Power Cables

LuSh

I just recently bought a Museatex CDD transport. I'm having an IEC connector put on the back. I now need a good power cable.

I've been recommened a Moray James Power Cable. I really respect the people that have recommened me this cable, but even at cost its still $300 ($500 retail), anybody have any other recommendations for IEC connect power cables?

I've almost finalized the sale of my NAD 541i but it might only now cover the Power cable. Has anybody heard top flight power cables from Audioquest, Kimber, Harmonic Tech, Gutwire, Cardas?

Part of me wants to buy it, just to be on the safe side of down the road upgrades, also with this transport, I will have one of the best digital frontends you can buy, and I'm very happy that I have secured a very good frontend. The other part tosses and turns at night shaking just thinking about blowing that kinda cash on a cable that runs from my Transport to my wall or even worse a $100 AR powerbar. I will upgrade the bar later, but please help me make some sense of this mess.

Airplay355

try signal cable maybe....or you could always join the cable swap program and try out cables for yourself

madmax

I would use a standard power cable for awhile until I fully understand what it sounds like. I would then order whichever upgrade, plug it in, and if I didn't like it or couldn't hear a difference I would send it back.
madmax

F1nut

I recommend PS Audio Statement power cords. I also understand
Shunyata, Harmonic Tech and Elrod are known for good power cords. The others, Audioquest, Kimber, Gutwire, and Cardas I would avoid and I know nothing about Moray James products. If you're asking yourself do power cords make a difference, the answer is with higher end gear, absolutely.

PolkThug

Originally posted by F1nut
If you're asking yourself do power cords make a difference, the answer is with higher end gear, absolutely.

Anybody got a before/after freq sweep that shows this?

madmax

Originally posted by PolkThug
Anybody got a before/after freq sweep that shows this?

The data is too intense to show this level of perfection. F1 or myself could always analyze it mentally if necessary.

madmax

dcarlson

I wouldn't count any out. Listen to as many as you can. Look used and scrap the powerbar if you can.

Loud & Clear

Personally, I wouldn't buy a $500.00 power cable. I would buy a well-constructed cable with quality contacts to conduct the electricity.

I'm not sure what the $500.00 is for.

pjdami

I would recommend making a DIY DH Labs powercord using Wattgate or Hubbel IEC & plugs. See if you can hear a difference between this DIY powercord and your stock cord. If you can hear a difference you can go from there. If you can strip wire and use a screwdriver you are there. About $55 to make your own 4 foot cord. A very smooth sounding powercord with an expansive 3 dimensional soundstage. I compared to the Signal Cable Magic Powercord (which I thought sounded "grainy" and "brighter" on SS equipment and more of a two dimensional soundstage) and a $500 Transparent power cord which I felt didn't sound any better than the Asylum Crump DIY powercord.

There are a lot of powercords out there and they are expensive. I prefer to spend the money on gear and DIY route for the powercords.

2+2

pjdami, where can you get those cables and connectors? I have my rotel amp plugged into a power strip right now because the cable is too short. I need about a 10 ft cable to reach the outlet...thanks...now back to regular programming...

PolkThug

Originally posted by madmax
The data is too intense to show this level of perfection. F1 or myself could always analyze it mentally if necessary.

madmax

Haha! Actually, now that I've got my Behringer gear I can't wait to get my hands on a power cable again. However, I can only use it on a sub.

Early B.

Another vote for PS Aduio. I use one on my CD player.

Set a price limit and stick to it. Otherwise, you'll go crazy trying out different cords. A hundred dollars for a new, used, or DIY power cord is my limit.

pjdami

Welbourne Labs was one source. Also check:

http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalog/wire.html

under AC cables.

Now that I look at it again, it looks like the cost will be more like $65 to make your own. However, the retail value of this cord store bought is $200. Here is a review:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/dhlabs_powerplus.htm

I also have a pretty in depth DIY powercord thread on the forum somewhere in the past year when I was experimenting with all of this stuff.

I'm not going to sit here and say that a Cardas or a PS Audio cable doesn't sound better.... but for me, with all the equipment I have, I prefer to make my own power cables so that all of my gear has a DIY powercable connected to it. I can't imagine spending $350 - $450 / powercable for all of the components that I have in the four systems that I own.

tryrrthg

pjdami,

have you ever used the Belden 83803 cable for a power cord? Have you heard anything (good or bad) about it? or how it compares to the DH labs?

www.diycable.com uses it their Exodus Red Coat power cord.

More info on the cable at Parts Express

pjdami

Tryrrthg,

No I have not used that particular Belden wire for a powercable. I use the Belden 19364 per the Asylum Power Cable recipe.

I like to use the DH Labs power cables on my power amps and the Asylum power cable on my sources.

The most expensive DIY power cable I tried was a JPS Labs and it sounded the WORST ($20/ft). Very bright and shrill sounding even after a 200 hr burn in. Maybe it needs more burn in I don't know ... I just gave up on it.

Thanks for pointing out that new Belden to me. I need to make a few more power cables and I'm willing to give that one a shot even though its bulk price is a little more expensive than the DH Labs.

Just a FYI, both Cardas and Transparent use Schurter IEC plugs for some of their cables that I have seen.

