[KeithA]

Just curious what various Bryston users here think of 'After-Market' power cords on their SST amps?

Does anybody find much difference? Or are most people genarally using the stock cord that comes with the amp. Now, I have an Eichmann on my 6B SST. I couldn't tell you if it makes a difference. I bought it when I got the amp. My rule of thumb was if you are going to spend $6,000 on an amp, may as well spend a few $$ on a power cord!

A buddy of mine is wanting me to try/buy these 'esoteric' $1,000 to $2,000 power cords on my amp. Needless, to say, I'm skeptical that the diffeence, if any, is that great. Anyone here have any experience  at this?

As well, James,what does Bryston use/ recommend when other vendors are using their amps in their demo systems? For example, at CES 2008, were the Bryston amps on demo all using stock power cords?

Keith

[James Tanner]

Hi Keith,

Generally at shows and in my demo systems I use stock power cords.

At some shows we may use more exotic power cords if we are sharing a demo room with a cable manufacturer or at a dealer show where the dealer is promoting a specific power cable.

james

[Phil A]

I make my own cables and power cords so it is not a big deal to me.  Most audiophiles can be better served by investing in the most overlooked component, the room itself.

[Sasha]

My experience was that power cables do make an audible difference, sometimes profound, with majority of the amps I had so far, but not so much with Bryston.
And I realized that I prefer Bryston stock power cords on Bryston amps over more expensive 'After-Market' ones I used on previous amps with good results. Sound is just more balanced and faster with stock cords. Those more expensive ones did not have price tag in thousands but hundreds, but still it was quite interesting.
I also prefer to have amps plugged into a good non-restricting power conditioner as opposed to directly to the outlet, this is where I hear big difference.
As far as pre-amp goes (also Bryston), jury is still out on that one, did not play much with cables on pre-amp but seems a relatively inexpensive power cord (~ 200.00) is preferred over stock.
If you are willing to spend 2K on power cable, have a look at Torus power conditioners, it is definitely money better spent.

[KeithA]

Sasha

Your response is exactly why I asked my query. I have some power cords that were hundreds of $$ (Audience, JPS Labs, etc). I've tried them on my Bryston gear and I don't see a difference. It may be there, but I can't hear it. Yet my buddy keeps professing to me of the 'huge' differences in cable upgrades in his system. Maybe it is in his system (which is pretty high end), but it doesn't seem to benefit me. I just wanted to see if other Bryston users were having the same results I seemed to be having.

Don't get me wrong, I would never spend $2,000 on a power cord. As far as the Torus stuff goes, I may go down that road eventually. I used to have the large PS Audio P1000 unit, but I sold it. It was just way too big for me.

Keith

[Sasha]

Keith,

Trust your ears, what you hear in your system and your room.
What is the point of spending $ on something that you do not benefit from? Your buddy may hear the difference in his system, you do not in yours. The reason for no difference does not have to be always “high end” versa “low end” system, your ears, or the room.
My system is relatively decent, amps are 7B SST driving PMC IB2, and my room is virtually flat from 200Hz up, no more then +/- 2dB. Yet I stayed with stock power cords for Bryston amps. Another amp in the same system/room changes the story, and I prefer “after-market” cords.
But I do not believe there is such a thing as power conditioner that is too big. Plenty of clean unrestricted AC is a must.

[KeithA]

Sasha

When I say too big, I mean physical size. At the time, where I needed to put the beast, it was too big phyisically. It was really deep and high, not like the modest sized Torus models. As a matter of fact, PS Audio has discontinued the P1000 style rig and is now going with a more space friendly model.

Keith

[Brown]

When the power supply such as the Brystons is done correctly powercords will make little or no difference. buy the Bryston upgraded cord and put the rest of the money in your room .



brown

[Sasha]

Brown,

What do you mean by "Bryston upgraded cord"?

[mclsound]

i am also curious,thanks
john

[phurbag]

when using DIY Power cords the results also clearly depend on the way the Live ? Line ? / Neutral are set through the power cords: could you tell me what is the good option when looking to the IEC sockets at the rear of amp (4BSST) and preamp (BP16) ?

Option 1:
      Earth

Live        Neutral

 
Option 2 :
      Earth

Neutral     Live

As far as i know the first option should be the good one.

Could you confirm this option ?

