I currently have a Shunyata Alpha -HC power Cable powering my Audio Research REF75 SE amplifier. I also have a pair of Shunyata Black Mambas powering my 2 REL Subs. My REF6 preamp is connected using an older Cardas cable I had laying around (forget the name, but it was about a 400$ cable), and someone modded it to accommodate the C19 connector required for the ARC pre. My Lumin network player is connected with a Shunyata Analog power cable (I think its called Alpha as well, but can't see into the abyss to get a good look.) Frankly I'm not sure why I have a Shunyata analog cable. My question is; Should i replace the the Lumin cable (analogue) to a digital cable first, or, should I replace the Cardass cable to the preamp first. Which will give me better results. Thanks.
Most beneficial Cable
- Thread starter newmill
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Seems like your amps are set. It's hard to say, I usually say source first, but your preamp may like it more. The only real diff with a digital vs analog power cord is the digital has more filtering. You might try just flipping these two power cords first.
Hard to say, you'll just have to say borrow a new quality cable and swap each one out and find out
What is distributing the power to your equipment ..... do you have a dedicated line, use a power conditioner or outlet extender?
Dedicated lines to music room. Furutech receptacles. Puritan Labs Conditioner, with their upgraded power cord, and grounding device. I wan to stay in the Shunyata line of cables, but was hoping to get a clearer idea of where to go first. Thanks for the reply.
A side note that's always bothered me a bit, or made it more difficult is; Whenever I move a cable (almost any cable) I find it has a negative impact on the sonics, and usually takes a couple days to return to its old self. I don't know if this is just me, or there's something more to this. It inevitably makes cable swaps difficult for me. I've never read of anyone else noticing this, but is a repeatable phenomenon in my system every time I move a cable.
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Actually Ive found the opposite. Unplugging and replugging a cable removes oxidation that has built up over time and can freshen the sound up. If you find that too much, then I reckon one of two things are happening. Either a) you are not used to it sounding so lively, and hence hear the change but it sounds abnormal and dislike it or b) you system is tending to the sharper end of balance either through equipment or other issues such as not sufficient grounding (although sounds like you have that covered) or vibration isolation maybe something like that, and this additional sharpness is pushing it beyond comfort levels.
Or I could be completely wrong, always an option!
I have the Puritan and Ultimate cables. They are hard to beat, I tested them against the starter cable in the Shunyata range (Venom?) and the Puritan Ultimate was far superior IMHO
I haven’t noticed changes taking as long as a couple days. Whenever I swap cables, I hear changes over 10 or 15 minutes but things are settled after that. When I compare cables I try to leave them side by side so the actual swap involves as little movement as possible.
I heard that effect yesterday; swapped a power cord on my power conditioner and there was quite a change. Today that cable has settled down and sounds a good bit better than the cable it replaced.
Interesting observation, but I;m talking about simply moving a cable a few inches without unplugging it.Actually Ive found the opposite. Unplugging and replugging a cable removes oxidation that has built up over time and can freshen the sound up. If you find that too much, then I reckon one of two things are happening. Either a) you are not used to it sounding so lively, and hence hear the change but it sounds abnormal and dislike it or b) you system is tending to the sharper end of balance either through equipment or other issues such as not sufficient grounding (although sounds like you have that covered) or vibration isolation maybe something like that, and this additional sharpness is pushing it beyond comfort levels.
Or I could be completely wrong, always an option!
I have the Puritan and Ultimate cables. They are hard to beat, I tested them against the starter cable in the Shunyata range (Venom?) and the Puritan Ultimate was far superior IMHO
I've also noticed, by some of the replies here, that even though there may be gains to be made by changing to a used cable, it may be worth it to up the anti and get into the NR technology in a newer cable. Any opinions about this and the diminishing returns formula?
Yes moving cables will affect how they sound. Agree with you. I also agree unplugging and replugging helps
My observation as well
Shared by many others
FYI - click on "Cable Break-in" at the "Deep Dive" section of the Cardas website. Among other things there is an explanation of why moving cables changes the sound, and the need for a settling period after you move them.
Deep Dive | Cardas Audio
Detailed information about Cardas Audio, covering topics such as Matched Propagation, cable constructions, Golden Ratio scaled conductors, cable break in, cable burn in, and a brief history of the audio cable. Want a little information about Cardas? Well here's a lot.
www.cardas.com
Thanks for this. Interesting stuff there.FYI - click on "Cable Break-in" at the "Deep Dive" section of the Cardas website. Among other things there is an explanation of why moving cables changes the sound, and the need for a settling period after you move them.
Deep Dive | Cardas Audio
Detailed information about Cardas Audio, covering topics such as Matched Propagation, cable constructions, Golden Ratio scaled conductors, cable break in, cable burn in, and a brief history of the audio cable. Want a little information about Cardas? Well here's a lot.
Concur,
Certainly happened many times in my system, same is with moving a component
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