Power Cords

ricred1 > I listened for a couple hours, changing the power cords a couple of times.
> After inserting the Sigma's I just don't understand how anyone that listened to different power cords could conclude that they can't hear a difference.
> Would spending $6K or just changing amplifiers yield similar results?
> is there a power cord out there that has the benefits of the Sigma's and Wireworld Silver Electra's?


Blindjim > Hi. Sigmas. Very cool.

I have 2 questions..
What made you feel the Sigmas were the answer for your apparently desired performance gains?

… and why put them onto only the amps?

Wires and tubes will often hide what they are reallly all about upon first listen. Both need several hours of play before they begin to completely unfurl. This is of course once they have been settled into the arrangement for some time.

I’m thinking this is why so many wire makers and cable lenders offer a minimum of ten days to as much as 60 for in home auditions.

If wires were more readily able to perform, I’d think the time frames would be far far less extensive. Right?

I doubt seriously you had the Shunyata PCs in the rig long enough to fully hear what they can do if only a couple hours of intermittent play was the case.

My EXP with Shunyata is definitely not the last word at all, but as with most any highly resolving cables, inserting one, and extracting it, and reinserting it again a bit later on and so forth is not really giving it/them a real shot at revealing their actual influences.

Put ‘em in. leave ‘em lay. Listen lightly the first 24 hours, then get more picky about their performance over the next few days. I’d not be confident giving any appraisals before any PC had been sitting in the rig for a week or so. Other questions could be like, Brand New PCs? Well used? The latter situation would be able to more quickly aid your decision making, if it was allowed to lay up in there undisturbed for a goodly while..

I bought IEC to NEMA adapters so I could keep PCs energized and well warmed up, usually stuck on the refrigerator or a fan.

Still bending and twisting it about caused it to require being left alone in the system for at least a day.

I always took notes when I compared cables.


. … how can’t one hear a diff and ignore it?
Indeed. It has always amazed me and I can only surmise folks haven’t fully allowed the cable to get well settled in, or never actually heard it once it was. Its mystifying.

> $6K on wires, or new amp?
Hmmm. A big recurring quandary.
Assuming these Sigmas do get fully integrated into the rig and let run a more adequate time frame so a more educated account can be made, I’d opt for a new amp. Lol sorry. 6K is six freakin thousand frogskins man! Wow.

Well, not really. If I loved what the amp and system were already doing, and the after PC results improved upon it in areas I truly enjoyed… I’d be forced to do the $6K PC dance.

However… there is another solution you alluded to. Try different pcs.

Talking with Shunyata recently on this series of power cords (and I would advise you to do the same thing) a point was made that two Alphas could well be the better option than doing one sigma… or for you, two sigmas. Possibly.

Shunyata feels as do I, putting a high performing cable on either end of the rig is another way to audio heaven.

Here is where everything gets really hariy. Which PC will be next?

My EXP says, call whomever. Talk to them explaingin what you seek and or just ask what this or that model usually provides as its normal attributes.

Probably not the most insightful or original theory but its better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick… and has helped me in the past. Some.

One last thing I’ll input, many cables, power or ICs do well from mid bass up. Gaining improvements way down the bandwidth is not so common. Each Shunyata pc I’ve tried thru the years has shown itself quite adept at improving things in the bass… and extending things up top.

It did not take using the top tier Shunyata pc everytime to satisfy either.

Nor did adding in a great pc just on an amp (s) alone, always yielf the desired or best results. Ty putting a Sigma onto the source.

Very good luck in your journey.

ricred1 > Out of all of my cables, my humble opinion is my power cords are the weak link.

>> I want to tweak my system


Blindjim > definitely. Fairly well understood. I feel PCs are where it all gets defined. Saying one should begin there is sort of arbitrary input as many outfits are likely far from being set, as you say your’s is now. Good.

The caveat which looms over the process going forward is that different PCs being injected into the rig will produce new changes in the audio presentation, so one should as well be prepared to at least consider. Changing other wires could be required to get the blend ‘just right’, or more audiophiliac correct, ‘optomized’..

As for a long weekend of trials, I’m not keen on that idea especially given two facts as has been said here by more than me, cords take time once input into the affair, and secondly, the costs. Not for nothing, but even with a little discount which should be in order on that size of a ticket, its too brief a period to make a decision given the amounts or for the wires to really bloom.