I checked the difference on the CD player but the socket is in rotated position (180 °). with this position the good option is indicated and is clearly :

Neutral              Live
          Earth

So it also corresponds to the previous first option.

Kind regards


   

[James Tanner]

Hi James;
 
Yes, 'option 1' is always correct, mandated by regulations.
 
cwr

[KeithA]

Funny, just to close the loop....

I am a skeptic when it comes to 'audiophile cables", whether it's power cables or ICs.

So, today I decided to put the stock Bryston cord back on the 6B after getting the responses to this thread earlier in the week. Like I said earlier, I've had an Eichmann Enhancing AC Power cord on the 6B since I bought it. I want the stock cord to sound as good as any other!

A while later I sat down to do a bit of reading and I tossed on some music (now with the stock cord). After about 30 second into some music (you gotta love Alison Krauss!), I thought "Something sounds different!" I don't know, it just sounded a little 'flatter', a bit of zip seemed to be gone. So then I started swapping back and forth between the Eichmann & the stock cord. The stock cord sounded great, it seemed. But then when I put the Eichmann on, it seemed to be a little more ....there? So the Eichmann is back in the system. I'm still a skeptic so one day when someone else is around I'll have them swap the cables for me (without me knowing which is which) and I'll see if I can tell what cable is in the amp.

My theory is that the Eichmann is a little different than most after market power cords in that it's really only copper like all other cords, but there's a bit of fractal math going on in the design of a 'filter', for lack of a better term, that sits in the middle of the cable. I plug straight into the wall. So, I suspect the cable is giving me a little bit of the same type of improvement a good rig like the Torus would give me.

I guess I just found it interesting that I was able to convince myself that it sounded a little better, the skeptic I am. If anyone ever gets the chance to try one of these somewhat 'inexpensive' cables on their Bryston, it may work for the better.

Keith

[niels]

Stock AC cord ??  I didnt get any with my B100. Bought it used from a Bryston dealer....I built my own.

[budt]

  A friend of mine had me try a super expensive one on my 4b sst as well as my bp26 and highend cdp. I couldn't hear any difference but they sure looked cool. If they were cheap I would buy them just for the looks alone 

[Stu Pitt]

I use a Shunyata Venom power cord with my B60.  I accidentally chafed the jacket on my stock cord while running it through the back of my wooden cabinet.  A local dealer sold me a demo Venom cord and allowed me to return it if I didn't like it.  The most noticeable difference to me is that it opens up the music.  By that I mean the music seems to flow better (kind of hard to describe), and the soundstage seems bigger.  The system also sounds quieter, but the chafing of the old cord's jacket could have let some interference in, so I can't definitively say the Venom cord is responsible for it.  I switched my CD player's stock cord and the Venom cord and the interference came back.  The sound was very similar to what I remember the original cord's to be.

The Venom cord uses a hospital grade plug which unarguably has a better connection into the wall socket.  If this is the sole reason for the better sound, I don't know.  Then again, as long as it sounds better I couldn't care less why, so long as it does.

Even if I paid full retail of about $100, the Venom cord would be worth it in my system and wallet.

[_andy_]

I trust that Bryston shipped me the 'perfect' ac cord with my 5500 dollar power amp....for that price i would expect their selection of ac cord to be perfectly matched to the unit & produce the best 'sound'. 

[rabpaul]

I trust that Bryston shipped me the 'perfect' ac cord

I live in Asia and I am very sure that the stock cable I got, that looks very much like the made in China cable that came along with my computer, can't possibly be the "perfect" cord. So I am using a DH Labs Power Plus cable and keeping to what Bryston say it made no difference changing this to a Shunyata Diamondback. I have no plans to try any other cable.

[_andy_]

I trust that Bryston shipped me the 'perfect' ac cord

I live in Asia and I am very sure that the stock cable I got, that looks very much like the made in China cable that came along with my computer, can't possibly be the "perfect" cord. So I am using a DH Labs Power Plus cable and keeping to what Bryston say it made no difference changing this to a Shunyata Diamondback. I have no plans to try any other cable.

....maybe they ship the 'perfect cords' to domestic clients only? The one that came with my 9B-SST is pretty thick compared to the el-cheapo pc power supply type & very pliable....i think it's the same that shipped with my RDC-7.1 pre/pro...both quite good  thick pliable ac cords.......oh and they sound great too.