Power cable ripoff

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lanion
lanion Posts: 843
edited March 2008 in Electronics
http://www.audiojunkies.com/blog/1197/virtual-dynamics-power-3-2000-profit-margin


Virtual Dynamics Power makes cheap power cables.
My Iron Man training/charity blog.

HT:
32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2008
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    This is why so many people on this forum are fans of Signal Cable. Look at what beautiful cords you get for $59 and $69:


    IMG_6891.JPG.jpg

    The one on top is 10ga wire. Want to add additional length - $5/foot.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited March 2008
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    I just laugh because you can upgrade the power cables as much as you want, you are really just upgrading the connectors.

    You can shield a power cable, but how are you going to shield the wire that's in the walls? You can increase the wire size, but again, what about behind the wall?
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2008
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    Isn't VD the company that does the "system upgrade" via the phone?
    I figure about an hour to make one. Being generous $50 in parts when mass purchased. I wouldn't mind making $250 an hour if I didn't have a conscience.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2008
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    ShinAce wrote: »
    I just laugh because you can upgrade the power cables as much as you want, you are really just upgrading the connectors.

    You can shield a power cable, but how are you going to shield the wire that's in the walls? You can increase the wire size, but again, what about behind the wall?

    I have not tried any after market cables, but I do disagree with a couple things you stated. Shielding inside a wall isn't as necessary as shielding outside the wall. Components put out varying degrees of RF. Also shielding helps low voltage signal cable from picking up the noise the power cables produce. As far as wire Ga I understand where you are coming from, but a heavy Ga wire on an amp that draws quite a bit adds capacitance at the amp. Thats why car audio guys use capacitors next to their amps. I do realize that the added capacitance in heavy Ga wire is not like having a huge capacitor, but it helps.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,811
    edited March 2008
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    ben62670 wrote: »
    Isn't VD the company that does the "system upgrade" via the phone?

    Nope, that's Machina Dynamica. Similar name, similar business practices.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2008
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    Thanks Bill.
    Looks like they both are a rip off. Love that RV hose:rolleyes:
    virtual-dynamics-power-3-cables-cords-wire.jpg
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,637
    edited March 2008
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    If you take a minute to read about the materials used to make alot of these online retailer cable companies, you will find Liberity and Beldon wire. Nothing more nothing less.

    Again I have been into custom for over 8 years and have seen alot of rip offs. Even highly respected cable companies don't give you what the price tag says. Some do.

    But like said in that thead, if the value of the sound quality is the same or better then the asking price of the given cable, it's up to you to figure that out. It really doesn't matter to your ears what it's made out of, as long as it does it's job. Alot of people don't look at it like that. If it can change your sound for the better then I'm about it. If it does little or no difference it's not worth looking cool. I could care less how cool my cables look. **** I want less cables.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited March 2008
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    For power cables, I prefer DIY cables with good Furutech or Oyaide connectors. The connectors cost the most in these cables.
    -?¿-
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2008
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    I was looking at the beldon shielded wire for building some for myself.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • sabotg
    sabotg Posts: 126
    edited March 2008
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    I didn't buy a signal cable power cord but i did buy speaker cable. I would recommend signal to anyone looking for quality connectors. Frank at signal cable is a great guy and IMO he delivers a quality product in a timely fashion.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2008
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    sabotg wrote: »
    Frank at signal cable is a great guy and IMO he delivers a quality product in a timely fashion.

    What he said...
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited March 2008
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    The Signals look nice. The Marinco power connectors are also pretty good, I use them in commercial marine applications and are used in harsh environments.
    Venom
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2008
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    Frank's making a really nice product and selling it for a price that'll help put food on his table. He's not out buying a new Rolex every time he sells a few cables, that's for sure. He's a stand up guy making a product that he's proud of, selling it for an honest price, giving great customer service, and everyone seems in agreement that they sound as good as anything out there. What more can you ask for?
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2008
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    Frank is the man!
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited March 2008
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    One of the things I do on my job is build ac power cables as needed, whether they're 15a/120v cables or 30a/240v twistlock cables, or even bigger.

