I use the t tech cartriges and the machine starts at a lower voltage so no need for the chord as u do if you use the cheyenne tips The t tech needles have nice liners and the quality is better than cheyenne so far that ive seen. I use it everyday. I constantly have bad cheyenne mags. The needles are above the guide in the tip. And the liners are more like bugpin liners where t tech is a looser needle group so its more comfortable to me. More like standard needle groupings. I got frustated paying so much for an item with low or little quality control. So to sum it up you dont nee the special chord with the t tech tips on the hawk n hawk spirit. I know nothing about the thunder tho. -Carson