Power Cord with great tone


Category: Cables

I am on a look out for a power cord which I would like to hook up on my Transport. Basically my aim is to buy the best possible power cord I can afford and place it right at the beginning of the chain so as to maximize its effect.

My chain is pretty neutral and typically the fine tuning I do at the source level finally turns out to be the flavor of the system. To this effect I want to give the best possible power cord to my source (starting with the transport).

In my priority list, the very first attribute is TONE. I am looking for a power cord with the most realistic tone. I am not really looking for a coloration here but something which does super tone in terms of realism. Vocals should sound almost in flesh and blood.

The second on my list would a quiet background without eating into the micro details. I have noticed that there is a thin line between quietness and loss of micro details. Putting it on transport I cannot afford to lose details.

The third attribute (if I can choose) would be airy and coherent soundstage.

My transport is a modded TEAC VRDS10. AFAIK it has the ability to deliver all these attributes in spades but needs suitable cabling.

My budget is $1000 max. I would look at used market in general.

My shortlists are:
- Transparent Powerlink MM
- Purist Audio Aqueous, Dominus or the 20th anniversary which ever is available in my budget

Both these cords I have shortlisted purely based on user comments. I do not have the luxury of listening to them since I stay at India where there is no "Cable Company".
I am expecting you guys to help me out here by describing your experiences with these cords so that I can take a call.

In case you would like to add to this shortlist, please feel free to do so. BTW, in the past I have heard a Yamamura Millennium 5000 power cord and with my transport it was stunning. It did everything I have on my list of priorities in the that order but unfortunately the company is no more and the cords are very rare on the used market.

Please do comment.
pani
I've heard a cord recently that sounds close to what you've described and the manufacturer is in London with an in home trial/money-back offer. The Robusto from Sablon Audio (sablonaudioDOTcom) is warm, rich in tone, weighty in the lower registers with a BLACK background. There are a couple of reviews which should better describe the sound. It's definately worth checking out.
You might try a used Elrod Statement. This is a very good cable, and is right at your price point.

I think you are correct in your approach. One needs to be goal directed with good ears, for your sound to evolve. I've also heard a single PC take my system to heaven or to hell.
I have had good success using power cords from PS Audio. They are well built and have some engineering behind them. Paul McGowan at PS Audio indicated to me that the most important power cord is the one going to your power center.

Option 1 (no power center) - get a duet power center and a PS Audio AC-10 power cord and run it to the Duet.

Option 2 (have a power center) - get a PS Audio AC-12 and consider running it to the power center.

Option 3 - if you have a good power center and a "killer cord" supplying it, get a PS Audio AC-10 for your source.
Hi Pani,

If it helps, here is my own personal opinion. I own Transparent REf IC/SCs and 5 PAD Dominus Ferox or Anniversary Contego PCs. However, my last 2 PC purchases were from sablon audio. i am not affiliated with Mark, but i do know him. He is a very good guy and very responsive. And super passionate about audio...almost obsessive.

My own comparison would be that the PAD is sensational for black backgrounds and a richness of sound that is truly unique. However, i was shocked (for a lot less money) to find that the Sablon Audio Robusto also had a very black background with an entirely natural but realtively more lively sound.

I think Positive Feedback did a strong, favorable right-up of the Robusto. Worth checking out. Good luck and pls keep us posted on what you end up with. if you need to get a hold of Mark, just email me. His website is sablonaudio.com
Thanks for all your responses guys. I am now spending the money to buy an AC regenerator from Monarchy Audio. I heard it at a friend's place it was a super product. The performance improvement was just unbelievable so I made up my mind to first buy one of these and then look at power cords.