The Schurter 4782.0100 is a LOT easier to work with than the 4300.0603.

pjdami

Note the IEC. One of these is the Transparent (several hundred dollars powercord). The other is the Asylum power cord. I realize the technology is in the wire itself but that's a hefty $/ft and then to use a $10 IEC

Early B.

Gotta go with Furutech IECs. They cost a lot, but sometimes you can find used power cables with Furutechs on audiogon for a bit over $100.

tryrrthg

Originally posted by pjdami
Thanks for pointing out that new Belden to me. I need to make a few more power cables and I'm willing to give that one a shot even though its bulk price is a little more expensive than the DH Labs.

Where can you get the DH labs cheaper than the Belden? The Belden is $4.86 a foot at Parts Express if you buy 10 feet. I can't find DH labs for any cheaper than $5.50 or so...

Let me know how it works out if you get the Belden, I'm not quite ready to buy yet. Gotta decide on a preamp first...

pjdami

Trrythng,

I stand corrected (brainfart on my part). In my haste to look at the PE website I looked at the $6.24 list price not the $4.86 price.

$5.50 for DH labs from Partsconnexion is the cheapest that I have found too.

Furutech plugs I have used. They are difficult to work with. They use a torx head for tightening and one of the screws that I tightened I actually forced the little gold plate to snap out of its plastic guide. I really didn't tighten down that much but I like to make connections relatively tight. It was a **** to get that plate back into its slot. I much prefer the screw down connections that Hubbel, Marinco, and Wattgate use.

The "audio-grade" Wattgate plugs with the DH Labs powercord is something I have not tried out yet. But the plugs alone would run about $150 or so for that application. Kimber uses the gold plugs for their powercords.

I just sent DIYcable an email about if they sell the Belden 83803 by the foot along with the Schurter 4782 since I can't seem to find those options on their website to "add to the cart." The kit they sell for that powercord is probably preterminated / stripped etc. but would run one about double the cost to do that simple work oneself.

tryrrthg

Originally posted by pjdami
I just sent DIYcable an email about if they sell the Belden 83803 by the foot along with the Schurter 4782 since I can't seem to find those options on their website to "add to the cart." The kit they sell for that powercord is probably preterminated / stripped etc. but would run one about double the cost to do that simple work oneself.

Let us know what you find out. and most importantly, if you buy the Belden 83803 let me know how it works out.

pjdami

Originally posted by tryrrthg
Let us know what you find out. and most importantly, if you buy the Belden 83803 let me know how it works out.

Yeah. He sells them individually. Just need to call Kevin to place an order because he hasn't updated the website.

I'll add to my "audio to do" list:D

LuSh

I bought the Moray James Power cable. The results when used with my intergrated were not sublte. I have no idea why it makes such a difference but I will be buying another for my transport when funds become available.

dorokusai

Paul - Would you have time to make me a DIY power cable? I'm thinking about <$60 and I'll get it in the same mix as the SC Magic Power, and that other power cable.

Let me know the damage, and I'll forward the funds up to you.

This would let the person conducting the demo, the ability to check out yet another option in this category.

F1nut

Lush, excellent! Got more info, a link perhaps?

LuSh

Moray James is a pretty underground dude in the cable industry. As it stands now he has only one or two retail outlets in Canada. His cables are adored on audioasylum and have been highly regarded by many true high enders. When I metion high enders, I'm talkin about People with $50k plus rigs that have boughten his stuff at a fraction of what they paid for their old stuff. I wish there was a link I could show you. Moray is putting up a site, he showed me a rough draft and has sent his cable to the UK to be reviewed.

His stuff is rare and usually never found on the used market. Go to audioasylum for a link to his email address. He's a nice man.

pjdami

LuSh,

Congrats on the purchase of your new power cable. I haven't tried out ultra high end power cables myself, but have been pleased with the DIY approach.

Sorry if this thread got hijacked a little by me. LuSh are you finding better results with the power cord on the transport vs. your amp?

Doro,
I will send you a pm. Give me a week or so to get some supplies.

The DH labs DIY powercord can be built for $60.90 for a 4 foot cord (plus shipping). I found another website that has all the parts here:

http://dedicatedaudio.com/raw_cable?b=1

Interestingly, I found another website where the 4 foot cord is fully assembled and the guy only charges $79. That's not a bad deal considering the 1/2 hour or so of labor involved in stripping and terminating the ends. So if there are a few of you looking to try this approach it could be worth a shot:


http://hidefaudio.com/power.htm

LuSh

It was tradeoffs really. I didn't like how my system was becoming so tame that in a sense it was losing dynamics and soul. When I used the cable to my transport there was no Sssss's in female vocals, like none. Even with my digital setup I dont get many but it all but eliminated everything even on tracks that could split your head open with sibilance at higher volume settings.

I opted to use it for my amp because of the impr0ved dynamics, Meitner gear is about as analoge sounding as you're going to get regardless of price to begin with, the MJC cable helped even more, but it was too much of a good thing at some points, so I have it hooked up to my amp, I use a cheaper XLO powercord from my transport, and a stock IEC connection for my DAC. I will eventually get another MJC cable for the transport, and use the XLO to the dac down the road.