Lon,

  I wouldn't say they darken, but they do mellow over time.  I've had my power cables since Decfest '07 and haven't looked back.  And me not believing power cords could make that much difference. I have my power cords attached, so to speak, to the back of the furniture where the amps/pre-amps reside, and I wanted to put the Taboo and the CSP2 next to each other and was to lazy to un-attach the cable, so I used one of the stock cables for the CSP2, I couldn't get it to sound just right, then I remembered the power cords, it took an hour or so to get the other cord over to the CSP2 but it was worth it. You never know how good it is, until its taken away.

BZ

I am using the PS Audio Prelude power cords on my Taboo, CSP2 and ZP3 they look like big siphon hoses sticking up from behind the transformers. Are the Decware power cords more limber? It has been an interesting journey getting all the cords and interconnects routed just right so everything sounds good and the whole thing doesn't look like a bad science project. Everyone that sees my system takes a moment like they are in total shock.

I recently ordered another Decware power cord.  These cords are excellent.  I hope to use the new cord for the ZDAC-1.

I did "shoot-outs" between these cables and the PS Audio and a Tara Labs power cord that I have. Though the other cords are very good I admit I prefer the Decware, even over a PS Audio Xstream Statement that I have. For a long time I was using that for my amps (Integrated, Torii Mark II and Mark III). But I clearly preferred the sound of the Decware cord with the Mark III. Warmer, a bit more dynamic.

Hey Pale Rider,

Glad you experimented and found that the Decware cords are a real bargain and work so so well with Decware components. I need to buy a few more in time for my second system which is mostly PS Audio and TARA Labs cords, with an Audioquest "8" connector cord as well.

I did get offered for an incredible deal an older version of the top of the line PS Audio "AC" cords and that one sounds incredible on my Torii Mk III, better than any other cord. And I tried a My Audio Cable Digital cable on my Sony SACD-XA5400ES and it's stayed there; it seems very much like a Decware cord. My CSP2 is run by the above-mentioned PS Audio XStream Statement because I think it edges out a Decware cord there, and all other components are run on Decware cords except the DVR which has a captive cord, and I don't own it so I haven't spliced in an EIC connection.

The combination is part of what makes my system what it is. And I love the sound!  FIfteen years ago I would have laughed at the idea that a power cord makes a difference, but I've had a lot of good laughs at my audio obsession and all the paths it's taken since then!

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Indeed, same here. It's a great combo of the rational and the inexplicable. BTW, if the Decware ICs are in your second system, the Audioquest are in your first? Grover Huffman built me a wonderful set of balanced ICs when I was running my Apache. But when I switched to the Taboo, I needed something different. The Decware ICs have been marvelous. Can't wait for the second pair to arrive.

Understood. I misread. Am in agreement, too. I am not looking anymore.

I've used power cords from Decware, My Audio Cable, Tara LABS, Cardas, Analysis Plus and PS Audio. I decided that the PS Audio worked the best for ME in MY system, and worked my way up the ladder til I had AC-12s on all components.

But, like interconnects, I find that power cables are very "taste-" and "system-" dependent. Experimentation is not always possible, but can be the best way to find the "best" cabling.

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd add another positive comment regarding the Decware Power Cords.  

I ordered 2 (one for my Torii Jnr, the other for my ZStage).  It took some time to get them with me being here in Australia.  Sarah had to help source some Australian compliant Furutech plugs to fit the cables.  

Sarah was so good with keeping in touch and following up.  She does a great job there.

I replaced the standard power cables Steve supplies with the new ones.

I must admit I am very happily surprised at the difference they made to the sound.  Everything now seems more settled and relaxed in the sound.  Basically - more of everything good and less of the bad.  (Not that I noticed anything bad before... I love the Decware gear.)

They also look at treat  ;D

For the price the improvement seems about right.  I can definitely recommend these cables to other Decware users.  The quality and cost pay off is what I would expect from Decware. Very good.

Kind regards,

David Bonser

I really enjoy those old-style Neotech power cable ends too Joman, though I thought they were no longer available. They have come and gone from partsconnexion over time. Having tried them after some Furutech Copper and Golds, and really liking the Neotech, especially at the price, I got several more pairs some years ago for I think± 40 a pair.

