Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems DSP7200SE power cables

I'm considering upgrading my power cables on my Meridian DSP7200SE L,C,R channels. Has anyone had an experience, insights, listening testing, of any audio sonic benefits or unintended issues with 3rd party power cords?
I want to make sure I'm not voiding my warranties by using a 3rd party power chord.

I'm considering this one from Audio Quest. https://www.audioquest.com/products/nrg-z3-power-cable

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Steve

Do not waste your money. After market power cables are a scam. Over at Audio science review they have tested many and all of them do zero or sometimes worse than a stock cable.

Here is an Audioquest test.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...quest-nrg-x3-review-ac-power-cord.32257/

Ignore the handful of regular cable sceptics (who refuse to try them for themselves), as many more of us on here have very positive experiences of using Shunyata power cables with our DSP's.

I chose to buy Shunyata Theta for my DSP5200SE's - but if I were fortunate to own DSP7200SE's, I would opt for Shunyata Alpha-X power cables.

Even so, don’t take my word for it: most Shunyata dealers will more often than not loan you a home-audition pair for you to decide with your own ears.

Ignore the technical illiterates on here who can’t accept that when tested these scam cables show no difference.

Ok guys, play nice.

I also recommend getting some to try at home for a decent test period. You can easily swap back and forth to determine with your own ears whether there is any benefit.

You don’t need to worry about what anyone else thinks.

If you don’t hear any benefit then you save some money.

If you do then you can evaluate the cost vs benefit.

I had some Shunyata gear on demo for about 3 months and went back and forth many many times.

The impact was evident each time.

Not really an ASR fan, they have their crew. The reality is: it Depends... could do something, could do nothing.
A good power supply (that our speakers have) is much higher on the order of effects than a power cable.

Typically there are a few things that do help with cables: not getting hot (be big enough), shielding (if you got everything waded together), and good mechanical connections to the speaker and wall. You can get into the di-electric used (PVC sucks) as well.
Personally I use medical grade components to bridge the gap ~ medical grade outlets bite much better, along with shielded power cables.

Your money test and see, spend it how you wish... I do. I've been surprised by this hobby more then once.

To say 'the reality is, it depends', is just nonsense I am sorry. Whenever these scams are properly tested they show no benefit, and in many cases a reduced performance. Trying something in a sighted test is just wasting your your time and therefore very likely your money.

Consider this ITU-R BS.1116-3: The international standard for subjective assessment of small impairments in audio systems (the blueprint for rigorous ABX-style testing).

and this ...

https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1891317&dswid=-8645

Just one of thousands of proper experiments show human sighted fallibility.
We as humans cant even manage the Mcgurk effect, so thinking a sighted test of a piece of expensive wire that you already have a hope will improve your system has no chance.

Thank you for the concern Stuart, apricate you looking out for my finances. Clearly outlined the mechanical characters of a wire, that indeed do help. Sipped that ASR cool-aid, then tested and listened: they like their perspective. My $8 hospital grade outlets, while a princely sum, removed all wobble, doubt ASR would agree with this conclusion. By far the biggest weak point for a power cord is the mechanical connections. Bad connections = conditions for high line side resistance feeding your power supply. Increased resistance can conditionally lead to reduced performance during high current demands on the load side. Shielding, depending on your cable management, can prevent noise injection (magnetic/capacitive coupling) into unshielded low voltage DC cords (streamer/DAC/whatever).
So, yes, it "depends" is the solution a 50k power cable or an 8 dollar outlet or nothing... because of this, now am making new power cords! Some nice double shielded polyethylene VFD wire will do the trick perfectly.

I use Kimber Kable all round including Super & UltraFuses internally and externally on the DSP8000USE's.

This is the link in the UK. I'm sure you will find a US site.

All items may be bought on a 60 day return basis.

https://www.russandrews.com/

Enjoy!

If you can't find a power cable that satisfies you for $100, then you won't for even $10k.
And then the problem is somewhere else.

I use Supra Cable
My opinion is that there are more advantages to using special cables on amplifiers and other electronics, as they do not radiate much and can affect other electronics. But I use Supra Cable on all my equipment, without being able to say that there is any big difference in the sound in my DSP 7200SE l, r, c. But when I use Supra cables on electronics like 861, 808 and 818 I imagine it will be better.