Cables for system upgrade

[Niktech]

Initial thoughts

may be that they are too short, but I used the Foilflex XLR’s to connect two different components on  two different shelves on a solid steel rack

[audiofeline]

I have a couple of Audio Principe interconnects.  They delivered the upgrade in audio quality I was hoping for.  I haven't done direct comparisons with other equivalent cables. 

 

[crisis]

On 17/07/2024 at 1:42 PM, Superfuzzbigmuff said:

Another vote for Geoff and Aurealis, I swapped out a bunch of more expensive brand name cables for his stuff a few years ago - will never regret that. He doesn't do power cables however.  I think he's unwell ATM, but may respond to emails as Ray suggests.  His stuff comes up for sale periodically, try fishing on the WTB section..

I took everyone’s advice and ordered some cables from Geoff. If you want to contact him you can through the website and simply ask for what you want. His communication is excellent and he has kept me updated while he builds one of the cables. Also offered me a demo cable at a better price than advertised.

Hopefully they live up to the reputation and his already great service!

[Gryffles]

I wouldnt bother with power cables at this stage. Power cables are an 'icing on the cake' product and results can be very unpredictable. 

Get better interconnects and speaker cables with the savings

[David A]

39 minutes ago, Gryffles said:

I wouldnt bother with power cables at this stage. Power cables are an 'icing on the cake' product and results can be very unpredictable. 

Get better interconnects and speaker cables with the savings

I generally agree with your comments. Though I would say that the pc from the wall > conditioner/distributor is the most important, and worthwhile investing in a better pc if you can swing it.

[rantan]

37 minutes ago, Gryffles said:

I wouldnt bother with power cables at this stage.

 

I wouldn't bother with power cables.....................ever. One of the audio industry's gigantic con job. There are so many worthwhile things one can do to improve an already good system and power cables are about number 500 on the priority list.

[PKay]

16 minutes ago, David A said:

I generally agree with your comments. Though I would say that the pc from the wall > conditioner/distributor is the most important, and worthwhile investing in a better pc if you can swing it.

I was a sceptic but @andyrmade me some cables for my high RF environment and they did make a difference. Up until then I was using my $5 kettle PC.

[crisis]

19 minutes ago, rantan said:

 

I wouldn't bother with power cables.....................ever. One of the audio industry's gigantic con job. There are so many worthwhile things one can do to improve an already good system and power cables are about number 500 on the priority list.

Agree. I’ve been seduced by speaker and interconnects but would not bother with power cables. I know the discussion turns into a can of worms but there ya go. I did however have an electrician run a dedicated run to my stereo room fwiw.

[David A]

4 minutes ago, crisis said:

Agree. I’ve been seduced by speaker and interconnects but would not bother with power cables. I know the discussion turns into a can of worms but there ya go. I did however have an electrician run a dedicated run to my stereo room fwiw.

If you have dedicated 20a lines back to your electrical board, a dedicated ground etc, expensive pc's will generally make less of a difference. But it depends on the level of your system.
 

Edited August 15, 2024 by David A

[rantan]

4 minutes ago, crisis said:

I did however have an electrician run a dedicated run to my stereo room fwiw.

THIS.

 

Instead of mucking around buying expensive power cords something like this, is orders of magnitude better ( and probably much cheaper )

[crisis]

1 minute ago, rantan said:

THIS.

 

Instead of mucking around buying expensive power cords something like this, is orders of magnitude better ( and probably much cheaper )

$200. 

[crisis]

5 minutes ago, David A said:

But it depends on the level of your system.
 

Yes, well mine is not a high end system. 

[rantan]

That makes spending money on a snake oil cords at four and even five figure price tags look patently ridiculous.

 

As far as the better system-better result is concerned, I would pose the idea that the better system is even less likely to be enhanced by the likes of a $$$$ power cord.

Edited August 15, 2024 by rantan

[David A]

6 hours ago, rantan said:

That makes spending money on a snake oil cords at four and even five figure price tags look patently ridiculous.

I was once a believer in expensive high end cables as you can see from my signature. But i've now re-evaluated my position on cables, and where it's worthwhile spending more $ on my system. The markups on high end cables are ridiculous, and i've now realised there is better value to be found if you look for it. My next loom of cables will be much less expensive, and they sound sensational and are really good value. The markups on speakers are also insane. There is better value to be found in speakers sold factory direct imho, but that's for another thread topic.
 

Edited August 15, 2024 by David A

[brodricj]

On 15/08/2024 at 1:16 PM, David A said:

a dedicated ground etc

I'm not sure that would be compliant with the electrical code. There should be only one grounding point serving the whole house. Ground that single grounding point properly with ground enhancing material.

[brodricj]

On 15/08/2024 at 1:36 PM, David A said:

...The markups on speakers are also insane. There is better value to be found in speakers sold factory direct...

Either way, money spent on better speakers should always result in better sound compared to spending that money on power cables. Buy the best speakers you can't afford, everything else comes 2nd. Buying new speakers despite the new speaker markup is OK if you're in for the long haul, and you get a 5+ year warranty. I think warranty on a few speaker brands only goes with new speakers to the original owner.

[David A]

11 hours ago, brodricj said:

I'm not sure that would be compliant with the electrical code. There should be only one grounding point serving the whole house. Ground that single grounding point properly with ground enhancing material.

I haven't looked into what is code compliant re: house electrical plans. But there is more than one way to achieve common grounding potential for your audio equipment.

 

10 hours ago, brodricj said:

Either way, money spent on better speakers should always result in better sound compared to spending that money on power cables. Buy the best speakers you can't afford, everything else comes 2nd. Buying new speakers despite the new speaker markup is OK if you're in for the long haul, and you get a 5+ year warranty. I think warranty on a few speaker brands only goes with new speakers to the original owner.

I advocate buying the best speakers you can afford which best couple to your room, and which give you the sound that you want. Then build your system around your speakers to achieve the best synergy within your budget, starting with the amps. But the "best" speakers need not be the most expensive. There is better value to be found in speakers sold factory direct as I said, or pre-owned from a good seller.
 

Edited August 18, 2024 by David A