Power cord(s) inquiry

ukcolin99

Still buying audio components on a whim, I bought a Pangea Audio AC9 MKII Power Cord & Pangea Audio AC 14SE MKII Power cable, one for the A21 the other for the Cambridge 851D. Should I plug these directly into my wall outlet or into the Furman PL-Plus C?
The AC9 MKII is a beast. Thank you for any wit & wisdom.

marvda1

i would plug the amp into the wall.

F1nut

Amp into the wall.

tonyb

Ditto ^^^^

How you liking that 851 so far Collin ? Seems like a very nice piece and should mate well with the A21.

ukcolin99

Hello Tony, thank you gentlemen, appears the Forum is unanimous, wall it is, 'guess I am trading surge protection for full power..
I am 100% digital mostly alac out of iTunes, few cds, pretty sure 'sounds better.

Derm

Why not plug the power amp into the conditioner?

[Deleted User]

jump to @pkquat 's thread to read the next chapter!

marvda1

Derm wrote: »

Why not plug the power amp into the conditioner?

Most conditioners limit current and then there's that sound quality thing.

machone

As I mentioned in @pkquat 's thread today, I decided to move the plug for my Hafler 500 from the Tripp-Lite LRC2400 to the wall last night. I tried this a year ago and could not hear any difference. However, since then I have upgraded to a Marantz SA8005, better interconnects and I now have rebuilt 2.3TL's.
With the Hafler plugged into the wall I am liking what I am hearing and will report back as soon as I have more listening time.

My question is: If I wanted to upgrade the power cord on the Hafler 500 "not designed with an IEC receptacle" I would opt for a wall plug with the cable wired directly to the chassis. This would be a simpler current path and less money.

Am I right?

pitdogg2

machone wrote: »

My question is: If I wanted to upgrade the power cord on the Hafler 500 "not designed with an IEC receptacle" I would opt for a wall plug with the cable wired directly to the chassis. This would be a simpler current path and less money.

Am I right?

Or you could put in an IEC socket. I did that on my Carver TFM45. It also would not be hard to just put a new cord on that sucker BUT why limit yourself just do the IEC. The limiting factor is whether your unit has enough room inside to accommodate either.

ukcolin99

Thank you guys, found @pkquat thread in Electronics.
Good stuff, as with all (nearly all) elements of audio you gotta listen for yourself. I am concerned about my A21 plugged directly into the wall-we get quality storms in Texas. Gonna listen for any differences in audio output between the Furman & the wall.

PS I also bought a Pangea Audio Premier SE AC Outlet 20 Amp Clear Cover and Blue Base, $50.00. Probably have an electrician install & have him review breaker options for the house and/or specific circuit(s). I do like the idea of plugging the amp directly into the wall. The Pangea Audio AC9 MKII Power Cord & plug are heavy duty, thick & tough to bend might be a fight into the Furman.

machone

pitdogg,
There is room for the IEC socket. Musical Concepts upgraded the amp and they had that as an option. I am trying to get the job done without breaking the bank. Adding the socket might add flexibility and convenience but I don't see how adding another connection would help SQ.
I could buy some power cable and a wall plug from Doug, get a larger strain relief sample from Heyco and hook it all up.

DarqueKnight

ukcolin99 wrote: »

Should I plug these directly into my wall outlet or into the Furman PL-Plus C?

There is no "one size fits all". You will have to try it both ways and hear which sounds best.

My amps with high transient current demands sound better plugged into the wall. My amps that do not have high transient current demands sound better plugged into a conditioner or AC regenerator.

The Adcom GFA-5500 amps (350 wpc-4 ohms) in my home theater sound better plugged into a PS Audio P10 AC regeneration than plugged into the wall.

The Adcom GFA-565SE power amp (350 wpc-4 ohms) in my office system sounded better when plugged into a PS Audio Dectet power conditioner, and better still when plugged into a PS Audio P10 AC regenerator.

The Adcom GFA-5400 power amp (200 wpc-4 ohms) in my bedroom system sound better plugged into a PS Audio Power Plant Premier AC regenerator than plugged into the wall.

My Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblocks (800 wpc-4 ohms) and my Pass Labs X600.5 monoblocks (1200 wpc-4 ohms) sounded/sound best plugged into the wall. However in each amp's case, the wall outlet was replaced with a passive in-wall power conditioner (PS Audio Soloist SE).

kharp1

Interesting stuff. I just added 2 Pangea 9seMKII's to my amp and pre (probably overkill on the pre) but haven't had much opportunity to do comparison testing.

F1nut

machone wrote: »

pitdogg,
There is room for the IEC socket. Musical Concepts upgraded the amp and they had that as an option. I am trying to get the job done without breaking the bank. Adding the socket might add flexibility and convenience but I don't see how adding another connection would help SQ.
I could buy some power cable and a wall plug from Doug, get a larger strain relief sample from Heyco and hook it all up.

Power cords come in all kinds of flavors. It doesn't make sense to limit yourself with a captive cord.

BlueFox

F1nut wrote: »

machone wrote: »

pitdogg,
There is room for the IEC socket. Musical Concepts upgraded the amp and they had that as an option. I am trying to get the job done without breaking the bank. Adding the socket might add flexibility and convenience but I don't see how adding another connection would help SQ.
I could buy some power cable and a wall plug from Doug, get a larger strain relief sample from Heyco and hook it all up.

Power cords come in all kinds of flavors. It doesn't make sense to limit yourself with a captive cord.

I cut the power cord off on my 57" Hitachi TV almost where it connected to the circuit board, and then added an IEC connector. This let me use a Shunyata power cord, which gave a better picture via more vibrant colors and detail.

[Deleted User]

^^^ really?

machone

Boy, you guys love to spend my money.

pkquat

machone wrote: »

My question is: If I wanted to upgrade the power cord on the Hafler 500 "not designed with an IEC receptacle" I would opt for a wall plug with the cable wired directly to the chassis. This would be a simpler current path and less money.

Am I right?

I am not 100% certain, but I believe grounding to the chassis is fine, and recommended as an upgrade. I ran across a thread at DIY audio, that couldn't find again, about upgrading the power cord and making it a 3 prong while looking for DH-220 stuff. I did find these links. DIY Hafler mods, pg 11, http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid-state/31131-hafler-dh-200-220-mods-11, html and here on page 4. http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/55995/refreshing-older-hafler-amp/p4
Most go with an IEC plug.

F1nut

Don't quote me on this, but I seem to recall that if there isn't a ground connection already that adding one could be problematic. Not all gear requires a ground connection. I even have new gear that doesn't.

pkquat

F1nut wrote: »

Don't quote me on this, but I seem to recall that if there isn't a ground connection already that adding one could be problematic. Not all gear requires a ground connection. I even have new gear that doesn't.

I agree. Depending on house wiring, and what is plugged into what, where, and how, there is a potential for a ground loop. I also recall reading that, based on the design of some amplifiers and components, adding a ground wire would not do anything other than harm the audio signal and may even cause damage to the equipment.

Based on what I have read, the Hafler can accept a ground wire without issue, other than there being the potential for a ground loop. If I recall, the fact that it can go to the chassis made it a easy mod for people wishing to add it, and providing there is no ground loop, it should not add noise to the system. If it does, then there is a ground wiring issue in the home that needs to be addressed.

pitdogg2

Neutral wire goes to ground in the breaker panel.

pitdogg2

machone wrote: »

Boy, you guys love to spend my money.

that is what we are good at come on now how long you been here lol

machone

I'll call Musical Concepts and ask John. He's the Hafler expert. Seems like I remember it's ok to have a ground wire but it's location is critical.

machone

I am going ahead with the IEC socket and power cord. I checked the Hafler manual and it is ok to add the ground wire. It says to attach the lug next the incoming line fuse holder.

I order a Furez socket from Doug and have everything I need except a power cord. I was thinking about a Shunyata Venom 3 is a good cable to try.

Also, while I have the case open I will add Dynamat.

Opinions please?

Nightfall

Shunyata, Wireworld, and PS Audio all make good power cables. I'm not a big fan of the Pangea I have. It's better than stock but there's better.

machone

I forgot to add that I am adding Cardas gold binding posts to the Hafler at the same time.

Nightfall

AC-14

F1nut

I order a Furez socket

Do you mean Furutech?

machone

F1nut wrote: »

I order a Furez socket

Do you mean Furutech?

Yes, Furutech. Confused it with the wire company.

F1nut

Ah, very good. Get the gold plated ones, well worth the money.