Power Cord Shoot-Out: 16 Power Cords Reviewed

Here's one more to really stir the pot up:

Try the power cord shootout on a relatively high powered
amplifier instead of a headphone amp. Curious to see what
you come up with!

 

I think all of the major online dealers (ED, MD, AS, etc.) have a 30 day no questions asked return policy also.

 

TONEPUB, As some of the members know I am a Ph.D. Physicist. I actual did my Masters Thesis on measuring certain properties of single crystals of metals. Power cords are far far from being single crystals of metal. You are right that anytime you bend a piece of wire (a solid object) you produce a strain (a change in its dimensions) due to the stress (force per unit area) that you applied to bend it. The stress that you apply and the resulting strain are easily measured, HOWEVER, that does NOT, imply that there is any measurable on perceived sonic difference in the flow of the electronic signal (the 60 Hz AC sinewave that is traveling through the power cord to your gear) in the power cord. If we take a very detailed look at the power cord there are numerous small single crystal pieces of the metal held together by weaker electronic forces than those that bind the atoms in the single crystal together. The pattern of these single crystals in the wire are very random, no 1 mm length looks exactly the same as any other 1 mm length. The electrons that are responsible for the current flow are on the boundaries of the individual crystals. The flow of that sinewave AC signal does not mean that each and every conduction electron is moving up and down with the sinewave. Each individual electron goes through a very random path of collisions with other electrons and only moves a short distance from its neutral point. There is no electron that goes from one end of the cord to the other. It is the net results of all the random collisions that is seen as the current flow down the power cord when the driving voltage is applied (i.e. the gear is witched on when the power cord is plugged into the wall socket and the gear). Now, IMHO, while just about anything can effect the sound that you hear from your gear (including the mood that you are in when you are listening to your system) I think that it is very improbable that a simple bend in the power cord will effect the sound that you hear no matter how good the system given the very random nature of the crystals in the cord and the very random nature of the path that any given electron travels. I hope this helps you understand what really happens in a power cord.

 

Whew. That's a relief. I was worried that I'd have to connect the power cord up backwards to send them all back to the start.

 

Wow, thanks Tony for that simple to understand explanation. Those of us without degrees can be befuddled.

Michael Wolff products have made great play of their use of carbon in power cords; I haven't any idea of if that is something that can make a sonic difference or is just use of unusual materials for marketing purposes.
Anyone?
$1,000 per three foot power cord! Is carbon that expensive?

 

No.

 

Mark, Any idea what Michael Wolff is using the carbon for?

 

So why so pricey? Just a nice round number? I looked at the Michael Wolff site and was pleased to see a "Technical" link but was disappointed to see merely



"From the Scots Guide to Electronics: University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY
The above chart demonstrates why carbon is used in conjunction with precious metals in our products.

Carbon also performs a major role in dissipating RFI in the signal path."

That's it.

 

Mike, Thanks for the research on his website. Here is what is going on. Music signals are made up of a bunch of frequencies that go from below 20 Hz to about 20KHz. There is great debate how important the frequencies above 20KHz are to what we hear, IMHO they are important. Since the frequencies in a music signal span quite a range you would like all of the parts of the signal that have different frequencies to arrive at the same time, if not you will get what is called time delay smear and the music may not seem quiet a crisp and accurate as it should. What the graph says is that for copper wire the time delay of a signal becomes frequency dependent above 1 KHz where as for graphite (carbon) it remains rock solid. So using graphite in interconnects and speaker cable may help. I say may because the theories (or lack of theories) that people debate over in interconnects and speaker cables make doing power cables look like a walk in the park.

Now as to power cables, IMHO, I do not see why Michael Wolff is using graphite. There is only on frequency in power cables (60 Hz here, 50 Hz in other parts of the world), so who cares about group delays? In fact power conditioners and power regeneration units do all they can to eliminate any other frequencies in the power signal. As to the graphite helping to dissipate RFI, that may be, but on a power cable why not just use copper braiding to shield it from RFI.

 

Probably because it can be.

Do you really think *any* duplex outlet and plate costs $180 to produce? Do you think there's *real* R&D behind that?

