Power cord length

zybar · « **on:** 24 Aug 2004, 12:39 pm »

Silly question alert...

Most people say that with speaker cable you want equal lengths to both speakers, does the same apply to power cords when you have mono blocks?

In my current setup, if I had one power cord stay at 6' and had the other at say 8-9', I could position my preamp better and possibly shorten some ic's in length.

Just wondering what people think or have heard.

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 02:59 pm »

Silly answer alert...

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 03:13 pm »

I think the absolute purists will say go same length but I really think it doesn't matter as Wolfy said.

John Casler · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 03:19 pm »

Equal lengths of cable and IC's are only important when a signal is present that could be affected by the timing difference between significant length differences.

So since power cords carry no signal, the lengths are not relevant to any "affect" due to their length.

But being a "LIBRA", I would get them the same length because I like things balanced

I might also mention that Shorter is better, only because of the RFI/EMI radiation/reception and shorter lengths "may" reduce this and the need for sheilding or wiring configuration (Litz type). For others who beleive in other types of molecular distortion, skin distortions, shorter would too seem to be better.

ctviggen · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:13 pm »

What I want to know is how power cables supposedly affect the sound. While I've purchased fancier power cables, I've not done a comparison with/without the power cable. How does changing a power cable affect the sound that comes out of the component?

zybar · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:17 pm »

Bob,

Come back over and I will do a double blind test that will blow your mind.

Let's put it this way, my wife could hear the difference and pick which the fancy pc (VH Audio Flavor 4 with gold option) vs stock cord.

I admit that I have had some cords in my system that didn't really any different than a stock cord. I have had other cords that actually made things worse.

Like everything, pc's are component and system dependant.

George

JoshK · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:22 pm »

I believe there are well designed well made power cords that make a big difference and then there is everything else. Quite often designer cords don't fit into the first category. I believe the VH cords do fit into the first category because I use his recipe and I have gone through lots of cords. I also think a lot of designer cords play tricks on your ears but over time you start to realize, that is if you retest the swap out.

zybar · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:24 pm »

Quote from: JoshK

I believe there are well designed well made power cords that make a big difference and then there is everything else. Quite often designer cords don't fit into the first category. I believe the VH cords do fit into the first category because I use his recipe and I have gone through lots of cords. I also think a lot of designer cords play tricks on your ears but over time you start to realize, that is if you retest the swap out.

Well said Josh.

I couldn't agree more.

Maybe one of these days I will need to build things myself and save a pile of money.

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:29 pm »

Quote from: zybar

Bob,

Come back over and I will do a double blind test that will blow your mind.

Let's put it this way, my wife could hear the difference and pick which the fancy pc (VH Audio Flavor 4 with gold option) vs stock cord.

I admit that I have had some cords in my system that didn't really any different than a stock cord. I have had other cords that actually made things worse.

Like everything, pc's are component and system dependant.

George

Hey George,

JoshK · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:34 pm »

PCs are suprisingly easy to make, imo, but the @&%# connectors cost so darn much. ICs are trickier, but Chris VH's recipe on silver ICs has worked great for me and a little bit of testing.

zybar · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:36 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Quote from: zybar
Bob,

Come back over and I will do a double blind test that will blow your mind.

Let's put it this way, my wife could hear the difference and pick which the fancy pc (VH Audio Flavor 4 with gold option) vs stock cord.

I admit that I have had some cords in my system that didn't really any different than a stock cord. I have had other cords that actually made things worse.

Like everything, pc's are component and system dependant.

George
Hey George,
While your swapping ...

Ok Chris.

On my stock ECD-1 the best cord was the Argent Audio Brujo.

Since I use my VH Audio pc's on the 201's, I have the following to try on the dac:

Argent Audio Brujo
Sonoran Lightning (Plateau series)
BPT L-9
DIY Cable Asylum (haven't tried this one yet)

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:38 pm »

Quote from: zybar

Ok Chris.

On my stock ECD-1 the best cord was the Argent Audio Brujo.

Since I use my VH Audio pc's on the 201's, I have the following to try on the dac:

Argent Audio Brujo
Sonoran Lightning (Plateau series)
BPT L-9
DIY Cable Asylum (haven't tried this one yet)

George

Thanks George !!

Carlman · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:43 pm »

I would wager the Volex $8 power cord is about the best bang for the buck out there. I have made a couple of VH flavor PC's and they're fine also... I've made Ernie's recipe also.. the 83802 Belden... all of it has some pro's and cons.

Describing the character of the sound makes it sound like these cords make an audible difference. However, I would bet it's an indirect relationship. I think power cords present current to some device inside the component that reacts differently. So what we hear is the reaction of the internal device to the different delivery method.