    Obviously, I'm in the wrong biz. :eek:
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,640
    edited March 2008
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    nspindel wrote: »
    Frank's making a really nice product and selling it for a price that'll help put food on his table. He's not out buying a new Rolex every time he sells a few cables, that's for sure. He's a stand up guy making a product that he's proud of, selling it for an honest price, giving great customer service, and everyone seems in agreement that they sound as good as anything out there. What more can you ask for?

    AMEN.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited March 2008
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    Plus one for SignalCable, some awesome product there, I replaced every power cable I could with Signal stuff.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited March 2008
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    Sad that someone would do something like that.

    Signal cable helped make a cable believer out of me. Franks stuff is the real deal.
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  • miner
    miner Posts: 1,305
    edited March 2008
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    I got two of those 'free' VD Power 3 cables and neither one will stay plugged into my Rotel equipment. The EIC size is a bit too small for a tight connection - the cord keeps coming unplugged. VD suggested I wrap the EIC plug with some electrical tape to help it fit snug. I am glad I didn't pay for this.
    [
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,239
    edited March 2008
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    I have used Signal, PS Audio and others but the cryoed VH Audio wire and Furutech connectors make a great sounding cable. Smoother highs and not as boomy in the bass. Its very easy to assemble the connectors to the wire. One of the easiest cable you can make.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI-2170 w Polk LSiM 703/ Pioneer 42" plasma w Flex Streamer, Sangaen HDT-1tuner
    Vinyl: Nothingham Spacedeck->Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm->Soundsmith DL 103R w Contact line stylus->SUT->
    Bottlehead Eros
    Digital: I7 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY
    CD: DIY Shigaclone
    Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192->Goldwave->i7 PC server
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  • Gadabout
    Gadabout Posts: 1,072
    edited March 2008
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    Not sticking up for VD here, but it does say what they are going to use in the cable...
    - 14 Gauge THHN -
    - 5 Dielectric layers
    - True Ground Float
    - Cold Crimped
    - ProtecX Treatment

    What I dislike about the website is the non-sensical / techno babble that is employed all over the website. Most of it doesn't make sense. What the hell is True Ground Float? I suppose also that in the above description that the 5 Dielectric Layers (Dielectric = insualtor) means the teflon on the THHN, the layers of the rubber tube and the techflex.

    The build cost for this cable is around $45 or so. Sells for $100. So it's not as bad as the original link talks about. However, not impressed with the selction of materials or build.

    Frank's stuff is of much better quality in build and components for a better price. I have never been a fan of Schuter connectors.

    Just my .02
    Scott
    Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid. ..... Frank Zappa
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited March 2008
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    well its been awhile but I sense an anti hi-fi audio insurgent in the mix.

    RT1
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  • mightymouse
    mightymouse Posts: 254
    edited March 2008
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    The cat in that picture looks kind of scary, seeing how he/she tore up that poor cable inside out. I am kind of scared budging in here with that cat guarding the door...:p


    Does Signal cable make interconnects and speaker wires?
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited March 2008
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    http://www.signalcable.com/

    I've bought a few products from Frank, all quality stuff.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited March 2008
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    mightymouse wrote: »
    Does Signal cable make interconnects and speaker wires?

    Yes, they are highly recommended around here and you get a 5% discount if you say you are a polkie. I personally use Belden 89259 (=Analog IIs) through out my HT and PC rig and love it.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2008
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    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    well its been awhile but I sense an anti hi-fi audio insurgent in the mix.

    RT1

    Bingo Ted. This is going nowhere. X
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • mightymouse
    mightymouse Posts: 254
    edited March 2008
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    Thanks for the info guys.

    Looks like quality stuff. I'll keep Signal Cable in mind when I need new interconnects.
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