That’s not a knock on shunyata. Its my EXP with literally a dozen or more Pcs from various brands and their various models. My ‘left over’ sort of keeper PCs are from five different brands, and two or three models in a couple of them.

Consequently I’m not much of a ‘fan boy’ on anything. If it performs to my satisfaction or better said, as it should I buy it if possible. No regrets.

Its why I’ve not said much as to what this or that PC brings to the table. I found bringing back in formerly enjoyed PCs into a somewhat new rig were not quite the fit they once were in a previous system.

3 days is just truly not fair to you, or the dealer.

I definitely do not have a dog in this hunt. Whatever works for you is gonna be based on a proper trial, and your own budget and preffs. Period.

I’d forget about any subjective accounts from others who do have a dog on the trail when they’re speaking on other or former bgrands. I’ve sat next to other’s listening to the exact same system and recording and thereafter heard them say things about the presentation that were extordinary. A gulf of disparity lay between what they said was heard and what I experienced, at times. Although, there is or was usually one person who was hearing something thin or strident or as is most often reported, bright sounding.

There’s no accounting for ears, or telling them they’re quite wrong. Big mistake. lol

Results, not brands, or popularity floats my boat.

As you sure appear to be dedicated on doing the right thing here eyeing $6K just in wires, I’d suggest before you begin your sojourn into the PC wrestling ring you get:
1. note book or voice recorder.
2. IEC to NEMA (male to female) adapters $3 to $15 ea. Go cheap here.
3. IEC to NEMA (male to female) adapters get the cryo type here
4. male IEC to twin Female NEMA adapter
5. Either make or pick out your fav auditioning playlist. Hope you love it, ‘cause you’re gonna memorize the thing eventually. Probably get sick of hearing it too. But its due diligence, or so I understand.

Figure out a number system you like, being incredibly anal I went with 1 – 10 including decimal points.

Outline the categories that appeal to you to assign points to.
The biggest one on my lists is always ‘naturalness’. Organic. Alive. Wet.

The idea is to be consistent account each cable the same way in which ever areas.

I’ve listed tons of reviews on these pages in the past and the fun part stops faster than one would think. its indeed a job. The results however are well worth the doing..

These IEC adapters prolong the system life by cooking the pc outside of it on a home appliance instead. Freezer and refrigerators are best IMO. Fans are good too. If ya gotta use low power stuff like modems, pcs, clock radios, get a multi NEMA plug and put all three into that one demo PC.

Plug everything in and forget about it or them for 10 days or so, more if brand new, a week if used. Then insert into system.

Put the extracted {PC onto the adapter and appliance you just used for the latest contestant.

After several days of system play, run that ‘playlist’ and begin taking notes and be critical. Objectively critical. Not harsh though.
Save the notes.

When it is all said and done, you’ll pick a lot more winners this way than any other way I’ve yet to find.

I would begin with that PLC you like. Although I looked for your arrangement, I could not find what all was in it so I’m unsure of what your PLC feeds.

An undeniable truth is that a power cord, no matter where it is set, shows its ‘voice’ throughout the affair. One PC on a PLC that feed the entire system can be the beginning point and possibly its ending point too as its immediate authority will be widespread.

If I want only one area to improve if possible, and I like what is going on there another method which in fact does work is to stick two PCs together using one of those fancy ‘cryo’ adapters you already bought.

Yeah. Its not in the ‘audiophilia nervosa ‘break glass in case of emergency pamphlet but by golly it works reall well. Exact same conversation as connecting a PC to a PLC. Scant little diffs. This also helps out with at times a loved but too short PC in some areas.

Look at either end of your audio setup initially. Sources and amps seem to be where the money should go or where one ought to launch the pilgrimage.

Preamps? Not so much, but they do like a decent PC on them, and I’m talking $5 to $11K line stage preamps I’ve had or have. Maybe less expensive ones need better PCs. Dunno.

My Integra and Onkyo HT procs and receiver seem to like upscale PCs more so, responding much better with them than did the upscale preamps. RWV.

If a maker or seller can’t or won’t allow for a qualified demo period, there’s the Cable Co.. I’ve used it to great effect over the years. It used to be that they would keep your rental fees on tap. You could later cash them in on whatever they sold. Dunno if this is still a feature set or not.

