Compelled by Power
A fun aspect of being an enthusiast in any hobby is the range of personalisation and customization options available. Today’s enthusiast market is chock full of all kinds of things which can be used to not only enhance performance but also the aesthetics of whatever it is your interested in. The Audio game is no different with all kinds of accessories which can be bought to help squeeze out more performance from some already pretty impressive kit. The journey for this, when done right can be quite rewarding.
An avenue which is notoriously looked at when upgrading a Hi-fi or home theatre setup is anything and everything to do with power, mainly the power supply. Upgrades can be as massive as a standalone transformer unit. Conversely, it can be as simple as a swap out of a power lead, to something like this rather competitively priced NRG-Z3.
The cable itself is pretty thick with a black braided design with red thread like details. The terminations on both ends are also robust and feel dense. A plus point in my opinion is the rather smallish hardware when compared to some of the other options. The size makes the NRG-Z3 convenient during installation not needing a ton of room. The weight is also ideal as it doesn’t introduce unwanted strain on the connectors on both the component and wall outlet. Some heavier designs require props or supports to keep it upright. If not done, the weight could fatigue the connector and potentially damage it in the long run.
Plugged into my Rega Elex-R and there was a noticeable impact to the overall sound. The noise floor was the first major change with a noticeable reduction which gave the overall sound more focus and depth. Vocal timbres were more nuanced and had a little more air in the tone. It was as though there was an injection of dynamics into the sound, adding more emotion into the mix. Just to be sure it wasn’t pure placebo, I brought over a couple of “untrained” ears to see if they noticed anything, and to my relief they all did.
Please do take my experience here with a grain of salt as in truth the impact of cabling can be very small to negligible in many cases. There are too many variables involved which in every case will lead to differing results. In my scenario there was a benefit, how so, I can’t really technically explain it. Nonetheless, the obvious side of it being the build quality and aesthetic is an assured positive. The cable also doesn’t in any way introduce any detriment, another detail worth the mention.
The Audioquest NRG-Z3 is an easy recommendation if you are in the market to upgrade your mains cables. Whether it’s an amplifier, a source component or an AV receiver, the choice to go with the NRG-Z3 will not be a bad choice. Even if the performance gains are negligible, the superior build quality and eye pleasing looks will still keep owners happy. Not to mention impress everyone who looks at your kit!
The NRG-Z3 and a wide variety of other power lead options are available from Audioquest. The NRG-Z3 retails for RM 1799 (2m length).
