Power cable placement

PSOVLSK · January 26

Lots of discussion about power cables over the years, but I don’t think I’ve seen one addressing where to put your cables. By that, I mean where should you put your best cable…your worst cable, etc. I’ve always thought best cable to the amp/integrated, but I’ve seen others say best cable to the source. Matching cable would be best I suppose, but that’s not what I’ve got and I suspect it’s not what most people have. In my specific situation, I have an integrated, a streamer, and a cd player/dac. I also have a Wireworld Spaceport that requires a cable be used from the wall to the Spaceport, so that adds another level for me: best cable in that position or worst?

Any naysayers, yes, I know I’m wasting my money by using aftermarket PC’s, so you don’t have to educate me on how they don’t make a difference.

treitz3 · January 26

LOL, on that last sentence. I believe we are well past that stage at this point in time.

For me, it was equal top spots on the AMP and my sources. More so the streamer than the CDP for some reason. Both of these, IME, I would place directly into the wall, if possible. Leave the spaceport for LPS's, switches or any other network type devices (if possible).

Tom

marvda1 · January 26

I have my best power cable on my dac, but I still have good cables on the other pieces of equipment. Before I would put a real expensive cable on the spaceport, I would put in a couple of dedicated lines, one for the amp and the other for the spaceport.

F1nut · January 26

All my power cords are the same, so every piece.

treitz3 · January 27

marvda1 wrote: »

I have my best power cable on my dac<snip>

While this was good? I would say that it was subpar to what I heard on the source. There was a vast difference in the end result as to what I heard.

That said, each system is different. There is no way to know how power differs within each other's system. There are so many variables, that it would be daunting to figure all of the scenarios out. That said, Paul? It may be time to experiment with this on your own, and with your own system.

This is audio. Nothing is set in concrete (unless you talk with TonyB).

Tom

displayname · January 27

I think ideal state is equal quality cables everywhere. I think beyond that it’s going to have some guidelines (with differing opinions) and it might be different in each system.

So if you have cables of different quality, it’s best to just try them in different positions.

PSOVLSK · January 27

Good news for me is that my DAC and my source are one and the same.

All of my pc’s are pretty similar: 3 PS Audio Power Punch, a Shunyata Venom, and a knockoff of a high dollar cable that ain’t bad at all. I definitely need to switch them up and see if I can tell a difference. Thinking of picking up one of Todd’s AQ Thunder, but honestly trying to convince myself not to do it😆

newbie308 · January 28

In my system, I realized the most significant impact to what I was hearing by upgrading the PC on my power amp. I have tried multiple source cables with little to no change in presentation, but I think that is due to the power conditioner in use between the wall outlet and my source components. That's on my short list of upgraditis must haves. The other problem I have is that I can't easily swap source power cables, and my ability to retain the sonic differences in memory for comparison is lost during the changeover interval.

tratliff · January 28

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Good news for me is that my DAC and my source are one and the same.

All of my pc’s are pretty similar: 3 PS Audio Power Punch, a Shunyata Venom, and a knockoff of a high dollar cable that ain’t bad at all. I definitely need to switch them up and see if I can tell a difference. Thinking of picking up one of Todd’s AQ Thunder, but honestly trying to convince myself not to do it😆

DO IT!!!

Geoff4rfc · January 31

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Any naysayers, yes, I know I’m wasting my money by using aftermarket PC’s, so you don’t have to educate me on how they don’t make a difference.

Right!!! A cable is a cable is a cable......oh wait, that was my thinking back in 2010 LOL

I was running Pangea Audio AC-9SE MKII in my set up (amp and AVP) and using the Pangea Audio AC-14SE MkII C7 for my source (CD player).

I replaced those three cables with @VR3 cables and man, what a difference. I run the non-filtered cable on the amp and two filtered cables on the source and processor. I posted a mini review on the result of the cables. It was a no brainer buy.

treitz3 · February 1

For those of you who are running with Pangea PC's, I would offer you this observation. Many of you know that I have been through a plethora of PC's over the years. Many different flavors and types/brands.

My observations are this. Pangea was one of the worst, if not the worst out of all of them. Not hearing any change to being a detriment is not surprising for me to read about.

I am not trying to knock those that have Pangea cables. If you like them? I am happy for you and please, rock on with your bad self. I just wanted to share my observations. If you thought PC's didn't make a difference and were using Pangea? I'd honestly probably come to the same conclusion.

Tom

tratliff · February 1

tratliff wrote: »

show previous quotes

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Good news for me is that my DAC and my source are one and the same.

