Shunyata Research power cables suggestions for my system

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by HiFiHippie

That is a great review, Stephen. I can’t wait for my Sigma V2 XC to get here. The review has me wondering what the Sigma V2 Nr’s would do for my McIntosh amps, I am currently using the Alpha V2 Nr’s With very good results. Any thoughts?

It depends on a number of things; how big your room is, the size of your speakers and their current requirements to run effectively, and how loud you listen. The most accurate analogy I can use with respect to power cords is horsepower in sports cars. Sports cars running on big, fast, open race tracks can make use of, and benefit from, more horsepower. On the other hand, racing cars that run on tighter, twistier tracks where maximal horsepower is not critical to fast lap times (the only relevant measure of performance in motor racing), then less horsepower that is more "tractable" allows for better performance.

So, if you've got a big room, with big speakers and listen at fairly high SPLs, you'll get better dynamics, immediacy, and current from using the Sigma NR v2s. But if your room and speakers are smaller and you listen at lower levels, the Alpha V2, as you've found out, are wonderful as well. Personally, I like having Sigma level on power amps because their job is to provide maximal current in as short a time as possible to drive loudspeakers in with immediacy and dynamics; I prefer Alpha NRv2 for preamps, DACs, and phono stages, because in my smallish space, the Sigma PCs give more horsepower than I prefer for my application, in my home. As always, YMMV.

These PCs are expensive, so my recommendation is always to rent in cables and and listen for yourself in your room with your amps and speakers.