The very best part of all this?

Once you’re done with PCs, you can do the same thing with isolation gear, room treatments, and racks or stands. If necessary.

It would be outstanding if you continued posting your trials and tribulations as you roll down PC boulevard.

All the best….

Thanks G. Too kind. I guess even a blind acorn will eventually find a squrrel . Although I've done the stringing biz, you are the one who said it.


When I hear something briefly the usual suspects are extension and how close or far apart from naturalness it sounds.

If the sound is sufficiently enticing I’ll be more attentive.

To test drive a new car I wanna buy I’m gonna want to do more than lolly gag around the parking lot, or circle the block with it.

Almost 100% of the time, a second or even third test drive over different roads or at higher speeds, will show me something new, very likely.

I’ve yet to meet the newly introduced system component that never chages its voice after the first day of operation.

Its like dating in some respects.

Perfect behavior on date one. More relaxed on Date two and a tad more familiar. By the tenth date, all bets are off and farting is allowed. Could be sooner than the tenth date, depends on if your’re dating a relative or not. Its best here to think ‘royalty’ not ‘red necks’. But whatever works for ya.

Yeah Rick, its all about what you enjoy. Always. I can’t see it another way actually.

Wires are components, and they are gonna change thru the course of several weeks as to how they sound. Unquestionably.

The only things I’ve found which do not seem to change at all are Isolation gear and room treatments. Neither of which passes electricity oddly enough.

Having the errant and quite annoying desire to buy speakers brand new when able, I can truthfully say if at all possible, DON’T DO THAT!!!! Ever! Lol

Some were very nice out of the box. Then demons infested them. Several weeks or months of prayer and fasting exorcised the demons and the speakers finally atoned for their sinful and sinfilled manners.

Read G’s accounts of his former amps and or speakers, or my own likewise reviews, or those who admit those items are not world class immediately upon connection.

I feel better now. An advisement has been made about the metamorphisis things passing AC DC or low voltage signals will ALL undergo.

The hot soundihng new prospect might be hot at first, until you later find out it was all foundation garments and spanks.

We gotta wait till the make up and well, whatever else comes off before handing them a ring, or kicking them to the curb.

Remember, merely stringing two different PCs together with a nice adapter will decidedly incorporate the attributes of both PCs into the mix. Guaranteed. It also saves from buying a custom quite lengthy and certainly pricey cord as well. Perhaps.

Looking forward to your notes and a satisfying quest.

Why not list your system in this post?

about any particular PC being less than or greater than...

Regardless of what anyone says about anything, their account is a subjective one. based on a particular set of parameters, or system goods and their preffs or EXP.s in all, however it is one person’s take on whatever.

I’ll not defend any cable maker’s products being best ever or better than, but for it to be better said, the attributes which were precieved in the context of a this & that outfit to my ears was… yada yada yada, and as such I preferred this xyz over the abc.

IMHO to flatly say Shunyata power cords were aimed at the mids and top ends of the bandwidth as to their best attributes is absurd. This is again, IMO and subjective.

With various pieces of equipment, in various system arrangements, most of the Shynyata PCs I used provided substantial bottom end performance, extended the top end noticeably and migrated the soundstage depending on which model was employed. The higher priced versions did more all around than did the lower priced iterations. Go figure.

Its tuff enough around here to surpass the subjectivity angle of a poster’s comments, but to deal with decided or implied bias adds undue complication.

Almost across the board of audio devices and accessories, things are priced as to their performance levels. Some are easier to validate than others as to their value and or worthiness.

My EXP alone says to me price of a thing fairly regularly indicates increased or decreased performance levels when similar items are in play. Again, indicates, but not necessarily equates.

The rut this next pearl of wisdom has scored is deep and lengthy….

“ya gotta try it for your self!”

And this one parallels the former….

‘if ya can hear a positive difference and can afford to gbuy it,, then do so!”

I wish it was easier. It ain’t. its pretty darn simple though.

Everybody is trying to make a better mousetrap. Be the mouse and find out if what they make actually traps you into buying it. Hopefully, it will be a very nice trap and you will enjoy it for a long time.

… or until you get hungry for another taste of peanut butter.

Sorry, many rhodents are apparently lactose intolerant and have altered their diets accordingly.