Guyzer Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 I bought a new amp a few months ago and during the demo the sales guy compared 2 Isotek power cables with the stock one. There was a noticeable positive difference with both Isoteks. But I thought I should research this first as it was an upselling situation. I went back and later bought an Isotek EVO3 Premier with pleasing results at home. I'm now thinking to go back and buy one of the cheaper Isotek Intiniums to try on my DAC. And then swap the two cables around between DAC and amp just to see if that makes a difference. I'm mainly streaming Spotify high quality from a Macbook Pro into the DAC via the Mac's optical audio out, so my main question is whether upgrading the DAC cable can be expected to make much further improvement seeing as I can't do much about the Macbook pro cable. I'm thinking of trying just the entry level Intinium for the DAC not the next step up to Premier. The retailer will allow me to return if I hear no improvement, but I'd be curious on thoughts anyone has in advance. Cheers.
Ittaku Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 27 minutes ago, Guyzer said: but I'd be curious on thoughts anyone has in advance. You may wish you hadn't said that. Anyway my advice would be try without buying first. If you buy something, then since you have already bought it you will be convinced it sounds better. I don't use fancy power or digital cables in my hifi and it's slightly more expensive than yours. Spend more money on electronics and less on wire. 4
08Boss302 Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 Using the search function will give you plenty of advice and opinions on this matter. Pretty sure there's a sub-forum too. https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/forum/8-power-cables-electronics/ It's a polarising topic, buckle up for the replies but you may have abandoned the thread long before the dust has settled FWIW, I use them with some components and not with others 1
muon* Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 21 minutes ago, Ittaku said: If you buy something, then since you have already bought it you will be convinced it sounds better. Allegedly 1
Ittaku Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 Just now, muon* said: Allegedly Allegedly yes. This is called post-purchase rationalisation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choice-supportive_bias 3
Guest deanB Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 @Guyzer, let the familiarity with your system and your ears be the guide. Nobody on this forum can give you any practical assistance with this experiment. Enjoy!
Fortmont Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 Like Guyzer I bought an Isotek Premier, but before the massive price hike. I too was impressed with the overall improvement ( aka. post purchase rationalisation). The purchase was prompted by the noticeable improvement I experienced when I had to replace a 1.2mm link cable from a PSU to a preamp. I ended up purchasing 3 more Isotek Premiers, doing so in a rush to beat the price hike. I would like to know how Guyzer find the Intinium if he purchases one. I still need a couple of more cables.
Guyzer Posted June 14, 2020 Author Posted June 14, 2020 3 hours ago, 08Boss302 said: FWIW, I use them with some components and not with others Yes, I find this intriguing. I have noticed a difference myself, but I wouldn't know why. Initially I thought power stuff was just for high end, but the sales guy reckoned because high end components already had better power supplies, the more significant gains per buck are to be found in lesser gear. I'm sure that's just another opinion, but it did get me curious. 1
Guyzer Posted June 14, 2020 Author Posted June 14, 2020 Didn't know about the price hike Fortmont. I'm checking out the entry level Intinium next and my ears will be judge and jury. 1
Assisi Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 Only you will know the answer to your question when you try the cable in your system as suggested by some posters. There can be benefits even in systems that would not be designated as hi end. The answer will to some extent depend upon the respective components in any system and the overall system synergy. @Ittaku says he does not use what he terms as fancy cables in his quality system. I also have a quality system and I have spent serious money on wire including power cables. For me I consider that there is a definite benefit and I have gained SQ value for the expenditure. I take the treatment of power very seriously. This is a topic in which there probably will not be a definitive answer. John 2
Guest Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 Just to summarize all the contentious issues - a) Burn in does not exist b) high quality power cables do nothing c) high quality interconnects do nothing d) All solid state amps sound the same e) Tubes are for pretentious pr*cks f) The more you pay for x equipment the bigger pair of clangers you've got and the more chicks you'll pull g) Vinyl always sounds better h) Norah Jones is the best artist who ever walked the earth Have I missed anything?
Guest Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 15 minutes ago, Assisi said: @Ittaku I also have a quality system and I have spent serious money on wire including power cables. For me I consider that there is a definite benefit and I have gained SQ value for the expenditure. I take the treatment of power very seriously. This is a topic in which there probably will not be a definitive answer. Indeed, because this area is more akin to religion than science.
