The best power cable should be put where it sounds the best. If YOU cannot hear any difference... Well, then who cares where? SO the ONLY place it can possibly go, is, after trying it all around, is to put it where it does the most to improve the sound of your system. Also, different cords do have more (or less) effectiveness in various places. So NO ONE ! can tell you in advance (not knowing your stuff nor what all power cords/conditioners/outlets you have) where a particular cord will help the most.Seriously!!! SO I reiterate, you HAVE to try it all over the place, to decide where it will be best, for you, in your system.Generally thick/heavy duty powercords go on amplifiers, or Power conditioners. But I find they are excellent on Preamps too. (and may even be great on a source) Hints: A NEW powercord I would always put on the power conditioner to break it in. First off that place it will be the least annoying, breaking in. Plus enough AC juice to break it in. If no conditioner, then on the amplifier to break it in. Even if it is for some other place.(Unless you are the refrigerator type, and own a adapter so you can turn your powercord into an extension cord. An IEC to Edison plug adapter can be had for $13 at VH Audio for certain, maybe other places too. It slips on the IEC end, and has a normal US type receptacle plug out. So it really turns a IEC end into a regular USA extension cord.
"That would be the DAC, as opposed to the transport"
Not necessarily -- in a full DCS stack the best place for the first power cord upgrade is on the clock ...
The obvious answer is where the influence of greater power stability will be most impactful but that also depends on how the power supplies themselves are designed.
Unfortunately you probably have to try but as a rule closer to source (i.e. in the original question that would be the transport actually) as any problems created there cannot be corrected downstream
John Rutan at Audioconnection recommends putting the best cable on the source- For me, my Ayre Codex DAC. I have some AQ Thunder due to arrive shortly. B
Some power cords work best on amps and some on sources gears. For example, when I put my finest power cord on my DAC or music server, it didn't sound as good as my other power cord that's made/designed for source gears.
Depends on equipment and cords. No definite general answer. Listen. I would start by putting the cord on the preamp first, then move upstream step by step. After that to power conditioner if you use one and then to power amps. Unless specifically designed for digital, transports and dacs, good heavy gauge cord should work well everywhere. Purist Dominus cord that I have works best everywhere ! I left it on the integrated unless making recording from vinyl to tape - then I put it on the phono stage. I record directly from phono, no tape-outs.
I have a Vitus integrated amp and separate CD player. The biggest effect was on the CD player. A huge difference on some power cords (Shunyata especially). On the amp the power cords had less effect, many had no effect at all. An improvement in the bass tautness was the main effect on the amp (again Shunyata was the most effective).
Assuming power cords make a difference and a typical system of power conditioner, signal source, pre and power amps there are 16 [2^4] combinations. Double for each additional component TT, CD, DAC, EQ, DSP, etc.
I have two types of AC Duplex. Furutech GTX-D gold, and NCF Rhodium. (2x) There are one of each to amp, and to conditioners. And own two conditioners, (2X) Each having both types of duplex in them. The second conditioner also has both balanced 60v60v power, and regular high current outlets(2x) Plus bypassing the conditioner as a possible way to connect. (2x)Then different types of powercords. I own three types. (3x) So each can be to any other combination.Aside from one amp, I use FOUR preamps, in various roles. Plus two TT, several disc spinners, and two DAC. (8x) And yet I have no problem finding which cord works best where, and it to which conditioner, and even if to any conditioner, and if to the Furman, via balanced power, or high current.This is a hobby, not a job. LOL
...first of all: EVERYTHING ( Electronics, interconnects and speaker cables, powercords) NEEDS SOLID BREAK-IN TIME. I do 300+ continuous hours before any serious listening. Find a dealer or friend who will let you experiment with different combos; vary your music greatly, and vary volumes you listen at. BE FORWARNED: THIS IS TIME CONSUMING PROCESS AND SNAP DECISIONS ARE USUALLY SHORT-LIVED. My present choice of power cord into my JOB INT AMP is a PS AUDIO SC STATEMENT...
Some or most power cords need in fact more than 300 hours to reach their full potential, but yeah 300 hours should get you most of the way. Shunyata power cords are widely considered among the best overall. I thought about getting one but then the Dominus came up. I could use couple of better cords, though, on the phono and PS Audio regenerator. But this would be expensive and not so easy, Custom Power Cord Top Guns that I have are quite good, so it would be at least $500-$600 each used, thinking either Purist or Shunyata.
Jeff - the 4th response from Elizabeth was the right one. Experiment and confirm where the aftermarket power cord does the most good. While there are general rules that are true, there's no substitute for experimenting and confirming where it's used to get the best improvement.
Go to Steve Reeve’s website (image99.net), click audio alchemy, and build his DIY power cables. I built four cables for under $450 (including silver plated connectors and Furutech signal wire) and connected everything. Tremendous improvement.
On my Node 2, I use a Nordost Purple Flare with good results. Best results came when I grounded the Node 2, especially when I added the Synergistic Active Ground Block to my system.
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