Hi Bicycle,
I use the PS Audio P12 power regenerator and Audioquest power cables on all my kit. The improvement is quite impressive and now I could not be without them.
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Iāve been considering Audioquest power cables. Which power cables are you using for
- your power amps
- your preamp/prepro
- your source devices
- network switches
- your subwoofers
Hi Joyofmvid,
I use the Audioquest Monsoon power cable on my RS 130, RD160, Michi X3, Rel 98 Classic and Innous network switch. I use the same cable for consistency across the system.
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Dragons, except for the dac: stealth v16
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- your power amps : AQ Firebird
- Clock: AQ Hurricane
- your source devices AQ Firebird
- network switches: AQ Hurricane
- Power conditionner: AQ Hurricane
- Other: AQ Blizzard
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Wow, thatās impressive!
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@Bicycle I was able to test 2 Power cords. My Dealer lent me some used cables.
1 Cardas Clear + 1 Gryphon Online MK.3 SSC
I used them for a while with my Switch and with my Rose RS150.
While both cables did not had any hearable influence with the LHY-SW8 Switch.
On the RS150 the Gryphon had a bigger influence on the sound, clearly hearable.
Normally I donāt use the internal DAC anymore, as my DAC in the Soulution 330 pleases me more, I gave it a try today. And guess what - my critics with the Bass strength and clarity of the RS150 DAC has gone - Precise and with more punch - all I was missing is here now.
And it was not very expensive (2nd hand).
Iām waiting now for my new speaker cables, that are in production now.
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Glad to hear it. My cables will be here tomorrow as well.
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All these changes to these expensive power cables make sense, but for me the biggest change on the power supply and the least expensive was the replacement of the wall power outlet. Adding a Furutech outlet was a revelation, I recommend you to do this replacement, you will be surprisedā¦ Better still is to have a dedicated power line with an audiophile fuse in the electrical panel. But believe me, a simple wall outlet for 100ā¬ did more than the change of expensive devices or cablesā¦
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Thanks for the hint. Iām not a technical person, so I leave the electrical stuff alone.
Iām happy how the sound improved now.
And as I live in a rented appartment, there is no way, to change anything. Beside that, here in switzerland, we do not use Schuko, and the producers of the wall outlets do not offer swiss versions of their outlets (at least speaking for Furutech). But I agree - a straight dedicated power line would for sure help.
Not quite Boris.
The difference in galvanic isolation between Ethernet over copper and fiber is primarily due to the fundamental difference in transmission medium: copper vs. fiber optic cables.
- Galvanic Isolation in Copper Ethernet
How It Works: Copper-based Ethernet (e.g., Cat5e, Cat6) includes magnetics (transformers) at both ends of the connection to provide galvanic isolation between devices. These transformers electrically separate the Ethernet PHY (physical layer) from the cable while still allowing signal transmission via electromagnetic induction.
Level of Isolation: Typically provides 1.5 kV to 5 kV isolation (depending on the design).
Limitations: While effective, copper-based Ethernet still involves conductive materials, meaning it is more susceptible to ground loops, EMI, and lightning-induced surges.
- Galvanic Isolation in Fiber Optic Ethernet
How It Works: Fiber optic Ethernet (e.g., multimode or single-mode fiber) does not require electrical conductivity at all. Instead of electrical signals, fiber uses light pulses transmitted through glass or plastic fibers.
Level of Isolation: Fiber provides complete electrical isolation (effectively infinite galvanic isolation) because there is no conductive path between devices.
Advantages Over Copper:
Completely immune to EMI, ground loops, and lightning surges since no electrical connection exists.
Fiber beats Ethernet and it doesnāt cost much to validate this for yourself.
I emphasized subjective because audio is inherently a subjective experience. Psychoacoustics plays a crucial role and should never be overlooked. To balance perception with data, I frequently conduct blind tests and objective measurements using REW. Some so-called āupgradesā or tweaks result in measurable improvements, while others may offer only subjective differences, show no discernible change, or even degrade performance. For instance, in my own setup, I have objectively measured frequency response variations in my system when the electrical grid supplies lower voltage.
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Are you getting kilovolt spikes in your home network? I suspect not. In which case there is no difference.
Itās immune to EMI, yes, but that is only meaningful for how long you can run the connection in an electrically noisy environment without making the signal undecipherable. Not for whether there is any difference in electrical impulses you get on the computerās data bus after the network card has done its job.
There is no electric continuity between the data bus on the computer side and network wiring on the external side. If there were some difference in electrical signals generated internally depending on what happens on the wire (within reason, of course, if you get a kilovolt spike in your network cable, it might produce not only audible, but quite visible difference in a big puff of smoke) thenā¦ oh, someone, maybe even someone peddling stuff like the Upyours Ethernet Degenerator and similar doo-dads would have measured it and proudly published the results?
Even more so, if it is the EMI that gets into the device that (allegedly) can affect something on the other side of the network interface, then trying to minimize it by removing a cable that (again, assuming your network is working at all) might pick up some minor amounts of it that get nowhere near competing with the useful signal (which, presumably, is filtered out) by shoving an active device with freaking lasers in it inside will only give you more noise inside your computer/streamer.
You are not getting any ground loops with standard unshielded Ethernet cables either. So not an issue either.
And as I said, this is the only (other than speed/distance) real reason to use fiber. But this has nothing to do with sound quality.