All of my pc’s are pretty similar: 3 PS Audio Power Punch, a Shunyata Venom, and a knockoff of a high dollar cable that ain’t bad at all. I definitely need to switch them up and see if I can tell a difference. Thinking of picking up one of Todd’s AQ Thunder, but honestly trying to convince myself not to do it😆

DO IT!!!

Just do it!

PSOVLSK · February 1

tratliff wrote: »

show previous quotes

tratliff wrote: »

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Good news for me is that my DAC and my source are one and the same.

All of my pc’s are pretty similar: 3 PS Audio Power Punch, a Shunyata Venom, and a knockoff of a high dollar cable that ain’t bad at all. I definitely need to switch them up and see if I can tell a difference. Thinking of picking up one of Todd’s AQ Thunder, but honestly trying to convince myself not to do it😆

DO IT!!!

Just do it!

Tonight could be the night. I’m on my 2nd Old Fashioned, so the whiskey may start talking😂

treitz3 · February 1

Quick, Todd....Set him up a Staples, "Easy button"!!!

Tom

Clipdat · February 2

treitz3 wrote: »

I am not trying to knock those that have Pangea cables. If you like them? I am happy for you and please, rock on with your bad self. I just wanted to share my observations.

I've been trying them out recently and have been enjoying having them in the system. Sounding good! Just goes to show that all of us have our own unique set of ears, and that everyone hears differently.

motorstereo · February 2

Agreed; I have no complaints with the 3 meter pair of Pangea 9's I've had on my monoblocks for the past several years.

PSOVLSK · February 2

PSOVLSK wrote: »

show previous quotes

tratliff wrote: »

tratliff wrote: »

PSOVLSK wrote: »

Good news for me is that my DAC and my source are one and the same.

All of my pc’s are pretty similar: 3 PS Audio Power Punch, a Shunyata Venom, and a knockoff of a high dollar cable that ain’t bad at all. I definitely need to switch them up and see if I can tell a difference. Thinking of picking up one of Todd’s AQ Thunder, but honestly trying to convince myself not to do it😆

DO IT!!!

Just do it!

Tonight could be the night. I’m on my 2nd Old Fashioned, so the whiskey may start talking😂

I stopped drinking after two…sorry Todd😂

pitdogg2 · February 2

Quitter!!

Clipdat · February 3

motorstereo wrote: »

Agreed; I have no complaints with the 3 meter pair of Pangea 9's I've had on my monoblocks for the past several years.

Interesting. I'm just using the cheapest regular "AC-14" ones on my amp and source.

motorstereo · February 3

^^^^^^^On my other components I use a variety of other cables, supra, mit, shunyata and I forget the name of the other one I have from Canada. I also put Furutech pigtails on the AC9's.The cabling looks cool and better than stock but damned if I can notice any change from the stock power cables they replaced.

I'm not poo pooing anyone that can though; I just ain't one of them no matter how I tried. Maybe I need to try harder.

newbie308 · February 3

motorstereo wrote: »

^^^^^^^On my other components I use a variety of other cables, supra, mit, shunyata and I forget the name of the other one I have from Canada. I also put Furutech pigtails on the AC9's.The cabling looks cool and better than stock but damned if I can notice any change from the stock power cables they replaced.

I'm not poo pooing anyone that can though; I just ain't one of them no matter how I tried. Maybe I need to try harder.

It really is system dependent. I tried four different power cables with my Jolida 502B. Five if you include the stock power cable. There was no change to what I was hearing, but when I tried those same cables with my Threshold stasis2 amplifier I was astonished at the sonic effect each power cable made. TBH I thought I was imagining these changes, but my son happened to stop in while I was experimenting, and he heard the differences, too.

Polkitup2 · February 6

I have tried various power cables and they all sounded different to me in my system. For me the cable to the power condition is most important followed by the source components. Experimentation is needed. For example, I had tried the Audioquest Tornado source and high current cables on my streamer and DAC and found that the streamer does not like the high current cord while the DAC doesn't seem to mind. On the flip side I found that my Audio Research pre-amp sounds better with a heavier gauge cord than a source specific cord. My biggest perceived sonic improvement was when I changed the cord to my power conditioner from an Audioquest Tornado to an Audioquest Hurricane. However, prior to that I had also changed to using Hurricane source cables on my streamer and DAC which likely contributed to the improvement. I have also had cables like the Audioquest Monsoon that I did not care for anywhere I put it. Same with some cheap PS Audio and Cobalt I tried in the past. I must say that I have been impressed with how much better my system performed each time I moved up the Audioquest power cable line.

pitdogg2 · February 6

Cobalt cable, BOY, that is a blast from the past.......
I do not believe they are in the consumer audio spectrum anymore.

tratliff · February 6

Paul (@PSOVLSK) - You want me to ship it to you so you can give it a trial run? If it doesn't do it for you just ship it back.

