Yes a powercord upgrade

mantis
mantis Posts: 17,200
edited April 2004 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
SO I buy a Kimber Kable powercord

Knowing that it's only a power wire upgrade I had little hope for any Improvement.So I took off the Stock B&K cable and Installed the Kimber.Right away I noticed some detail not heard before.Even seems to play louder.I don't get it.

So I listen to Norah Jones and find theres more to the music then before.Strange I haven't heard those sounds before.

I sit in my listening seat and wonder why a powercord does all this......I still wonder how a powercord unlocks sonic differences as only power is traveling down the cable.No sound there at all.

I'm not going to leave a usual review as I'm alittle taken by my experience.I have no reason why...only I'm stunned that I swapped out a powercord and unlocked a level of detail that I didn't have before.

Next adventure is the PS Audio Director 4.7.From what I have read its one of the best power centers on the market.

Power making all this difference...who would have believed....My only experience in my system with power has been the Monster HTS5000 and on a lesser system then I own now I noticed a difference in my systems performance as a whole then.......but that was a powercenter,not a powercord.

The road not taken.......I guess.

Happy owner of another fine Kimber product.

Dan
Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
Post edited by mantis on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited April 2004
    Ah, another believer.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2004
    Yes sir... :)
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited April 2004
    Glad to hear that Dan is finally in our camp...:D
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited April 2004
    count me in boys...

    It's like anything else,you have to experience it to believe it.I myself shy'd away from this upgrade as I felt no audio gain could be had....I was wrong.

    After a long listening tonight I will be replacing all my powercords.Man what I have been missing..

    WHY DIDN'T YOU GUYS TELL ME I WAS MISSING SO MUCH???

    Dan

    :p
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited April 2004
    LOL......I tried. Sometime in the past I did comment on my use of PS Audio's Statement power cords.

    Which Kimber did you get? I have heard very good things about the PK-10.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited April 2004
    Congrats Dan. There is a pretty solid following of respected members here that believe in power cords and the sonic improvements that they can provide.

    I want to believe too! However, I am going to take my time with this like those before me and carefully evaluate. Like we all know, these things tend to be user, gear, and room acoustics related.

    Yeah, F1, I should have grabbed one of those Statements when they were on sale for $199 just so that I could have one to compare to DIY. They were letting them go at discount right before they upgraded the IEC connector and the removable ground pin on the male wall plug with the new Statements that are out now. Now they are what $399... ouch.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ezc
    ezc Posts: 426
    edited April 2004
    I agree with you! I didnt beleave a powercord would change the sound or pic in any way till a friend let me use his pk10. I swapped out my rotel stock cord & just by listening to fm radio I could hear a diference. Played Flt Mac, nora jones & some kiss & there was a definate improvment. Wider & deeper sound stage, the music didnt sound as compressed. I was so impressed I bought a long run of pk10 & some extra watt gate ends & made a cord for all my equip that uses IEC. I even replaced my Mits 55 power cord with the pk10. What I got was deeper blacks & a more 3d image right from the start, needed to fab a connector to the tv board, but other than that it was simple. One thing I did notice my tv draws more amps with the new pk cord. With the stock cord the htps 7000 reads 2.8-2.9 ampswith just the tv on, with the new cord it reads 3.1-3.3 amps. I have a feeling the old cord either has a choke or regulator to keep the tv from using excessive ac.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited April 2004
    I bought a used Kimber powercord.Thats the name of the product.It's not a pk14 or 10 like the new ones.

    It's black with Hubbell ends instead of Kimbers own Wattgate.The Hubbell ends are very good.

    I did some research on the quest why a powercord upgrade made a sonic difference in my system and here is what I found out.

    The stock cords supplied with your gear is of a standard quality and somewhat restricted.Generic if you will.They leave alittle Improvement here.Cutting cost is the cutting corners here.SO companies like Kimber,Ps audio and such explored this and found that by building a better current flow cable,this will increase overall performace out the the device.

    Chew on that for awhile and if you need more info ,get your research on.