Itās Ethernet (for home purposes anyway), just over fiber instead of copper. And it beats copper for many reasons. My home backbone is 10G fiber, connecting fancy managed switches. Still nothing to do with sound quality. But at least I can monitor whether thereās any noticeable interference over either optical or copper wiring. Rather not surprisingly, even a Cat6 cable running at the upper edge of what should work for 10G has maybe a couple retransmitted packets over a few billions. And only when I fiddle with the cabling. Thatās not meaningful in any way, although fiber is ābetterā having 0 retransmits.
Yes, and thatās what I have been saying. But you have to pick one side or the other. Say that you prefer listening to music with a fiber connection, because it is cool, got lasers inside, and what not. This is completely unassailable. Itās when you also want to add some subjective flair to it and start inventing technical reasons for the perceived difference that we have an issue.
This is obviously not surprising at all, if there is no voltage regulation in the power supply, or it is not sufficient to deal with the drop, device is operating outside of design spec. Surely could measure, and sound different. Now, if you could measure the same difference after replacing a stock power cord, that would be surprising.
By the way, did you get the PowerPlant fixed yet? At least that thing does something. Even though we havenāt heard any difference trying it with Threshold, McIntosh, and Electrocompaniet gear, but at least it provides something different on the output than on the inputā¦
Nice post ! Fiber optic is definitely the future.
Go battery powered. Buy an ecoflow max and plug everything into there. I run all my systems like that.
what would be the advantage of this EPS?
You spend a lot of money, and wheel-head does not feel alone. Sonically, none whatsoever.
Regarding EMI and Network Isolation
While Ethernet provides galvanic isolation via transformers, parasitic effects can still introduce noise in the audible range (20 Hz to 20 kHz). This occurs due to the non-ideal behavior of isolation components, particularly leakage capacitance and common-mode noise coupling. These effects allow high-frequency noise to propagate into sensitive analog circuits, potentially affecting perceived audio quality.
You donāt have to take my word for it, this is a well-documented phenomenon in signal integrity and audio engineering. A quick search will provide ample technical resources. Iām not here to convince you whether it āsounds betterā because, ultimately, what matters is that it sounds better to me, in my system.
On Picking a Side
No, Boris, this is where you are simply mistaken. Why does anyone have to pick a side at all?
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Balanced Perspective: Iāve been passionate about audio for long enough to appreciate both objective and subjective criteria. Heck when I got started it was all subjective. For example, my tube preamp and monoblock amps may not score well on ASRs SINAD charts, yet I prefer them over many highly measured alternatives. The question is: which measurements explain that preference?
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The Subjective Nature of Audio: Engaging in online debates over personal preferences in a subjective hobby isnāt particularly productive. If you enjoy that, fine but from my perspective, it often comes across as trolling rather than constructive discussion.
If we are truly here to exchange ideas rather than impose rigid viewpoints, letās approach this with an open mind instead of forcing a binary right vs. wrong narrative. I understand your frustration with comments that seem like justifications for spending absurd amounts on snake oil arguments. But multiple things can be true: yes, snake oil exists, and yes, some audiophiles take things to ridiculous extremes yet at the same time, quality (and sometimes affordable) cables and technology can make a real difference. If that difference enhances someoneās experience, whether objectively or subjectively, then so be it. And if they want to credit it to the alignment of the planets, letās not waste pixels and bandwidth trying to convince them otherwise.
Finally, on the PS Audio PowerPlant that measured so poorly in Amirās flawed test. I could not really decide if it made my system sound better. It did subjectively change the sound, FWIW. However, what it did do, was to stabilize power coming into my rig that was contributing to a significant roll off in higher frequencies during peak hours (Arizona). I was able to measure this fluctuation (frequency sweep) and how the PowerPlant āfixedā this.
That reminds me I need to call my audio repair guy heās good but SLOW.
Thanks again!
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EMI and galvanic isolation are different things. Galvanic isolation (within reason) is provided by either copper of fiber Ethernet.
EMI is something different, and you are not really reducing it by introducing a powerful active device.
Becauseā¦
Because that is a personal, subjective preference. And of course a tube amp can be measured as sounding different.
Over preferences ā completely pointless. Makes even less sense than arguing what music should we listen to.
Where the problem is, to me anyway, is when you take your personal preference, which you are totally entitled to and donāt need to explain to anyone, and try to give it some objectivist sheen by claiming some physical reason for it where there is none. E.g. connecting with a fiber SFP module does not give you any better (barring a lightning hit) galvanic isolation or less EMI (unless you are running a Russian spy radio station at home). Sticking a fatter mains cord does not provide any better electric supply (for how much power a 130 needs, it would work just fine with a lamp cord anyway).
You can certainly prefer it that way (because lasers! 
) which is perfectly fine, just donāt go claiming that there is an objective difference.
We literally have a guy in a nearby thread claiming that configuring Roon to prefer censored versions of songs improves sound. But it really makes just as much difference.
Now this I can absolutely believe. Voltage regulation can absolutely make a difference.
The test is fine. The product is flawed though ā it claims to clean the signal, but does the opposite. Although apparently not to the point where a device with decent enough power supply would notice the difference. Now, if it also happens to regulate voltage better than the built-in power supply can (which itād better do, since it uses significantly more power than it puts out) that can, and apparently does make a difference. Of course one could also get a better designed voltage regulator for 1/5th the price, 1/10th the weight, and fitting on an equipment rack, but it would not come with Uncle Paul behind it.
Well, since it looks like it is making some objective difference for you, I guess everyone comes out ahead.
Hope you get it back soon.
ā¦
ā¦and read the comments too!
Because:
Anyone who can read (and understands it) has a clear advantage!
