inherent in ac power
No cable can change that

 

[vhild]

The external noise would need to be very high power to override the noise inherent in ac power
No cable can change that

Mains cables forming a spaghetti with speaker-/rca-cables behind a set is not a potential problem?

 

[Dogmatrix]

Mains cables forming a spaghetti with speaker-/rca-cables behind a set is not a potential problem?

Yes that is a potential problem
Avoid running power and audio parallel

 

[vhild]

Yes that is a potential problem
Avoid running power and audio parallel

Will shielding the mains cables help with that?

 

[Dogmatrix]

Will shielding the mains cables help with that?

I use hospital grade mains cables they cost a few dollars more but are rated for interference
Remember your home is a matrix of unshielded cables

 

[phoneslave86]

Ifi GND defender and DC filter definitely do something added to the end of a regular power cable in alot of cases. Not that they arn't probably even harmful to SQ in a higher end setup though.

Cables can include fancy noise cancelling tech, rf/emi filters on each end that eliminate it going in and out of sources then also high quality shielding along the cable itself to prevent penetration from emi/rf.

There is also technology similar in role to the ifi GND defender and DC blocker in the ends that can work as dc stabilizers, ground stabilizers all while tested/engineered to keep maximum power flow. I'd pay some money to have one integrated cable seamlessly, that eliminates two more whole connection points.

I tested taking all of my GND defenders off today plugged into Furman EMI/RF conditioner. It sounded like maybe it actually got better not using those on my DDC and DAC but it definitely degraded the quality of the sound removing it from the amp. I couldn't make it 10 minutes without it on the amp just a noticeable loss. I can only imagine what a fancy cable might could achieve vs a regular power cable.

Of course if I got a nice power supply I probably wouldn't need a nice cable very much anymore. I almost bought a Furman Reference 20 (not 20i) last night but I resisted. These things are a beast weighing in at 60 pounds or so. They are old but good you can save alot of money on them these days.