I'd like to know what I'm hearing. Why would one cable seem to emphasize midrange and another create a more balanced sound? Why does the stock PC on an IRD Purist sound better than a VenHaus cable?

Anyway, I don't think the length of your cable matters, just how you use it.

(Somebody had to say it.)

zybar · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: Carlman

I would wager the Volex $8 power cord is about the best bang for the buck out there. I have made a couple of VH flavor PC's and they're fine also... I've made Ernie's recipe also.. the 83802 Belden... all of it has some pro's and cons.

Describing the character of the sound makes it sound like these cords make an audible difference. However, I would bet it's an indirect relationship. I think power cords present current to some device inside the component that reacts differently. So what we hear is t ...

Which VH Audio cords did you make?

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 05:48 pm »

Quote

Anyway, I don't think the length of your cable matters, just how you use it. (Somebody had to say it.)

Glad you said it Carl....I skipped that part in my first post.....

djbnh · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 07:22 pm »

Regarding PCs, the Chris VenHaus cords make unsubtle improvements in my modest system, with my components. I first used uncryoed VH PCs. Later on I sent them back for the cryo process and heard additional improvements. They are all the same length, and I have no opinion if that matters. Anyway, I use:

1) a cryoed Flavor 1 PC for my Jolida JD-100;

2) a cryoed Flavor 2 PC for my Odyssey Tempest; and

3) a cryoed Flavor 2 PC for my Odyssey Stratos.

So, I definitely can vote "yes" that PCs do make a large difference, at least in my system.

Carlman · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 07:24 pm »

Quote from: zybar

Which VH Audio cords did you make?

George

I think it's Flavor 2? It's the one where the ground is connected on both ends... using Belden ?

EDIT... my bad...

The more I think about it, the cords I'm thinking of might not be Ven Haus... I'm getting Ernie's cords and Ven Haus' mixed up with some other cords...

Very sorry... I DO have the 83802 Belden cable on some cords and they're very good. I have some others that are cryo'd but I can't remember the wire type now... but it's not the teflon-coated 83000 series.

-C

ctviggen · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Aug 2004, 07:55 pm »

Well, I have some power cords I could try, but my system absolutely sucks to do these types of comparisons. If I want to change the power cord on my Jeff Rowland, for instance, I have to take out the VCR, CD player, and 5-channel amp, put the new cord on, and put everything back together. So, I'd have to do a test over George's or somewhere where it's easier to do. I have added power cords, but I changed too many variables at one time. I'm going to send all of my cords (power, speaker cable, and interconnects) to get cryoed one of these days.

ieales · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Aug 2004, 08:56 pm »

She blinded me with SCIENCE!

- Power cords are connectors, they mate with another piece of metal.

- metal to metal contacts always have some interaction, from almost none to almost a diode.

- metals outgass. An unbelievable amount of crud can accumulte on a connector from manufacturing processes.

- metals corrode over time, more so in damp, humid or smoggy areas.

- wires are antennae and are tuned to varying frequencies. A 6 foot power cord is connected to 100's of feet of Romex in your abode and then to MILES of cable to the DWP, all grabbing crud from the air.

The point :
Depending on which of the above are prevalent in your system, YMMV when swapping cords. Be aware there maybe some transient corruption that terminates exactly when you swap the cord : A pool pump, some lamps types, dimmers, etc. all generate crud. Make sure the effect of swapping the power cord is not transitory, here today, gone to Maui.

Suggestions:
Regularly [more often in smeLA, Houston, Milan] unplug and plug power cables both from the wall and the unit to remove corrosion and outgas crud. Ditto for interconnects. Don't overdo it and remove the plating!

Always plug / replug several times before auditioning any new cable, power cord or interconnect to clean the mating surfaces.

djbnh · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Aug 2004, 03:55 am »

After I burned in my PCs and had them for a while, I cleaned them with Caig Deoxit. Then I treated all my PC plugs to the outlets, and the IEC prongs (along with all my RCA connectors/connections), with Walker SST. I haven't heard anything but improved sound since I've applied the SST, and that was some months ago.

This is what works amazingly well in my system, with my components. I note I have not heard any decrease in sound quality since the SST was applied, and thus have not had to subsequently do any plugging or unplugging to clean any connectors. However, if someone who uses the SST agrees or disagrees with my findingins with my components, I'd recommend taking it up with the learned and established Mr. Walker. Additionally, you might want to contact 6moons.com, who gave Walker SST one of its Blue Moon awards. Of course, if someone finds this information valuable and in thanks wants to donate to me a Walker Proscenium Gold Signature Turntable, or a couple of Walker VELOCITOR Power Line Enhancers, or some Walker Valid Points, I'd be happy to accept!

Happy listening.