    I always feel this way,if you can hear a difference then it's worth the upgrade,if no audio or visual difference is gained the look elsewhere for better performance.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ezc
    ezc Posts: 426
    edited April 2004
    Changed the Power Cord to my 55" Mits used a Kimber PK10. Everyone here thaught I was nuts! But when they saw the improvment most videophile friends replaced thier stock cords too! If you can see a difference the upgrade was worth it!pk10mits2.JPG
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited April 2004
    thats really cool man.
    I love it
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited April 2004
    ezc,

    You are definitely one of the tweakers here at Club Polk. First the crossover in the LSi C, now dedicated circuits for the A/V gear, DIY Kimber power cords, .. very nice.

    What about the stock power cord on the Monster HTPS 7000? Have you replaced that as well or would Monster frown on that and void the warranty? I wish it were a detachable power cord but it's not.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dcarlson
    dcarlson Posts: 1,740
    edited April 2004
    I guess with EZC, seeing is believing as opposed to the usual hearing is believing when is comes to powercords. Cool. :)
    SDA-2a, Anthem Pre-2L, Anthem Amp 1, MF A324 DAC, Rotel RCD1070

    Senn HD650 Cardas, Mapletree Audio Ear+ HD2, Kimber KS1030, Bel Canto DAC2, M-Audio Transit, Laptop.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ezc
    ezc Posts: 426
    edited April 2004
    pjdami
    I have really thaught hard about the power cords on my 7000 & avs 2000. I have gone as far as to pull both units from my rack & look inside. Yes I can make the change but the one thing realy holding me back is the equiment guranty. I know if I replace the pc the warranty is void & with my luck my system would take a huge surge & fry everything! Im almost sure that the Kimber PC would be an improvement over the monster 400's. I had been using monster 300 IEC cords on my equipment & switched to Kimber pk10 & great improvment! I can just imagine want kind of improvements id see & hear if the main power cords to my system was switched to better cords. My htps7000 has a 8 ft cord & I only need 2-3 ft long Just with a better shorter cord should be an improvement! Monsters rep was here 2 weeks ago & I brought it up why donst the 5000, 7000 & the 2000 have removable IEC power cords & he said it was due to UL code. I dont know if thats the reason but again I dont know of any power conditioners or ac voltage stablizers or controlls with a removable cord. Oh well the search goes on for better pic & sound!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited April 2004
    ezc,

    I believe Panamax has the removable IEC. that's why some folks like Panamax better. Just something to ask the Monster rep next time you talk to him.

    Paul
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited April 2004
    The leader (IMHO) in power systems and power cords, PS Audio has IEC's on all of their products.

    http://www.psaudio.com/
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ezc
    ezc Posts: 426
    edited April 2004
    Thanks for the info Ill ask again! Just cant figure out why no removable power cord!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited April 2004
    ezc,
    I wouldn't modify the Monster power centers but I would upgrade if you feel there is improvement to be made there.I myself decided not to go with a Monster Power center(I was on track to a HTPS7000).

    Check out Ps Audio there Director 4.7 is what I'm considering.I'm also looking at the Richard Grays 1200c

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ezc
    ezc Posts: 426
    edited April 2004
    Mantis,
    I have tried the RG 400MKII. My friend here had three of them that was not being used while redoing his room. I borrowed them & tried it out. Removed my 7000 & 2000 from my system. First test plug one 400 into the wall & plug the other 2 into the one plugged into the wall & plugged my equip into the outer 2 400's. Seemed my pic quality went backwards & seemed flat not as 3d. I dont listen to much music so I coulndt say if there was any noticable difference. seccond test plug in two 400's to the wall one on each outlet & the third was plugged into the first. Again same pic quality. third test plug all my equip backinto the 7000 & plug that into the 400. Not a big improvement. removed all rg & put the 7000 & 2000 back in & pic quality came back. I dont know if I needed a bigger RG unit or more 400 for better results. RG reccomends you plug one of the 400 or 600 into the outlet & adding additional units tothe first in a star pattern & in the other outlet your equipment. I have been looking at the pole pig with a 220v sub station but damm thats currently out of my budget. I have no experience with the PS audio products, I dont think there is a dealer here. I know there is better than Monster But finding what will work with my system & our bad ac here is the hard part! The better the A/C the better the pic & sound!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,646
    edited April 2004
    Ezc,

    Man, you should see about becoming a dealer for PS Audio. Their units actually re-generate power. The perfect solution for the bad a/c you guys have there and you can sell me stuff I need cheap. :D
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter