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Importance of Power cords feeding Conditioners

I have heard it said that the most important power cord is the one into the distributor block. Well specifically I have heard it said at the Nordost roadshow demos, by the ever young and enthusiastic Lars.

At the recent UK show, he compared an all Red dawn cabled system, with an all Valhalla system. He changed one cable in the red dawn system, an Odin cable into the QB8 block on the red dawn system and sure enough, it sounded better than the all Valhalla system.

My question, if this is true and it seems so to my ears at the demo, that it is, is it equally true for all power conditioners? In particular, I am using a Pure Power APS 1050 regenerator. This is supposed to isolate the system from the mains by regenerating an AC wave form from a battery supply. In theory, this should make it immune to power cords feeding it. I will try some experiments myself, but has anyone got any comments about this? Thanks
david12
jdub39
262 posts
 
Hmm, this is all very interesting, I have to give the source thing a try as it does seem in theory to make more sense. I currently have my best on my amp (8awg) and conditioner but may just swap the conditioner and source pc's, as they are the same 10 awg and only differ by shelding and better copper. All the same manufactuer (PS Audio)perfectwave. My original thought was the loom effect would take care of the source from the better on the conditioner! Welp! gotta give this a try or buy a new cable.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,517 posts
 
The experience(s) some of you report is due to the fact that if you are using a conditioner or regenerator (between the wall and your equipmment,) the cord which connects it to the wall becomes the "great equalizer" for the performance of all the cords downstream. The performance of the equipment you have connected downstream (especially an amplifier) will be limited by the energy transfer capability of the cord between the conditioner and the wall; and no matter what other kinds of cords you use to connect the equipment itself to the conditioner/regenerator, they can only deliver what that main connection (to the wall) allows. Which is why some people use a modest conditioner (and cords) for their front end group, and then just plug the amp itself right into the wall.
jdub39
262 posts
 
To avoid this of which you speak, I choose to use a PsAudio Soloist Premier se in-wall conditioner on a 10awg, 20 amp line to feed my Halo A21 alone! (Although the Soloist can be used before a conditioner) I run a 8awg Perfectwave AC12 to the amp. The result is non current limting, low noise floor, clean sound and powerful dynamics. And the most important surge protection! All else video and audio are on a 12awg 20amp line with a Powerport Premier with an PW AC10 (10awg)to a Quintet. Before getting the AC12 for the amp the amp I ran the AC10 which did a good job but the AC12 was more than a small change!
ebm
5,165 posts
 
Most important jump on a good one.
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
Cords and equipment are all about synergies. The "best" PC you have might night be best with a source, but may be best with your amp, or visa versa. It's all about trial and error so there's no perfect answer unless you try it out yourself and experiment to get the soound you prefer.
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