I respect your position. We all have different experiences, and that is what makes the hobby so very interesting.
-
Feeling lucky? Check out the AK 24th Anniversary Giveaway thread and join in the fun!
What power cables do you use for your tube phono and tube preamp?
- Thread starter Menuhin
- Start date
-
- Tags
- power cables
- Status
Tom Bombadil
AK Member
I tried out 4 different more expensive "audiophile" power cords vs a heavy duty Belden 14ga, shielded cable which cost me around $12. Tried them in multiple systems, which included amps from Cary, Audio Research, Parasound, Bryston, and Krell. Preamps from Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, and BAT. I had 3 other people participate in the comparisons, including two audio store salesmen.
Cutting to the chase, none of us could detect any differences. I am still using the Beldens today. I'm not all that certain that they are any better than the stock power cords. I'm willing to spend more on power cords if I felt they made a difference, as I have spent many thousands on my audio system, but I've never heard one that convinced me it was worth the money.
Cutting to the chase, none of us could detect any differences. I am still using the Beldens today. I'm not all that certain that they are any better than the stock power cords. I'm willing to spend more on power cords if I felt they made a difference, as I have spent many thousands on my audio system, but I've never heard one that convinced me it was worth the money.
unfairlane
Well-Known Member
And some people think they are clever, and yet they are not.
Guess you know moore about this than I do
Five of mine are DIY using Belden cable and Marinco plugs, two using 19364 and the other three, 83803. Indeed, they are good.
I find that Harmonic Technology Magics, however, offer better inner detail in my system with VTL MB-450 amplifiers.
I'm the guy Mr Pig was talking about that heard the difference in my setup when the power cord was swapped from stock on my oppo udp 203 with the zu audio mission power cord. To let you all know, I'm one of the ones that greatly is against the hype of speaker cables power cables etc etc, however I'm not closed minded and if I actually hear a difference with my ears in a piece of equipment be it a DAC an amp or just a power cable then I make the conscious decision to pass on it or keep it, in most cases if there's an improvement I implement that piece into my system. Now about the improvements I heard once the cable was swapped with the Zu Audio. My theory is it is cleaning up noise in the system. When I put my panamax Power conditioner into my system I immediately noticed better sound and now I believe it is because it cleaned up the noise that aided to the blacker background I was hearing, this is what I believe the zu audio cable is doing as well.
I've been doing this audio thing for a long time and have experimented with many different setups cables etc as I know many of you have done, but the biggest factor in all of this is what we hear. I trust my ears and my hearing is different than everyone else's so what sounds good to me might sound horrible to someone else as you all already know. Now I don't know the science behind all this stuff nor do I care to try and understand, I just know what sounds good and what doesn't to me. So with that said have fun with whatever you have, be it stock or highly modified because that's what this is all about.
Audiofreak71
I've been doing this audio thing for a long time and have experimented with many different setups cables etc as I know many of you have done, but the biggest factor in all of this is what we hear. I trust my ears and my hearing is different than everyone else's so what sounds good to me might sound horrible to someone else as you all already know. Now I don't know the science behind all this stuff nor do I care to try and understand, I just know what sounds good and what doesn't to me. So with that said have fun with whatever you have, be it stock or highly modified because that's what this is all about.
Audiofreak71
Last edited:
There are legitimate and scientific reasons for better shielded cables and power cords if there are sources of interference, especially if the length of cable runs is long. I 100% believe people will hear a cleaner signal in circumstances like that. But I in no way believe that changing power cords will result in changes of soundstage or other dramatic changes when there is no source of interference.
I didn't believe just like you, until I heard with my own ears. But like I said I believe it's not adding anything I believe it's taking away in this instance the dirty noise that plagues all systems. I believe the more that's cleaned up the more your allowed to hear. Just my opinion of course.
Well then no one has told you to believe other wise. But look at the op and ask yourself are my comment relevant to the topic of the thread and the questions asked by the OP?
Last edited:
That's always the best place to start! I have two 20A lines running into my listening room. That tends to avoid noise distributed elsewhere in the home by all manner of modern devices.
It does not, however, address RFI/EMI generated by nearby audio gear sharing that line, especially digital components or anything using a SMPS.
jblnut
Don't Overthink It
I only have one "boutique" power cord in my system, and I think it's a fairly low-end PS Audio unit. I bought it on BT to try out and I used it on different components in my system (including a tube Phono pre like the OP is asking about - an EAR 834P). It seemed to do the most good on my main preamp (McIntosh C220) and that's where it still is a few years later.
I tried to tell myself it was all in my head last year and I removed it. I almost listed it in BT thinking that it wasn't really making any difference. Except that with it removed, something had changed in the overall presentation of the music. I played a lot of different things to make sure I was really hearing what I thought, and back in it went. I haven't added any more, yet, but the whole topic of power filtering/regeneration and better power cables is on my list of things to look at eventually. There is...something...there.
jblnut
I tried to tell myself it was all in my head last year and I removed it. I almost listed it in BT thinking that it wasn't really making any difference. Except that with it removed, something had changed in the overall presentation of the music. I played a lot of different things to make sure I was really hearing what I thought, and back in it went. I haven't added any more, yet, but the whole topic of power filtering/regeneration and better power cables is on my list of things to look at eventually. There is...something...there.
jblnut
sKiZo
Hates received: 92644 43.20°N 85.50°W
It does not, however, address RFI/EMI generated by nearby audio gear sharing that line, especially digital components or anything using a SMPS.
Yup ... wonder how many folk know just how much trash their other gear is talkin' ?
I tucked a center channel speaker right in the rack, but I made sure it was a "video system" rated unit that can handle all the noise generated by close proximity electronics. It has extra shielding as well as an RF proof case to do da doody.
http://www.brainfartz.com/images/Stereo Stuff/slideshow/slides/boombox.html
Is your post to me "relivent"? If you feel that my post somehow violates the terms of service then by all means please report me. Maybe you need to apply for a Moderator position?
I rather agree with that. Defining just what the lack of noise interference would add to the sound of a system is an interesting thing to think about. Where I call total and complete BS is where somebody has a clean power source coming in with an already good quality power cable (probably most any new power cable is fits this description) and they buy a "boutique" cable and claim a huge difference.
All your comments in this thread
off topic
off topic
I commented on this post and said no one is making you to believe anything and all your post are off topic.
Well one would hope you have enough manners and respect of others and this threads to police yourself.
Again off topic and not what the OP asked.
Quiet simple really, say you use the stock factory cords (I Did) and don't worry about what others use in their systems when they say what they have.
Have your beliefs and build your system your way, cool, but why do you feel the need to ridicule other posters that are on topic. The OP asked what others are using, this has nothing to do with you wanting to debate anything.
Attacked one member...
off topic
Questioning what another member had hands on with and heard..
off topic
Off topic
I commented on this post and said no one is making you to believe anything and all your post are off topic.
Well one would hope you have enough manners and respect of others and this threads to police yourself.
Again off topic and not what the OP asked.
Quiet simple really, say you use the stock factory cords (I Did) and don't worry about what others use in their systems when they say what they have.
Have your beliefs and build your system your way, cool, but why do you feel the need to ridicule other posters that are on topic. The OP asked what others are using, this has nothing to do with you wanting to debate anything.
Last edited:
- Status