I am considering buying a pair of the new models from Soniccraft, now with a great site-wide sale. The design looks more solid, perhaps a better damping/resonance solution. I suspect they are really good. Jeff, there, also carries Neotech made-up raw cable that I think is quite good if you get in a mood to try something else. I think Neotech's strong point is the UPOCC (ultra pure, ohno continuous cast) copper and silver, in their wires, cables, and cable ends...a real breakthrough in conductors I think for natural sound with speed and transparency. These cables sound pleasantly musical while being transparent and complete to me, a nice shielded cable if one is needed. I used an 11 gauge with Neotech Gold plated ends on my Torii for years, and now it is the most transparent cable I have for my Singxer USB converter. Interesting how different cables can show different qualities more completely with different gear! Making my cables for a long time, I never got Decware PCs, so can't say how it might compare.

Recently, on my main power cord I made especially for my PSAudio P5, super transparent to open up the P5, I traded some of those early sale Neotech Rhodiums for "Viborg VM502R+VF502R Pure Copper/Rhodiums" from ebay for 83/pair, and liked them right away. They are pretty heavy construction leaning in the direction of the high dollar Furutechs over the light-weight Neotechs. Interesting how solid build with good design and materials can lead to solid sound with nice balance and clarity, and lighter build can lead to a different, more ethereal transparency if good design. Fully burned in now, I should AB the Neotechs, but like these Viborgs on this cable well enough not to care.

For other ends, I have used Furutech Copper, Gold, still using both, and carbon fiber/rhodiums that either fell of a truck in China, or are really good copies of Furutech AC FI-50M-NCF(R) and FI-50M (R) at a huge "discount!" Whatever they are, I think the ones I got are really good. I recall a notable solidity with great transparent speed and smooth power to them (no pun intended), with pretty big and relatively tight bass when I first put them in. This was on a Furutech "FP-S032N Nano Power Cable, 3 x 12awg, Fine Stranded Nano Silver Gold Liquid Alpha-OFC Conductor." I changed from Neotech Rhodium ends. For this cable, I recall 1st impressions being too dark for me, but after burnin, being like some other Furutech things I have tried, "colored," but pleasantly so, with notable smooth warmth that did not sacrifice textures and fine detail, and having extra deep, but solid bass once burnt in. Difficult to work with though having to be very careful with the very fine copper strands coated with nano particle gold and silver oil!

There are a lot of variations on these "Furutech" ends from various sellers in China, but some (like mine) look identical to Furutech as best I can tell, and I like the sound....

All that said, I like all these connectors for their individual characters and qualities, but the old style gold Neotech is a nice favorite in general. The simplicity and PCOCC copper core, with quality gold plating, they offer great "gold/copper qualities" slightly warm transparency and complexity.

Anyway, since you are in modding mode, I thought I would comment on some cable ends I have liked.

Sounds fun. I recall trying two different ends on power cables at some point. Can't quite remember, but I think I may have finally found it a little disorienting, the qualities that seemed good to mix at first, finally taking some things away too? Don't know, I should try again.

Yes I have been in modification mode too. After a lot of cable work, some refinements of the HR-1s, and occasional work inside my Torii III, my experiments started getting more intense about 2.5 years ago. Inside the Torii IV, CSP3, and Gustard DAC, it has been an amazing trip. The DAC is seriously modified, but I was mostly following the ideas others had discovered.

But the amps, with loads of experiments, I mainly changed one thing at a time in order to hear it and find out if it is good enough to go forward. This was the criteria, each change had to be notably better and balanced before moving to the next. And if not quite there, I tried another cap, wire, resistor, connector...  It has been a long time...lots of experiments, often daily, but exciting and educational.

It started pretty casually with volume pots that had become hard to clean up, coupling caps in the Torii, and a few power supply bypass caps in both. All pretty revealing shifts, especially the power cap bypasses were so good, even with so-so caps at first, it set me on the long path. With a few trials, I also noticed the right changes with even insignificant seeming resistors could be good. Like with caps, another labyrinth of choices and synergistic potential opened up. And wires, power and signal, different types and sizes quite different. Careful damping by sound... A big, tricky balancing act. Now seemingly into final refinement, from IECs and RCAs to binding posts, extensive power supply tuning, parts and wires I preferred in lots of places, it is beyond anything I could have imagined.

Been working a lot on ICs off and on too, also nearly to a point of not being able to hear anything I can improve on, but the amps really sucked me in! Nearly finished, my whole system is tuned....what next!

The DHC-1 is a treat. I had a cryo-treated Copper/Copper power cord, I thought that it made a big difference from the stock cord. But the Decware DHC-1 beat it right out of the box. Better bass, deeper sound stage. The timbre of the instruments is better. I didn't expect such a big difference.

I like the lighter weight of the DHC-1, too. It means I can use it with my turntable. I couldn't do that with the cryo-treated Copper/Copper, too heavy, too stiff, too unflexible.

The DHC-1 is elevating my whole system.