Nice power cords on Ebay - initial review

[dragon1952]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

$38 plus $20 shipping from Hong Kong. About 5ft long and made with 10ga 6N's copper. Even though the ad mentions shielding I emailed the guy and this one's not although some of their's are. He probably just used the same wording and forgot to omit that part. I prefer no shielding which is why I asked. Very big around but still flexible. I needed a longer PC since I moved my amp to the top of the rack and wanted to try a 10ga this time. My old one was 13ga. I remember comparing mine to the DH Labs that was in the cable swap program a while back and found that even though the DH Labs had more pronounced bass, the top end of my 13ga Zu cable sounded more airy and I seemed to prefer that over the added bass. After some time goes by though you wonder if you really did hear a difference. It's like, come on now Rob, can a PC really make a difference in the sound? Well I plugged this one in to my integrated and BAM!, bass in spades, even moreso than the DH Labs if I'm remembering correctly. The bass, amazingly, sounds several decibels stronger than the Zu cable. It's also very evident that the mids and highs sound 'different' also, but I haven't listened enough yet to determine a preference, and of course it's not even burned in yet so it's probably a little premature. Anyway, at least it proves to me again that PC's certainly do make a difference (in my system anyway) and it's not subtle at all....it's huge.
Now why did I buy this one instead of say a Signal Magic, which is also 10ga? For one, this is 6N's OFC copper which is about the best there is. The Signal Magic, per Frank, is 4N's. Also, for the same length the SC would have been about $74 vs $58 and since I was thinking of buying 2 that's enough of a price incentive even without considering the better copper. Originally I would have thought the copper purity issue to be mostly hype but after doing some reading it sounds like the purity actually does make quite a difference in the audio world. Anyway, if you're looking for a nice PC you might want to check this out.

[janmike]

Have yopu tried the PC in other devices? Just wondering if you noticed a difference in a sub, CDP, PWR Amp...
Thanks, looks interesting.

[F1nut]

Just curious, but why do you prefer non-shielded power cords?

[janmike]

Ah, what the hell. I bit.

[george daniel]

me too

[dragon1952]

Just curious, but why do you prefer non-shielded power cords?

Mainly because they are way more flexible and, if I understand what I've read since current does travel on the shielding, they have less capacitance than a shielded cable and also less break in time. I only have two components to worry about, my integrated and CDP, so it's easy to keep cables well separated. Besides power cables usually have a twisted cable design that inhibits RFI/EFI to a certain degree.
BTW, I liked the first one enough to order another one. I think you guys will really like these. I saw that they were all sold and thought I recognized your names :) One thing I definitely like is the snug fitting IEC's.

Yes, I did swap the cord over to my CDP and did notice a smaller difference but the difference in the tube integrated was way more obvious. Nevertheless, I wanted to see what effect the two would have together so I got one for the CDP also. I've already got my old ones sold. ;) I would certainly expect to see a difference in a sub, especially if you're using a stock cord now. It's all system dependant however so YMMV. In my system it's obvious.

[nadams]

If I use one of those to plug into my computer, will it make it go faster?

[F1nut]

Fair enough. I'm just tickled that you've found PC's can make a difference.

[dragon1952]

Fair enough. I'm just tickled that you've found PC's can make a difference.

It's really a hard one to figure. At one time I made jokes about others. It amazes me that companies spend all this time designing a kick-ass component and then bastardize the potential performance by using an inferior PC.

[dragon1952]

If I use one of those to plug into my computer, will it make it go faster?

F@#king-A right ;) In fact if you hook one up to your vacuum cleaner it'll clean your whole house while you're asleep and have breakfast ready for you in the morning.

[nadams]

Probably only if I'm overclocking, though... right?

[F1nut]

It's really a hard one to figure. At one time I made jokes about others. It amazes me that companies spend all this time designing a kick-ass component and then bastardize the potential performance by using an inferior PC.

That's why the audio gods created IEC's. :)

[dragon1952]

That's why the audio gods created IEC's. :)

LOL! Oh yeah...I forgot:D

BTW, which came first the IEC or the detachable power cord? ;)

[F1nut]

BTW, which came first the IEC or the detachable power cord? ;)

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[janmike]

The price looked right and I wanted to experiment a little. I have 2 other PW from Signal Cable and thought I would purchase this one for the sub and other equipment down the road. I will probably check it out on my AVR & SS Amp.