Power Cables
"In the beginning there was electricity ..."
Without electrical energy, no music reproduction is possible. The energy supply usually consists of mains current. Why the quality of this energy supply is so important for good music reproduction is not obvious at first. You have to know that our alternating current is loaded with harmonics. This means that in addition to the mains frequency, there is always a portion with higher frequencies up to the giga-hertz range. This high frequency migrates via the capacitive coupling in the transformer of the unit to the secondary side and thus also to the operating voltages. Toroidal transformers are particularly affected here, as they usually have poor decoupling of these high frequencies due to their design.
"... and the electricity was with the music ..."
Good power cables therefore have, among other things, the property of filtering high frequencies. Ferrite is often incorporated in the sheath. However, there is also the possibility of spacing the conductors to increase the inductance and thus improve the filter effect. Especially with the Neotech, you can see a complex arrangement of the individual wires, which was certainly not chosen because it is cheaper to manufacture, but because it has an influence on the sound quality. Both manufacturers use filling material that dampens the conductors' tendency to vibrate. Furutech uses cotton, Neotech polypropylene fibres.
"... and the electricity was the music"
I round it all off with a sensible plug combination, professional termination and a cotton hose that suppresses electrostatic charge.
All cables have a shield, but this is NOT connected. I come back to the point that shielding is counterproductive. The A/B comparison: shield to protective earth / shield not connected is clearly won by the shield that is not connected.
Neotech NEP-3001 III
The 3001 from Neotech is an absolute bargain. It is ideal as a cable to the multiple socket outlet or the mains filter. But of course also to the rest of your equipment. The sonic gap to the competition goes far beyond its price. The outer sheath is enriched with ferrite and filters HF from the mains current very effectively. And this is immediately audible. Very clear high-frequency reproduction without being the least bit annoying. You are really drawn into the music. Since the cable filters over the length, it must not be too short. 1.3 meters is the minimum.
- UPOCC-Copper / Silver Hybrid
- 10 AWG / 5,26 mm² per conductor
- outer sheath enriched with ferrite
Furutech FP-S55N
The technology behind this cable is called Alpha Nano-Ag-Au: tiny silver and gold particles are distributed over the individual veins during the manufacturing process using an oil (nano-liquid). These particles fill depressions in the individual stranded wires and ensure better contact between them. So that's going in the direction of solidcore again!
The FP-S55N play to its strengths in higher-quality systems.
- Alpha Nano-Ag-Au
- 10 AWG / 5,26 mm² per conductor
- terminated with spade FP-209
Furutech DPS-4.1
Ultimate High End Audiograde Power Cable. This is the subtitle on Furutech's website. The cable has what it takes, but it will only be able to show its full potential on really good systems. In the picture you can see the structure of the cable. The individual conductors are twisted in three layers. The individual conductors are each double insulated. Underneath the coloured insulation is another transparent one. The sheath that holds the three individual wires together is enriched with nano-ceramics and nano-carbon, which results in good damping.
On the Audiosaul website you can find a good summary of the sound characteristics of this cable.
- Alpha OCC-DUC
- elaborately stranded in 3 layers
- 11 AWG / 4,02 mm² per conductor
- terminated with spade FP-209