 

Luke, It is obvious from your profile that you are just a little cynical. Here are some of the reasons that an "audiophile" grade outlet might cost $180:

1. They are made in very small quantity and thus the job shops that do them to the specs of the designers charge a premium for the small lot size - the corporation that I work for does this and has it done to them.

2. There actually is some R&D behind it and again they have to recover that cost over very few units.

3. There are audiophiles willing to pay that price.

 

Tony, from what I understand Michael is using carbon as an RF/UHF insulator. Some say it takes away, but others say it improves. I'm happy with PS Audio and haven't had the chance to hear for myself yet.

 

Thanks again Tony.

It's funny as I was just listening to my very boxy shaped speakers while flipping through the just arrived January Stereophile and noted a number of "driver time aligned" speakers advertised and wondered "can people actually hear a tweeter nonparallel to a mid-driver?". Fashion or reality?
Being cynical isn't especially satisfying but a person can be pushed into that frame of mind given the questionable claims made by some in hifi. But then again it's that way in other consumer products as well. So who wants to buy my skin replenishment cream?

 

Do a web search and look at the price of the Acrolink ends used on that cord, it will make you

The price of the cord I'm using now I'm told will be roughly $100 per foot becuase it "only" uses Oyaide M1 and F1 connectors that cost a mere $275 EACH at retail. So, on my ~$600 cord, the cable portion is only around $100, pretty reasonable if you ask me.

Also consider that this new Wolff cord is *at least* as good to my ears(though they have very different sound signatures) as the $1400 Virtual Dynamics Nite II I'm using on my source. So, again, equivalent levels of performance (but different sound) at less than half the cost.

I'm not 100% clear on how it works, but I believe it is some kind of treatment that the conductors go through in addition to being conductors themselves in the design (I'll check with Michael, I don't have all the facts and I'm sure I've got it wrong). For a while he worked with Grover and applied his carbon process to his cable and they had a joint product called the Empress IIRC. Other companies (like Van Den Hul) also use Carbon in their design, and I've noticed reviewers of cables with carbon conductors always seem to describe the same thing, namely how smooth and refined and clean the sound is, which is what the Wolff brings to the table as well.

 

Aren't standard resistors used in today's electronics called "carbon resistors"? Wouldn't a carbon-based AC cord be more resistive than an equivalent one made of copper? This should cause the outlet to have to deliver more total current to the plug.

Anyone pull out their trusty DMM and ohm it out?

 

PS Audio is what I use too Dave, I also use their power regeneration plants. I am waiting for my new Premier to finally get super clean power to my monoblocks (too much demand for my P300 that handles the power for the front end of my system). When I get it I will post a thread about my impressions.

 

Kevin, I do not think they are using it as the actual conductor but as part of the bundle of conductors and insulators.

 

Mike, My issue has not arrived yet so I have not seen the add yet. Time alignment has been in and out of popularity for many years. It really comes down to how do human beings actually hear, and that is a ver complex subject that IMHO is still being explored.

 

I haven't quite got to where you are at Tony, but I'm mighty happy with just the xStream "Plus" PC and look forward to being able to upgrade to the "Statement".

Look forward to your reveiw.

 

Black Sand Violet DELUXE First Impressions
From the sublime (Wolff) to the ridiculous (Violet Deluxe).

Today I got my package from Canada with my Premium Deluxe model Violet. This cord has the standard Violet cable but with very expensive ($200 per pair) Oyaide 046 series connectors. These are palladium over gold. It's not called the "Deluxe", but for my purposes, that's what I'll call it to distinguish it from the base model.

They are orange in color, so in combination with the pale violet color of the cord, let's just say, it's not the prettiest cord on the block, but it will spend it's life behind your rack out of site, so who cares? :3000smile






The first CD I fired up was Porcupine Tree's Deadwing, an album I don't know that well except that it's well recorded. The first track starts out low and has lots of little electronic sounds happening when suddenly it bursts in at full volume with drums and guitars. Well, the top of my head must have hit the ceiling when that happened. I almost jumped out of my skin!

