With great care and design already implemented in the power supply design, would an S60 power supply (feeding a S30) benefit from an after market power cable? Anyone has experience of a power cable upgrade?
The original K30 features the same power supply as whatâs in the S60. The K30 most certainly benefited from a better power cord.
2 Likes
I find that power cords have a major impact on the sound and each power cord I have tried sound differently. Currently I am using Transparent Audio Opus G5 on my Oladra. That cord has sounded the best to me.
2 Likes
This is what I have noticed too and thatâs why I started the topic. A power cord for an already well designed power supply with all sorts of filters and modifiers shouldnât make much difference but it does.
2 Likes
I think it is safe to say virtually all Antipodes owners are seasoned audiophiles having been around the block many times. If one desires authentic musical realism quality cabling is just another essential component the same as turntables, speakers, amplification, streamers and other sources.
4 Likes
I have an Antipodes K40 in my system, and my dealer let me audition a plethora of power cables.
They all sounded different.
I purchased a Swisscables Reference power cord for my K40.
1 Like
Itâs been my experience that the better the power supply, the more that a better power cord can matter.
1 Like
Thanks to all with your input. I have tried a few far lowlier cables (Nordost blue heaven, Shunyata Taipan alpha helix) than those being mentioned here, and I have also noticed improvements.
Just curious that well designed power supplies, which are supposed to produce âperfectâ power to a streamer, can produce âeven more perfectâ power when a better power cable is used.
I concur with others whoâve posted their comments about the improvements power cables can make on an already good sounding system.
Iâve recently been replacing my Furutech cables with Puritan Audio Labs Ultimate power cables. They not only sound great but they are also unbelievably flexible too. It makes routing cables at the back of my equipment rack much easier than wrestling with the stiff Furutech ones. Theyâre not cheap but theyâre not too expensive either. I recommend giving them a try in your system to see if they work for you.
1 Like
Thatâs reassuring! I have tried the Puritan Classic Plus power cable, and it also improved the sound of a S60+S30.
1 Like
I agree with the comment regarding the Ultimate cables. Outperforms cables costing a LOT more
3 Likes
Because they are power supplies, not power conditioners, filters, etc.
1 Like
Not disagreeing with you, but most audiophile power supplies claim or at least suggest that they reduce noise (filter) and produce a better waveform (condition).
It is important to realize that neither signal cables nor power cables have a sound of their own. What shapes the sound is the interaction between connected devicesâwhether analog or digital. These interactions, including impedance and grounding relationships, can subtly or significantly influence the overall sonic character.
What does adding a cable do? Contrary to popular belief, a cable doesnât produce sound. Its materials and construction can influence how devices interact, acting as a tuning element in the chain. This also applies to power cables. Aftermarket power cables do not have a âsoundâ per se, but each one establishes a unique electrical and grounding connection between your power net, your house, and your componentsâincluding psuâs and also the streamer and DAC.
While exploring, it seems at this point, you must also consider what the S30 is connected to, including ethernet cables, network switches, routers, and their power supplies (and in your case I suggest even swapping the DC cable from the S60 to the S30).
Every link in the chain contributes to the systemâs behavior, not because of what a cable âadds,â but because of how it shapes the interaction between all components.
2 Likes
Nice to hear you (also) use Puritan cables. I have replaced the Puritan Classic Plus (on my s60 feeding an s30) with a Furutech TCS21 because that Furutech sounded better to me (Shunyata and Iego gold plugs). I recenrly replaced that one with the FP-s022 with Furutech gold plugs which sounds better with digital equipment to my ears ( clearer), even though it is a cheaper cable. Somehow that high tech Furutech stuff works well in my system.
What is going on in these cables and plugs and why it is so audible, I have no idea. I think we have to consider cables more like an electric and magnetic field thing and not as a highway for electrons, otherwise that last 2 meters of power cable in a circuit of hundreds or thousannds of meters from the power plant/ transformers to the psu with approx. 50 Ohms impedance shoudnât matter. It,s more like hooking your equipment on a voltage rail.
So the s60 seems pretty sensitive to what power cable is connected. Probably also the plugs materials matters, so one can experiment with rhodium or gold connectors. I like Iego plugs but also the more expensive Furutech gold schuko.
My conditioner is a Puritan. I replaced the outlets with Furutech FL-E30 gold and ncf- rho, a pretty easy job because they fit in the same holes.
3 Likes
I think this is the first time an audio forum has saved me money rather than encouraging further madness! My dealer proposed power cables costing five times as much as the Puritans for my K22/K41, as appropriate for my system level. I was hesitant, especially with world financial turmoil. Then I read this discussion and ordered two Puritan Ultimates. They make an immediately evident improvement, and Iâm now thinking I shall replace my pricey amplifier and DAC cables with Puritans. And itâs so great to not be wrestling monster cablesâŚ
3 Likes