Power Distribution?

[Redboy]

Well, @MikeyFresh's grounding thread got me thinking...

A simple reconfiguration of how I plug things in made such a difference in the noise levels in my system that I've been re-evaluating some of the more contentious aspects of this hobby; specifically AC power distribution and isolation (another topic for another thread), and my approach to them.

Now I'm not totally agnostic to the benefits of "better" power cables and wires, but I must admit to being a bit... cautious. I have sampled and heard what different flavors of interconnects and speaker wires can do for a system, so why not AC cables, too?

I'm sure there are gains to be had over the haphazard collection of cheaptastic generic power cables that feed my system via the big-ass isolation transformer that they're plugged into today. But I am leary of the high-buck voodoo magic stuff that's out there. There's got to be a middle ground of high value, high quality upgrades before the diminishing returns kick in big time, right?

Performance without audiophoolery, is what I'm looking for.

What to look for? What do you do in your system, and where would you like to go with this?

 

[fiddlefye]

Just rewiring the house made a huge difference here. Isolation transformers and such are next in line at some point. All I can say is that I'm glad there are intrepid souls with more backing than I have charting a course.

 

[MikeyFresh]

I admit to a sickness with power cord collecting, at some point over the years it got out of hand.

I've got various models from Kimber, Cardas, XLO, PS Audio, Element, Shunyata, ESP, Oyaide, Pangea, and maybe a few I'm forgetting. Some with C14 IEC, and some with C7 connectors.

I think like with most things there are very diminishing returns at some point, however in my big rig I use Shunyata power cords and they do really make a big difference.

So mark me down in the audiophoolery category for this one, at least in the main system.

For the thread topic title chosen by @Redboy I might add the duplex AC outlet itself as an item for discussion, anything from a $25 industrial/spec grade Hubbell or Leviton, to more esoteric versions by Furutech and Oyaide.

I have a dormant DIY power strip project in this area I'm going to have to resurrect.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

As has been previously discussed, getting any switching power supplies isolated helps.

Some folks also isolated any digital components from everything else? Haven't tried this one so can't comment.

Making sure that the system, in its entirety, is isolated from household motors (fridge, dishwasher, AC, heater, etc.) has to have a beneficial impact.

Then there are AC line ferrite goodies and other tweak stuff.

And we haven't even gotten to AC line cords.

 

[prime minister]

I hate to say it, but of all the cables I have messed with, a Soundstring power cord made the biggest difference. Add numerous Audiophile buzzwords.

 

[Redboy]

You guys have hit the nail on the head... This is exactly the kind of discussion I was hoping for!

Just rewiring the house made a huge difference here. Isolation transformers and such are next in line at some point. All I can say is that I'm glad there are intrepid souls with more backing than I have charting a course.

For argument's sake, let's say that we are talking here about anything within our power as a homeowner. Rewiring the whole house is certainly one of those things, though I would guess that your ultimate goal in doing so was not just to improve his stereo sound... correct, @fiddlefye?

Man, I do wish I could rewire this place, though!

I admit to a sickness with power cord collecting, at some point over the years it got out of hand.

I've got various models from Kimber, Cardas, XLO, PS Audio, Element, Shunyata, ESP, Oyaide, XLO, Pangea, and maybe a few I'm forgetting. Some with C14 IEC, and some with C7 connectors.

I think like with most things there are very diminishing returns at some point, however in my big rig I use Shunyata power cords and they do really make a big difference.

So mark me down in the audiophoolery category for this one, at least in the main system.

I'll give you a pass this time, if you'll share with us some of the things you've learned!

You strike me as someone who can see - or hear - through the bullshit. I'd appreciate your ears-on experience in helping the rest of figure out where those diminishing returns start kicking in!

 

[Redboy]

For the thread topic title chosen by @Redboy I might add the duplex AC outlet itself as an item for discussion, anything from a $25 industrial/spec grade Hubbell or Leviton, to more esoteric versions by Furutech and Oyaide.

Absolutely! I'm pretty sure a new AC outlet and a dedicated circuit would go a long way, here.

As has been previously discussed, getting any switching power supplies isolated helps.

Some folks also isolated any digital components from everything else? Haven't tried this one so can't comment.

Making sure that the system, in its entirety, is isolated from household motors (fridge, dishwasher, AC, heater, etc.) has to have a beneficial impact.

Then there are AC line ferrite goodies and other tweak stuff.

And we haven't even gotten to AC line cords.

Yup, I want to explore these points, and more!

 

[billfort]

I delved into this (separate circuits, distribution, the digital devil noise and even Sounstrings) here a while back when Partsconnexion had their little DIY distribution box kit on sale.

http://www.hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/ac-power-tweakery.2043/#post-37739

This all falls on the side of subtle, for me but absolutely worth pursuing in an 'icing on the the cake' perspective.

 

[Redboy]

Well shoot, @billfort... I hadn't seen that thread! You seem to be coming at this topic from a similar angle, though, and that's heartening. Appreciate you pointing to it.

 

[Redboy]

I question whether I should do this but it might shame me into action.

Here’s a peek behind the audio curtain. A snapshot in time. How the sausage is made...

Yeah, there’s room for improvement!

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

I question whether I should do this but it might shame me into action.

Here’s a peek behind the audio curtain. A snapshot in time. How the sausage is made...

Yeah, there’s room for improvement!

View attachment 3723

I see that, like me , you subscribe to "Chaos Theory" for cable management.

 

[Redboy]

I see that, like me , you subscribe to "Chaos Theory" for cable management.

