Best bang? New power cord or power conditioner?

It's my contention that oftener than not the plugs are more responsible than the cord itself.

Neither the common NEMA AC connector on the supply end nor, especially nor, the IEC connector on the equipment end of the cord nor the IEC recessed male in the equipment are optimum solutions in any way. The old Bakelite housed round pin appliance plugs would, hands down, be a better solution on the equipment end, as would any of many fairly common connector styles used in Europe and in the US on industrial equipment. Depending on how it's wired the Neutrik PowerCon is also superior, thugh the difference isn't that extreme.

NEMA offers some locking styles that would be better than the venerable Edison plug, and fully meet code.

The absolute refusal of the high end industry to pursue this tells us, well, it tells us something or other. There is where real improvements lie, once we have a dedicated AC line with a good ground that is. That, and using a big enough power transformer in the equipment in the first place and excellent grounding internally.

 

Shouldn't the designers of "components" (i.e., units or sets: a 'component' is a resistor, IC , transistor, capacitor, etc.) be held at fault when they do not properly shield their stuff from putting out such emissions? Linear power supply audio equipment (analog, that is) shouldn't even HAVE any RF to get out: there are no oscillators or clocks there.

And quad shielded three conductor power cable used in video equipment is maybe five or ten bucks a foot, tops.

 

To ask mfr of resistors, IC's, transistors or capacitors to shield their stuff would be design and cost prohibitive, as well as potentially functinonally limiting.

There's typically no RFI from traditional analog components, though DACs and CD players have high-bandwidth processors that put out RFI. For traditional analog components, e.g. preamp and amps, there's lots of EMI produced by transformers. Folks don't realize that when you power up your power amp, there is an electromagnetic field that is bathing the amp in EM radiation. It's not as simple as electrons moving from your wall to a component. There is also a considerable EM field that is coming out of stock generic power cords as soon as it is plugged into an outlet (component does not have to be on...).

 

Why would one ask a vendor, "gee, which of these options is better for me...the one that makes you more profit, or the one that allows me to save how much money I give you?"...?




Now playing on Ariel Stream: Fairport Convention - Close To You (no, not the Carpenters song!)

 

The shielding is (or can/should be) done on a unit or subassembly level.

One thing McIntosh does is to put their transformers in cans, which is good. Depending on the case material a reasonable amount of shielding is possible, plus the transformer is protected from moisture, fungus and rust.

I don't have the proper setup to measure EMI from 60 Hz equipment, but I would think there ought to be some standards for this. I know different transformers radiate vastly different amounts of M-field emissions based on many things, transformers with chokes or air gaps being the bigger offenders and toroids being much lower.

 

All mfrs of quality power cords acknowledge and spent considerable R&D dollars to improve the quality of the connectors (plugs), so I don't agree that the high end industry refuses to pursue this. Wireworld, for example, uses excellent connectors that are silver plated, even on their entry level Stratus 5^2 power cord. Shunyata has also put considerable R&D both into connector materials and materials science on both their plugs and receptacles in their power distributors, specifying the removal of materials from common plug materials that affect the sound. The reason that the plugs for Shunyata's molded series of power cords is clear is that many dyes affect sound quality.

 

So why wouldn't a high end manufacturer use a higher end cord? Once you get into the Mcintosh prices, a couple of hundred dollars is not a deciding factor. So is every manufacturer naive or the cable companies so much smarter?

 

Maybe because the electrical engineers designing the gear are electrical engineers...?

 

I will agree completely with this, as Lee has already done a few posts ago.

The effects of power cords are cumulative and more noticeable as you improve multiple cords.

That's not to say that one cord will not make an improvement but that was also my reason for suggesting that the OP focus more on improving his equipment than cords as I expected his budget on this was going to be relatively minimal as it relates to the equipment he has (and I believe this to be even more true now as he has indeed clarified that).

