Nordost Blue Heaven AC Cord Review

[A Cute Earring]

I voted before I read Amir’s review.

 

[fpitas]

I got a fake version of something similar for $20. It appears to rip my socket out of the wall. Now I need an audiophile electrical outlet...or at least a fake one.

But, what was not considered in this test was the interplay of the Nordost cable with other cables dangling from the equipment: interference is real, it can be measured and heard. Therefore, insulation is crucial.

Sure, this doesn't cost >$400.

On the other hand, why not, if you are a heart surgeon, investment banker, rich kid, or a royal. Can't take it with you...

Because I have better things to do with my money than give it to fraudsters?

 

[amirm]

But, what was not considered in this test was the interplay of the Nordost cable with other cables dangling from the equipment: interference is real, it can be measured and heard. Therefore, insulation is crucial.

Dangling is not a problem as we all have that and none of us are hearing mains noise because of that. Our RCA cables are shielded for that reason and our XLRs are twisted pair for the same. The issue comes up if you have very long runs in a building with wires next to each other and without said protections. Then you get some coupling. But in short cables falling whichever way behind your gear? Not going to happen.

If you were worried about such, you could get shielded power cords for a fraction of the price anyway.

Net, net, "trust your ears." If there is no audible noise, then you are good. If there is, move the cables. I have done this countless times and sources of noise are never this (usually caused by ground loops over unbalanced cables).

 

[edechamps]

Amir, as Professor Danny pointed out, you must have cheap (non audiophile) outlets in your house. You need to upgrade to audiophile approved outlets. If that doesn’t help, it must be the cable leading from your circuit breaker to your outlet. Oh, if that doesn’t work, it must be the cable from the box to your circuit panel. Replace all of your wires and contact your utilities provider to see if they have an audiophile cable option all the way back to the source. Only then will you expedite the sonic Nirvana of expensive cables. Remember, no cable is too expensive.

Takeo Morita approves this message.

 

[fpitas]

Takeo Morita approves this message.

 

[fpitas]

Takeo Morita approves this message.

Next, he needs his own substation. I'm sure the HV at a regular substation is irrevocably contaminated.

 

[ocinn]

Takeo Morita approves this message.

At this point just rip out all of the rectification in your gear and run everything off of a large battery bank that feeds the rails, that you disconnect from the charger to listen

With power cables carrying only a 50/60Hz current, why would anyone care about 'speed' of the cable?

Even 20khz is slow in the grand scheme of electronics. We have copper conductors doing Ghz easily

 

[AudioSceptic]

Thats nothing. MIT ACC 268 Revision 2 Articulation Control Console


View attachment 292026

Oh, boy! When will we see the first $1/4 million cable (or cable pair)?

 

[AudioSceptic]

Hilarious and sad at the same time: knowing that the value of the flight case is approx. 10,000 times more than the cables inside...

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[fpitas]

At this point just rip out all of the rectification in your gear and run everything off of a large battery bank that feeds the rails, that you disconnect from the charger to listen

You joke (I think) but I've seen hardcore "audiophiles" build giant battery packs to power their gear.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Not just audio. I recall back in 1999 they were marketing Cat5 patch cables as Y2K compliant!

But they were, weren't they? ;-)

 

[fpitas]

But they were, weren't they? ;-)

Not a single one glitched, either.

 

[AudioSceptic]

You joke (I think) but I've seen hardcore "audiophiles" build giant battery packs to power their gear.

In the 80s Pink Triangle made a battery powered preamp called the PiP. I can see some virtue in removing a mains transformer from something dealing with such low voltages and high gain.

 

[fpitas]

In the 80s Pink Triangle made a battery powered preamp called the PiP. I can see some virtue in removing a mains transformer from something dealing with such low voltages and high gain.

I have done that, but by using a separate supply (a wall wart with DC output). Some further filtering is in order in the main unit, but the noisy parts are remote.

 

[ocinn]

You joke (I think) but I've seen hardcore "audiophiles" build giant battery packs to power their gear.

Well if people are really irrationally paranoid/OCD about dirty AC, even the nicest commercially available lab generators aren't doing better than -46db THD+N (0.5%), -54 in this case. So skipping AC altogether is the only solution to ease their minds. (I can see how this would actually make sense on phono pres)

and yeah the Red Wine and Audio Consulting battery amps are hilarious

 

[Mnyb]

I’ve heard rumours of people in Japan with completely battery powered tube amps including the high voltage supply?

 

[Hart]

In the 70's I lived across the street from this genius IBM programmer who was also the president of the local Hudson Valley audio society. He had huge banks of wet cells, (home made, not batteries) in his basement. He did not want any transients limited by the power coming into his house. He probably had a short term potential of a few thousand amps. He also had an antenna on his roof collecting the atomic time and digital clocks in every room. All hardwired together. The air in his house was always exactly 70 degrees regardless of the season, and the air in the house was heavily filtered. The windows and storm windows were never opened in the 40 years he lived there from that day he bought the house. Also, if the power went out, the wet cells took over and a few seconds later a generator kicked on. His power was never off for more than a split second. This was 1970, unheard of back then. Interesting guy.

 

[DACslut]

If someone needs a quality 12 AWG power cable and isn't obsessed with "snake-oil" hype and audiophile semantics you can purchase this. I've only seen it in a 10' length. $31.98 on the 'zon w/Prime and I believe it has a 5 year warranty too.

 

[AndreaT]

Amir, as Professor Danny pointed out, you must have cheap (non audiophile) outlets in your house. You need to upgrade to audiophile approved outlets. If that doesn’t help, it must be the cable leading from your circuit breaker to your outlet. Oh, if that doesn’t work, it must be the cable from the box to your circuit panel. Replace all of your wires and contact your utilities provider to see if they have an audiophile cable option all the way back to the source. Only then will you expedite the sonic Nirvana of expensive cables. Remember, no cable is too expensive.

JK, I love these power cable reviews even though I know the conclusion before actually reading them. I do it anyway out of respect for your work and because it is fun. Excellent job as usual.

I would consider building a small water dam with the appropriate length of water flow to generate enough power to run a Swiss Made water turbine coupled to a SOA (silver cables and rare earth magnets) alternator custom designed to minimize (or abolish, why not) 60 Hz harmonics as my next project…LOL!

 

[bobster]

If someone needs a quality 12 AWG power cable and isn't obsessed with "snake-oil" hype and audiophile semantics you can purchase this. I've only seen it in a 10' length. $31.98 on the 'zon w/Prime and I believe it has a 5 year warranty too.

"Extended length" Ridiculous.