Forums - Fantastic power cable

Geno

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Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2212

Fantastic power cable
02/25/21 at 01:26:20

A few weeks ago, I received a new Decware power cable. All of my components are plugged in to my ZLC power conditioner, so my plan was to use the new power cable from the ZLC to the wall. Of course, I hoped for an improvement, but what I got was a very nice surprise.

Of all of the other power cords and interconnects I’ve put in the chain, this new cable made the most significant improvement. I spent the first few evenings listening to recordings that I know well, and was shocked to hear lots of detail I had never heard before, hearing further into the music than ever before.

I am really looking forward to seeing what happens as the cable breaks in fully. This one is a winner, and highly recommended!

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Otari MX5050-Bii2 R2R
ZLC Power Cond
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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: Fantastic power cable Reply #1 - 02/25/21 at 02:35:27 I typically just accept what someone writes but seriously? The power cable made a bigger impact than interconnects? This stretches my credulity. I'm not much of a cable guy, I guess.
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Geno

Seasoned Member

Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2212

Re: Fantastic power cable
Reply #2 - 02/25/21 at 15:38:53

I don’t consider myself a cable guy either, and certainly wasn’t expecting that kind of improvement. I have several ZU power cables that I’ve used for several years that I thought were good. Could be that they were not that good and that the Decware cable is just significantly better than they are. But, since it is a Decware product, I will choose to believe that it is simply an exceptional cable. Smiley

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(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU222
Cambrge Audio CXN(ModWright)
Crown XLS-1002
SL1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsm Aida MKll cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b
Otari MX5050-Bii2 R2R
ZLC Power Cond
Lii Audio PT-10 OR F-12 OR Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffle

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Lon

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Posts: 25531

Re: Fantastic power cable
Reply #3 - 02/25/21 at 16:55:40

My take on this is that when you have really good interconnects and these fantastic Decware components you can hear the changes that a power cord, and power treatment, and isolation make. Some are subtle, some are more than that. I've had a power cable make a really good impact on a component more than once. Most recently I got an Apple TV so that my wife can watch new HGTV shows. (Oh joy.) I have an excellent HDMI cable connecting it to other excellent HDMI cables that split the sound to the Universal Player and the TV. I liked the sound but decided to play around with the power cord feeding it and so I tried an Audioquest cord with a C7 connection. A slight improvement. Then I realized I had one cable that gave a warm and solid sound, an Anylisis Plus Oval Ten, and an IEC to C7 adaptor and hooked those up. BOOM. Using the DAC within the Universal Player and then to the Decware ZBIT, ZROCK2, pre and amp the sound improved considerably. The picture quality imroved a mite, but the sound was surprisingly transformed.

I've decided after a few decades of personal research

Everything matters when you have these Decware components as the heartbeat of your system.

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JOMAN

Seasoned Member

Posts: 782

Re: Fantastic power cable
Reply #4 - 02/26/25 at 12:03:53

Quote:

I've decided after a few decades of personal research Smiley Everything matters when you have these Decware components as the heartbeat of your system.

I've become a cable guy, reluctantly, screaming and kicking all the way. Especially when it came time to pay. My recent experience validates Lon's comments.

I purchased a couple of DHC3 power cables. Did they make a difference? Yes and it is a positive difference. How much of a difference I cannot say because I also put in a new source in a new room at the same time. But something happened that took this cable to the next level. I decided to cut one in half to accommodate the set up. If you're going to attempt modifying the length of this cable be careful when cutting into the jacket, it's double walled and you only want to cut into the first "layer".

One area that I didn't like was the highs. Didn't seem quite right, splashy and somewhat compressed. I thought, I need to be patient and give it time to burn in, until my patience evaporated. I pulled the run to the UFO25 from the Puritan conditioner and noticed that I did not change the plugs as I normally do. I had one Furutech F1-11 CU plug left and decided to replace the stock plug. The Furutech connectors fit perfectly in the stock housing and I would suggest that only connectors that fit the stock housing are used.