Toolfan66 · February 6

IMO, The problem for most with putting the money down on really nice cables, is that money would probably be better spent elsewhere with a much better return in sonic sound..

I really want a ModWright Phono Pre, it's about 5k, am I going to spend that cash on better cables that more than likely will cost about close to that or more, depending on what you're doing, but even two nice PC's for your amps will cost a few dollars, especially over Pangea.

Or do I put that cash towards the ModWright? I am getting the ModWright, and Pangea will have to do for now..

Trust me, better "power cables" are always on my mind, I just find myself wanting something different on the gear side over cables..

treitz3 · February 6

I can see that. I did somewhat the same thing. I would get a nice cable here and there sporadically through the years/decades and play around with their locations constantly, as I worked on much better gear.

Part of the reason for that, was that no cable really made me sit back and say, "Wow!". That was up until early last year. Once I found my choice of cables, I got a loom for the most critical parts of the rig, using the other somewhat ho-hum cables for less critical parts of the system. It was at this point to where I really slowed down on gear purchases. I just finished up what I already had slated/planned for the rig.

Then, a new lineup came along and I was gobsmacked at the overwhelming change for the better. Now I have those new ones in all of the critical parts of the system, with the others (that used to be in the critical spots) taking over the less critical parts of the system. Since then, no new gear has been purchased or is even a blip on the radar. I didn't fully realize what I had, until I upgraded the cables to the best I had found.

Looking back, I wish I had done this sooner (hind sight is always 20-20). Regardless, it is quite satisfying to just sit back and listen, not worrying about the next upgrade or what I could do to change this or that. I wouldn't be where I am at now, unless I did do what I did, when it came to cables.....and I'd most assuredly still be on the merry-go-round of gear.

It's one of those conundrums we all face along our audio journey...

Tom

PSOVLSK · February 6

tratliff wrote: »

Paul (@PSOVLSK) - You want me to ship it to you so you can give it a trial run? If it doesn't do it for you just ship it back.

I’ve developed an issue in the left channel of CDP/DAC, so I’m going to hold off on anything until I get this figured out. Hopefully I can figure out the problem without having to take it in for repair.

Thanks for the offer. I’ll probably take you up on it if I can get this other issue resolved.

Polkitup2 · February 6

Toolfan66 wrote: »

IMO, The problem for most with putting the money down on really nice cables, is that money would probably be better spent elsewhere with a much better return in sonic sound..

I agree, and that was certainly true for my first 40 years in this hobby. However, I do think that that once you get to a certain level there is a point along the cost versus sonic benefit continuum where decent cables can provide your system with the same or even better sonic performance when compared to an audio component upgrade.

Toolfan66 · February 6

Polkitup2 wrote: »

show previous quotes

Toolfan66 wrote: »

IMO, The problem for most with putting the money down on really nice cables, is that money would probably be better spent elsewhere with a much better return in sonic sound..

I agree, and that was certainly true for my first 40 years in this hobby. However, I do think that that once you get to a certain level there is a point along the cost versus sonic benefit continuum where decent cables can provide your system with the same or even better sonic performance when compared to an audio component upgrade.

I definitely agree, and honestly, I feel I am there, I am just saving up for three other pieces I want in my system before I go after them..

I am not a cable naysayer..

tratliff · February 6

@Toolfan66 the Modwright phono pre is a great piece. I picked up a PH-150 with the upgraded umbilical cable and tubes last year and was blown away by the upgrade it was over the Parasound JC3 I had prior, which is no slouch either. But the Modwright is multiple steps up. You will be very happy.

And it also works very well with upgraded power cables. At first I was running a AQ Hurricane but stepped up to the Way Core power cable for it and my Norma. Both had increased dynamics doing this. Most likely caused by a reduction in the noise floor.

tratliff · February 6

PSOVLSK wrote: »

show previous quotes

tratliff wrote: »

Paul (@PSOVLSK) - You want me to ship it to you so you can give it a trial run? If it doesn't do it for you just ship it back.

I’ve developed an issue in the left channel of CDP/DAC, so I’m going to hold off on anything until I get this figured out. Hopefully I can figure out the problem without having to take it in for repair.

Thanks for the offer. I’ll probably take you up on it if I can get this other issue resolved.

Paul, sorry to hear about that. I’m sure that is frustrating. Anyway just reach out when you get things working again.

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