ray4410 Posted June 14, 2020 Posted June 14, 2020 8 hours ago, TDK said: Just to summarize all the contentious issues - a) Burn in does not exist b) high quality power cables do nothing c) high quality interconnects do nothing d) All solid state amps sound the same e) Tubes are for pretentious pr*cks f) The more you pay for x equipment the bigger pair of clangers you've got and the more chicks you'll pull g) Vinyl always sounds better h) Norah Jones is the best artist who ever walked the earth Have I missed anything? your medication 5 3
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 14, 2020 Volunteer Posted June 14, 2020 9 hours ago, TDK said: Just to summarize all the contentious issues - a) Burn in does not exist b) high quality power cables do nothing c) high quality interconnects do nothing d) All solid state amps sound the same e) Tubes are for pretentious pr*cks f) The more you pay for x equipment the bigger pair of clangers you've got and the more chicks you'll pull g) Vinyl always sounds better h) Norah Jones is the best artist who ever walked the earth Have I missed anything? Not sure why (f) is contentious ? 2 1
Rhythm Willie Posted June 23, 2020 Posted June 23, 2020 On 14/06/2020 at 9:47 PM, TDK said: Just to summarize all the contentious issues - a) Burn in does not exist b) high quality power cables do nothing c) high quality interconnects do nothing d) All solid state amps sound the same e) Tubes are for pretentious pr*cks f) The more you pay for x equipment the bigger pair of clangers you've got and the more chicks you'll pull g) Vinyl always sounds better h) Norah Jones is the best artist who ever walked the earth Have I missed anything? A glass of good Barossa Shiraz will always make your system sound better 2 1
Guyzer Posted June 23, 2020 Author Posted June 23, 2020 10 minutes ago, Rhythm Willie said: A glass of good Barossa Shiraz will always make your system sound better I'll certainly be testing that one, but feel it is only right to compare to a range of other alcoholic beverages My update is I bought an Isotek Initium to go with the Premier I already had. Interestingly while the premier on my amp (Rega Elex-R) and stock cable on my Northstar Dac made a big improvement in opening the sound up, adding the Initium hasn't worked for me. Putting the Initium on the Dac made the sound more revealing but at the cost of emphasising a tendency towards treble harshness in my system. Premier on Dac and Initium on amp deals with the harshness, but at some cost to the rhythm and musicality I love in the Elex-R. It's just a bit flat, beige and too well behaved. So stock on Dac and premier on amp is the best sound for me so far. Who knows why? At least I have a retailer who accepts returns, so the next logical step is to try two premiers. 1
Guyzer Posted July 10, 2020 Author Posted July 10, 2020 And by way of final report 2 premiers worked out nicely. Harsh edges and trade offs much reduced. 1
Sean Perth Posted July 13, 2020 Posted July 13, 2020 On 23/06/2020 at 8:42 AM, Rhythm Willie said: A glass of good Barossa Shiraz will always make your system sound better So does a brownie 1 2
audiofeline Posted July 21, 2020 Posted July 21, 2020 On 14/06/2020 at 10:17 PM, TDK said: Just to summarize all the contentious issues - ...g) Vinyl always sounds better... Have I missed anything? Especially on a Crosley turntable.
Ratbob Posted July 30, 2020 Posted July 30, 2020 (edited) Between my power box and the outlets used for my hifi, lay 35 metres of cable. So I’m wondering how changing the last metre from the power outlet to the hifi components could make a difference. In my previous residence I had a sparky install a dedicated 15 amp cable direct to the hifi outlets. no audible difference, but I felt better. So yeah, maybe it is just the last metre that counts. Edited July 30, 2020 by Ratbob Forgot a bit 4
pwstereo Posted July 30, 2020 Posted July 30, 2020 2 minutes ago, Ratbob said: Between my power box and the outlets used for my hifi, lay 35 metres of cable. So I’m wondering how changing the last metre from the power outlet to the hifi components could make a difference. Just you wait till I get my audiophile power station running 1
Ittaku Posted July 30, 2020 Posted July 30, 2020 7 minutes ago, pwstereo said: Just you wait till I get my audiophile power station running One of those I have, but still use basic power cables.
rantan Posted July 30, 2020 Posted July 30, 2020 On 14/06/2020 at 9:47 PM, TDK said: Just to summarize all the contentious issues - a) Burn in does not exist b) high quality power cables do nothing c) high quality interconnects do nothing d) All solid state amps sound the same e) Tubes are for pretentious pr*cks f) The more you pay for x equipment the bigger pair of clangers you've got and the more chicks you'll pull g) Vinyl always sounds better h) Norah Jones is the best artist who ever walked the earth Have I missed anything? Just for fun let me answer this as multi choice exam questions. ***Disclaimer *** for fun only , this is not a war. A. False B. True C. False D.False E. False( although this can be owner dependent ) F. Of Course G. Mostly true. H. I prefer her visually more than than aurally. 2 1
pwstereo Posted July 30, 2020 Posted July 30, 2020 21 minutes ago, Ittaku said: One of those I have, but still use basic power cables. No, I mean a big solar/wind/battery hybrid power station, 100 MW or so. Reticulation by custom hand wound transformers, and unobtanium cables on custom cable risers (no towers and poles), and custom audiophile switch/meter boxes at the customers premises. 1
Ittaku Posted July 30, 2020 Posted July 30, 2020 16 minutes ago, pwstereo said: No, I mean a big solar/wind/battery hybrid power station, 100 MW or so. Reticulation by custom hand wound transformers, and unobtanium cables on custom cable risers (no towers and poles), and custom audiophile switch/meter boxes at the customers premises. Ah nice. Nah, I just have a regenerator in my system. Tiny little custom power station. 1
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