Anyway, I put the cable back, inserted the Verve Stan Getz Bossa Nova CD and pushed play. The difference that one plug made was HUGE! If you do not think that a power cable can make that much of a difference you certainly will not believe that a single plug can make that much of a difference, and I get it, it's OK. But it DID!

The mids and highs opened up, became very real. The sax had a tone and texture that would make one think it was in the room and the voices, WOW!

Will you get this result in every system? NO WAY! The system has to be of the type that is very revealing. The Chord TT2/M Scaler and UFO25 are incredibly revealing, and as Lon points out' will reveal, positive or negative, the slightest change that is made.

What's next? Usually I mix a CU plug with a gold plated IEC. I just ordered another Furutech F1-11 G IEC, kicking and screaming all the way! The DHC3 deserves better connectors.

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JOMAN

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Posts: 782

Re: Fantastic power cable
Reply #5 - 03/27/25 at 21:29:47

Update: The DHC3 running from the Puritan PSM 156 to the UFO25 now has a Furutech Gold F1 11 IEC and Gold F1 11 Plug instead of the F1 11 CU plug. Immediate difference. So much so that after the next hundred hours I'll order the Furutech F1 11R to see what difference it makes. I have the Rhodium plug and IEC on the DHC3 running from the wall outlet (also Furutech Rhodium) to the Puritan PSM 156.

Something that I thought I would never do... roll connectors 😖.

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JBzen Seasoned Member Posts: 1507	Re: Fantastic power cable Reply #6 - 03/28/25 at 09:53:29 Interesting Joman. I was thinking of changing the ends on my DHC3s but stopped short because of the broad rectangle shape of the cord. How did it actually work out with Furutech ends for you?
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JOMAN

Seasoned Member

Posts: 782

Re: Fantastic power cable
Reply #7 - 03/28/25 at 11:32:56

It worked well. In fact the difference that each connector made was immediate so much so that I found it necessary to adjust the position of the speakers. Based on previous experience I use connectors with different plating on the opposite ends, eg; CU plug with a Gold IEC. Next I'm going to try a Gold IEC/Rhodium plug configuration.

A little more detail...
1. If you're going to attempt changing the connectors study how the shield and conductors are configured and terminated in the stock connectors and then terminate accordingly.

2. Cut away the sections that separate the three conductors. This is also done with the stock connector.

3. The cable uses double jackets. Be careful to remove only the top or outer jacket. Do not cut into the inner jacket. I scored the outer jacket on its circumference until it would separate by "bending" the conductor. Then score the outer jacket along the length that needs to be removed and separate the outer jacket along the scored length and remove. When scoring you will have to judge how deep to score, do not cut into the inner jacket just deep enough to be able to separate the outer section that needs to be removed.

4. Pull back the braided shield and repeat the process. The shield and conductors are then combined/twisted

If you're using 15A connectors keep the original connector housing. The housing has an integral spline which aligns perfectly with the locating groove on the Furutech 15A connectors.

For the supply cable from the outlet to the Puritan 156 I had to use a 20A IEC, Furutech FI-31G or 32R. I also had to use the Furutech housing, and this will require some patience (in my case, helps to acquire patience) especially with the 20A IEC, but it is doable. On this cable I used a Furutech angled plug, FI-12-MR, the housing on this connector is very well made and easier to work with. I used the angled plug so it was easier to work with the short length of cable but it's not absolutely necessary.

Which connectors you end up using will be dependant on your cable management. If all you need are the 15A connectors, reuse the original connector housing.

Personally, I found the results well worth the effort.

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JBzen Seasoned Member Posts: 1507	Re: Fantastic power cable Reply #8 - 03/28/25 at 13:29:06 Think I got it. The Decware restraint's fit on the Furutech 15 amp plugs? There was a good sale last year on Furutech when I paused. In todays market it looks like is will be awhile before that will occur again. Thanks.
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JOMAN Seasoned Member Posts: 782	Re: Fantastic power cable Reply #9 - 03/28/25 at 16:35:44 Quote: Think I got it. The Decware restraint's fit on the Furutech 15 amp plugs? Correct.
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