LOL, as they say. Yep, nailed it!

 

[fiddlefye]

I question whether I should do this but it might shame me into action.

Here’s a peek behind the audio curtain. A snapshot in time. How the sausage is made...

Yeah, there’s room for improvement!

View attachment 3723

Similar fashionable look here as well!

 

[fiddlefye]

You guys have hit the nail on the head... This is exactly the kind of discussion I was hoping for!



For argument's sake, let's say that we are talking here about anything within our power as a homeowner. Rewiring the whole house is certainly one of those things, though I would guess that your ultimate goal in doing so was not just to improve his stereo sound... correct, @fiddlefye?

Man, I do wish I could rewire this place, though!



I'll give you a pass this time, if you'll share with us some of the things you've learned!

You strike me as someone who can see - or hear - through the bullshit. I'd appreciate your ears-on experience in helping the rest of figure out where those diminishing returns start kicking in!

Rewiring the house started out as a ploy to get the hydro company to turn the electricity company to turn the power back on after the lightning strike burned out some wiring on the 3rd floor. In the process we rethought the original haphazard layout and now have three panels in the place instead of just one. The audio gear is on its own circuit on the second floor with nothing more than lights and my computer running on it. The difference was pretty immediately apparent.

 

[MikeyFresh]

I'll give you a pass this time, if you'll share with us some of the things you've learned!

It seems that power cords, just like speaker cables or analog interconnects, or digital cables, are at least somewhat system dependent. They can and do sound different on different components, and so unfortunately there is no free lunch, you have to try them.

I was lucky when I did my major purchases (Shunyata Python Helix, Taipan, and Copperhead) that my local dealer had them for take home and try demo. That dealer now only does custom install, no more retail showroom, they operate from a loading dock/warehouse with a small office and nothing for demonstration. So it would be harder these days (for me anyway), I'm not sure there are any dealers left locally that would loan power cords to me, I doubt it.

At that time I also borrowed cords for various other brands, and none of them were bad performing in my system, in fact I later did buy some of the original "losers" in the shootout, most notably ESP, Harmonic Technology, and Cardas, for use elsewhere... The ESP Essence on my subs, the Cardas Twinlink on an LPS that powers my DSPeaker unit, and the Harmonic Technology AC-10 in my video system.

Probably the best overall value in my "collection" is sadly no longer available, manufactured by Element Cable of Grand Prairie TX, they closed their doors after about 12 years in 2015 I believe. Their ElementCord power cable was 10 gauge, Wattgate plug/IEC, cryo treated, and really an outstanding value. It powers the Noisetrapper power strip in my bedroom/desktop system. I should have bought more of them, they were practically giving it away at $59 for a 3 foot length (mine is 6 feet and I think it was $89).

So options abound at a ton of different price points, but you have to try them out.

One current no-brainer is the remaining stock of Cardas Twinlink offered by PartsConnexion with the newest Cardas 3455R plug and IEC, 11.5 gauge, at 50% off retail (was $250 but now $125 for 5 foot/1.5 meter). This is not to be confused with older versions of Twinlink, originally an 18 gauge cable intended for source components only, then updated to 15 gauge, and each of those used different connectors (Hubbell?) than the present offering.

The best no-frills cords I've seen date back to the good ole' days when you could call certain manufacturers and they would sell you their stock OEM Belden 12 gauge typically included with their amplifiers or power distributors for all of about $25. Dick Brown of BEL and the BEL 1001 Mk. II Class A amp fame (a Krell KSA-50 killer that hardly anyone's ever heard of), and the guy at Noisetrapper (now CablePro) were good sources for those.

You can still get something similar, the Mercury Magnetics Copper-Tone, a very cheap upgrade to the cheesy 18 gauge POS that comes in the box with most components. Available in both 12 and 14 gauge, this is about the cheapest power cord upgrade out there for those very averse to power cord audiophoolery. Available in any color you like, so long as it's red. Good quality/no-nonsense, in any length you want so long as it's either 6 or 10 foot.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Heavy guage Hospital Grade power cords are also an inexpensive but good alternative to the stick cords.

I use the shortest possible power cord and clamp a ferrite clamp close to where the power cord plugs into the amp.

 

[MikeyFresh]

absolutely worth pursuing in an 'icing on the the cake' perspective.

I couldn't have said it any better than that!

I nearly bought and built that very same PartsConnexion unit you did, instead I cobbled together all sorts of parts, including two aluminum power strip chassis made in Hong Kong.

I built one and gave it to my nephew, the other is an unfinished DIY project whose bin I will now unearth, time to finish that deal once and for all.

Here is the one I made for my nephew, with PS Audio Power port AC receptacles, Furutech IEC, and generic 12 gauge solid core wire:

 

[MikeyFresh]

Heavy guage Hospital Grade power cords are also an inexpensive but good alternative to the stick cords.

Yes and did I spot one of those in the @Redboy AC cord chaos?

The grey one, is that a so-called "Jellyfish" hospital grade cord?

 

[Redboy]

The grey one, is that a so-called "Jellyfish" hospital grade cord?

Yep, that's the best cable I've got in that mess!

 

[MikeyFresh]

A 2015 photo of my unfinished AC distributor, a now long dormant project (why do I do that, and how many other bins of unfinished shit am I likely to now unearth?).



I have the Furutech IEC and Alpha12 hook-up wire needed to complete this project stowed away in a bin somewhere, along with the above pictured chassis from Hong Kong, and 3 VooDoo Cable cryo treated Hubbell IG8300 AC receptacles.