rantan Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Voodoo Vector cables @@Randle - they are the ones you want for sources. The ultrawave are great for power amps and conditioners. A very good point. One of the good selling points of the Voodoo range of cables is that they produce and suggest different cables for different components instead of a one-size-fits-all approach and some of their mid range power cords are outstanding. It really comes back to what you wish to connect and how good that component may be. If I were to venture above the price and performance level of the AP signature, the mid range Voodoo cords would be an easy choice IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I'm on the same journey to find out which cables are good sound value. I agree with Darren 69; lets find out where the value is in the market, then let's look at how they comply. I am inclined to believe that an Aussie tech is more trust worthy than the manufacturer of the $2 cables that come with our latest purchases. So let us put legalities behind us until we get a list of GOOD POWER CABLES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I also applaud guys who are trying to rank the cables that they have tried. I get that some cables will work better on power hungry Amps than power efficient sources. Thicker vs thinner etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) I like my RK Cable 2.5's but I haven't tried anything else in my system. They have the Clipsal plugs on them but was thinking of trying other cables as well or maybe even some Furutech plugs from Cam. Power supply and vibration isolation are probably the only things left to try out, for me. Edited February 4, 2015 by Darren69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve u Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I am a "cable guy" and have heard the differences cables make. But I would like to relate an experiment a friend and i did with Kt120 valve mono blocks driving reasonably efficient floor standers and we swapped in and out $150 and $900 power cables and both of us couldn't pick any discernible differences. And I wonder if a power cable feeding an amp that is probably idling at 30%, if there is a difference to be heard. However, where we did hear differences was when we switched interconnects in and out of the CD player. Prices varied between $100 and $800 and the differences were very evident. But back to power cables, I think there is a difference between the standard kettle cord and the $250 power cable, but any more dollars than that differences in my experience are more likely found with cable swaps on the source components and harder for me to hear on amps. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Absolutely agree Steve. My rule of thumb is power cords up to $300 and if further cable experiments are required you can get better results by optimising speaker and IC cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 And where does one stop? The power point? The house wiring? haha!! I don't know. As an electrician, I'm a good carpenter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly0071 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Testing and tagging is NOT the same as certification. I hope that RK's statements are based upon separate certification/approval, with the subsequent test and tag simply confirming that the item is electrically safe. The testing is done by a license electrician with the license number of the electrician on the tag. Within the context, I am sure it is about compliance and safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mac Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 The testing is done by a license electrician with the license number of the electrician on the tag. Within the context, I am sure it is about compliance and safety. The thing is, compliance and certification is a completely different thing to testing and tagging. Your item needs to be compliant/certified before the latter is even relevant. Testing and tagging does not constitute compliance or certification. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 Let's focus on the topic :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly0071 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 From RK Cable's website: It would seem that their cables are tested for compliance. Also all cables are made in australia comply to Australian standards and also are tested to AS/NZS 3760:2003 , and they are tagged and indivdually numbered . please see photos below . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 From RK Cable's website: It would seem that their cables are tested for compliance. That's fine. Did anybody actually suggest that they were not compliant? Also, the subject of testing and compliance IS relevant to cable quality and integrity. A component thereof perhaps, but one not to be ignored. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly0071 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I agree and it is to RK Cable's credit that they do make sure every cable is compliant. Pete_Mac does have a point considering the grey market of from sales from Ebay (yes I have been there). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 Excellent. Now we have that sorted I'm looking forward to seeing some cable reviews. I might put an order in fora couple over the weekend. Not sure I've got any interest for a meet / compare in Melbourne 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Spyne~ Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Excellent. Now we have that sorted I'm looking forward to seeing some cable reviews. I might put an order in fora couple over the weekend. Not sure I've got any interest for a meet / compare in Melbourne Same here, a whole page of off-topic (as mentioned by the OP, it's his thread after all) banter. Hopefully it can be put to rest, or carried on in the other pre-existing thread, and we can start to see some actual user reviews and opinions, or the organisation of a Power Cable Shootout GTG :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly0071 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Ok I will start. If people want to borrow Audio Principle, RK Cable or Voodoo Tiger from me (I live on the North Shore of Sydney), they are welcome to as part of the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) @@Randle , you started this, haha, how shall the machine tick?? Edited February 4, 2015 by Darren69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mac Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) From RK Cable's website: It would seem that their cables are tested for compliance. Also all cables are made in australia comply to Australian standards and also are tested to AS/NZS 3760:2003 , and they are tagged and indivdually numbered . please see photos below . I agree and it is to RK Cable's credit that they do make sure every cable is compliant. The above standard is the 'testing and tagging' standard only - it shows that the cable has been tested and tagged properly, but does mean that it complies with the relevant standards. They are two different things.That said, RK could probably clarify the matter better on their website. The Clipsal plugs are compliant, and if the cable is compliant, then it may be a different kettle of fish altogether. Anyhow, that's the last that you'll hear from the Cable Police in this thread. There's a granny down the street who needs her kitten rescued from a tree <grabs cape> I'm damn keen to try the Audio Principe cable some day. Incredible value for money given the quality of the components used! I'm looking forward to hearing some further impressions on this cable in particular. Edited February 4, 2015 by pete_mac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 Maybe you guys want to do a NSW version? I'd love to borrow, but have a busy month given I just lost a week getting my appendix out. I'm probably not free to test until next month Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 @@pete_mac yes, you and I both (the Audio Principe cables and no, that's not a typo) ;D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Spyne~ Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I have a Little Blue Penguin power cable I purchased second-hand on SNA a few weeks ago. Also just about to put in an order for an Audio Principe Signature power cable. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 A winning combination is AP signature cables plugged into an Isotek Polaris power board. Works far better than the Isotek premier power cable and better than the RK cable as well 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplifiedLife Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 A winning combination is AP signature cables plugged into an Isotek Polaris power board. Works far better than the Isotek premier power cable and better than the RK cable as well What were the benefits you remember over the r.k. and the Isotek? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 What were the benefits you remember over the r.k. and the Isotek? The RK did not seem to make any difference over the standard cords in my system and the Isotek Premier seemed to suck the dynamics and life from the music. With the AP signature it was somewhat like demisting a windscreen in a car and in combination with the Polaris that effect was more of the same. It just made the music more intelligible and coherent, but equally as important, it didn't add anything of its own nor did it act like a tone control. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren69 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Very interesting as I have just that combo (RK-Isotek board). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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