In the end, DIY can achieve very good results at a modest cost. I use DH Labs Power Plus cables throughout my system-bulk cable can be purchased at $6 ft. These are terminated with Marinco male and IEC. Good quality connectors at a decent price. Total cost for a cord comes in around $70. I've had these cryogenically treated myself at an additional cost of maybe $10 a cord, so still around $80. I've compared these with commercial offerings that I've owned in the $250-$500 range, both cryoed and uncryoed, and found them to be the best for me, but that is certainly not to say they'll work for everyone.

My line conditioner(s) were purchased used around the $200 mark (they retailed around $1000 15 years ago) and I've modified those by replacing the existing receptacles with better quality units.

I also agree with those that suggest the connectors are at least as important as the cable. My next experiment with my existing power cables will be to replace the existing Marinco males with Oyaide males on two cords but those are pricey (around $100 each) so it has not been a priority recently. I would expect there to be an improvement but we shall see when the time comes.

 

I agree, they should. The audio company could partner with a high end cable company to get the PCs at a great price. Adding 10 odd % to the final cost wouldn't bother me if I was buying the component.

 

As several members noted, connectors are also crucial. A high quality IEC yields unmistakable sonic benefits.

 

It also has to do with choice, the consumer can select whichever cord they like, and what price point they choose.

 

EMI and RFI are the same thing.

 

From what I have gathered here, the pc should be the least thing to worry about until you have the right components, room and room treatments and interconnect/speaker wire. From all this pc's sounds like a big money grab to me. However, I will not judge too harshly until I try myself someday

 

So, I'm thinking about one of the Shunyata Venom 3 power cords to see if it has any sonic improvement on my system, but I have two questions:

1. Which component should I try it out on first, Power Amp, Receiver, or CD Player.
2. Is there any risk it could fry any of the above components?

 

You can measure EMI with a cheap Non contact Voltage sensor. $20 at Amazon.
It is like a little pen that beeps when it senses an EMI field. Ony for near A/C voltages frequencies, but it works like a charm.
Greenlee non contact voltage detector now $19.34 on Amazon

 

You have an amp and a receiver? I would try it on either of these that you use the most, and then try it on the CD player, and see which seems to have the best results. Different cords have yielded different results in these locations for me. In general I would say the amp if you're only going to do one, but I have a tubed system and I think it may be different with solid state.

I think you are free of risk of damage.

 

I say dedicated power line for your audio stack first. Then go with shielded power chords with quality plugs next and conditioners last, if at all. A less expensive combined conditioner and surge protection for digital sources and preamps. I don't like how most conditioners ruin dynamic qualities and transients of amps. If you have a lot of stray interference with your components or in your area, the power conditioners may become more essential.

 

I was under the impression that the FIRST thing to do is have "dedicated power" to your audio gear, preferably one line for analog and one for digital. That single improvement will cost under $500, last forever, and be more important than having Valhalla (etc) power cords and gold-plated "power conditioners."

Or perhaps everyone here has already done that step. In which case, I'll move right along. It's really hot here, so my mind is hazy.

 

I have dedicated circuits for my A/V gear.

 

+1

 

OP, if you really want to find out the answer to these and more questions:

1. Go find an Ohio audio club and make some audiophile friends who are getting significantly better sound than you.

2. Ask them how they are getting it.

3. Get to the point where they will bring gear over to test it in your system and see how it works before you buy anything, and only buy that which you cannot resist.

Easy as 1-2-3.

Don't theorize about that which you have never heard as being "a money grab" (and then follow it with "but I won't judge" ).

Show some commitment. Make an effort to go out and hear some equipment.

$700 in my opinion does not buy a good power conditioner. The most affordable model I can recommend as sounding good is an old Bybee/Curl Pro wood-bodied model, which usually sells for around 900. It is two conditioners in one, though, so it is still a higher value purchase than a single $600 conditioner that doesn't sound as good. Being two conditioners means you can split your analog and your digital, or your high current devices from your low current devices. Both are valuable.

But don't take my word for it. Go out and listen to something.

ccm

 

Ccm
Great advice but in fact for $500 you can get a Shunyata Hydra that is superb if only two outlets.

 

Duly noted, Lee. I'd like to hear that unit sometime. It seems to get around.

ccm

 

ccm I've been pretty impressed with Richard Gray Power products at around $600 - $700. Have you tried any?