The sheer dynamics on this cable are borderline *outrageous*, almost overwhelming. Sounds leap out and sock you in the jaw. Drums have amazing pop and thump. Low bass is a subatomic explosive rumble. Dynamic range at both ends of the spectrum are extended 100 yards beyond the range of human hearing. Soundstage is colossal in scale, swarming around you and enveloping you.

My impression of the original Violet was that it was already a hyper-conductive cord; adding these Oyaide connectors takes that 3 or 4 steps further. I swear this cord makes everything sound 3-4 db louder, it lets so much through you'll need to turn your gear down a couple notches to compensate.

I think this Deluxe version is perfect for the active listener who likes to participate in the music, whether that's boogieing naked in your living room, playing air drums and guitar, or simply nodding your head or tapping your foot. If you love electric guitars with lots of balls and crunch, look no further. If you value CLARITY and ruthlessly REVEALING gear, look no further. This is your Mecca.

With 6 hours of burn-in the cord is still a bit toppy for my taste, but this was true of the original Violet which normalized at around the 150 hour mark. Still, this cord is so completely absurdly extreme, it boggles my mind. No one (who is honest) who listens to this cord can credibly say that aftermarket power cords do nothing. If you can't hear this difference, you are deaf as a post.


If you liked the original Violet (and I know there are now many many happy owners), the Deluxe model is all that but on steroids-- not just squared performance, but cubed. It's super-intense and alive.

In short, this cord KICKS ***. Yes, it's "off the hook", but it may even be off the *charts*.

But is it too much? Depends on the listener and the system and the kind of music you favor. The question for me is, will everything else sound too tame and reserved after I switch back?

In any case, right now I'm pretty sure for me there's not going to be any one clear "winner". I've discovered 3 top-notch cords (VD, Wolff, Black Sand) that all do what they do supremely well, and satisfy every audio desire, yet sound quite different.

It's going to be a real hassle figuring out which to keep, and will require much A/B-ing (oh joy ). Well, that's certainly a much better dilemma to be in than I was when I started years ago sorting through so many unsatisfactory cords.

 

I use the xStream Plus too, and while I have never tried the Statement my advice is save your money for the Premier Power Regeneration Plant, I am sure PS Audio will tell you the same thing, The PPRP will make a much bigger difference than the Statement.

 

FWIW, having been through all these cords, I think you guys could do A LOT better than the PS Audio stuff. If you like the basic tome of the PS Audio cords, take a look at the Virtual Dynamics stuff. Similar sonic signature (but better) without the sluggishness of the PS Audio stuff. For me, despite their cool looks, the PS Audio cords are still near the bottom of everything I've heard.

 

I have the Violet cords based on Mark's shootout. I ordered them with the Oyaide 079 connectors. They are fabulous. The 079 connectors give a more mid hall presentation compared to the 046 connectors. They are a tad bit warmer sounding. According to John at Blacksand the 079s handle bass better than the 046s which probably explains the warmth.

 

Morning Gents,

I don't normally post in these threads but I thought I would pop in and cover off a few things.

I have a fair number of people running the Violet Z1 with various Oyaide connectors and from all accounts most report that the 046 is an "In your face" termination for lack of a better saying. As in a very forward presentation where as the 079 is a little more laid back. The F1/M1 combo seems to offer the best of both worlds but given the cost (for just the terminations) it’s out of reach for most folks…..including me and I build the darn cords!

If you have an accurate or forward system now, In all honesty the 046 or the iAG Silvers from Wattgate may be too much of a good thing and the 079 or even the stock Violet Z1 would be a better way to go.

At the end of the day everyone’s mileage may very as all of this is very system dependant. Try a few cords and see what works best in your own system. There are a lot of good cords out there to be had.

On a final note, if any of you decide to go with a power cord that uses Oyaide whether it be one of mine or someone else’s, make sure they are in fact an authorized dealer. There are Oyaide counterfeits all over the internet and on Audiogon at the moment and it’s tough to spot the differences……….but they are huge!

http://www.lotusgroupusa.com/Dealers.htm If you don’t see the name of the company you are getting your cord from on that list, you run the risk of getting ripped off!