AC Cable is there a difference in brands?

Kingsrule

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So is all 12/2, 10/2, etc. AC cable the same sonically?
Anyone ever compare brands?
 

amirm

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Apr 2, 2010
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Are you asking about the wire in your building or the removable kind hooked up to your gear?
 

Kingsrule

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AC wire, not PC's
Wire in the building....
 

Speedskater

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The differences will be in the installation!
Many electricians & audiophiles don't follow best engineering practices.
In N. America, Romex® will be better than the common way that 3 wire and conduit is done.

AC power conductors don't have a given sound. The differences in sound that you hear are in how your equipment handles the challenges that the AC power gives them.
 

Kingsrule

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What about JPS Labs ac cable? Does it really sound better?

I think Bruce has his studio wired with it...
 

MrAcoustat

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What about JPS Labs ac cable? Does it really sound better?

I think Bruce has his studio wired with it...

The important thing here is what you believe.
 

audioarcher

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What about JPS Labs ac cable? Does it really sound better?

I think Bruce has his studio wired with it...

Pretty hard to do an A/B comparison of them unless you wire your room with both and listen.

Since power cords can make your system sound different, I would imagine different A/C lines can as well. Just never done a comparison of A/C lines.
 
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Bruce B

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The main thing I like about the JPS Aluminata is the shielding. You can take a voltage detector and go up and down the length of the cable and get nothing. Of course I have JPS everywhere, including in-wall out to the Equi=tech.
Equi=tech actually recommended JPS. You don't see that often!
 

Andre Marc

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The main thing I like about the JPS Aluminata is the shielding. You can take a voltage detector and go up and down the length of the cable and get nothing. Of course I have JPS everywhere, including in-wall out to the Equi=tech.
Equi=tech actually recommended JPS. You don't see that often!

Fyi..you can take a voltage detector to a $5 stock Chinese sourced PC and still get nothing.
 
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audioarcher

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I don't think that a NCVT (Non Contact Voltage Tester) is very sensitive to RFI.

True. If it was it would not be doing it's job. They are designed to detect the changing magnetic field around AC energized objects. I have not had good luck with those testers anyway. I prefer to use a volt meter to be sure the power is off.

Never the less a shielded cable will block RFI better than a non shielded cable. Which could be a problem with long runs like we find in house wiring.
 

es347

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I installed #12 stranded 2/C with grd..shielded, terminating the shield wire on panel grd. At the front wall I terminated it on two Hubbell hospital grade duplexes. Does it sound better? Of course it does! ;) The cable is out there but sort of hard to find. Good luck with your search for the audio golden fleece!
 

Orb

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True. If it was it would not be doing it's job. They are designed to detect the changing magnetic field around AC energized objects. I have not had good luck with those testers anyway. I prefer to use a volt meter to be sure the power is off.

Never the less a shielded cable will block RFI better than a non shielded cable. Which could be a problem with long runs like we find in house wiring.

Yeah and this becomes even more of a consideration when one considers that it has been proven house wiring acts as both an antenna and transmitter with regards to WLAN and other wireless broadcast technologies-wireless landlines-mobiles/wireless doorbells and similar products/etc.
The BBC (their technology research team-dept that are very knowledgeable and experienced) did a pretty in-depth analysis-study-report on this awhile back.
Not saying what is transmitted by house wiring is legible, but it adds to the complexity of interference considerations.

Cheers
Orb
 

MrAcoustat

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I installed #12 stranded 2/C with grd..shielded, terminating the shield wire on panel grd. At the front wall I terminated it on two Hubbell hospital grade duplexes. Does it sound better? Of course it does! ;) The cable is out there but sort of hard to find. Good luck with your search for the audio golden fleece!

These two Hubbell HBL-8200HR receptacles have been in my systems since 1984 the grip is still as good as new, price paid back then $113.10 for a box of 10 installed many for friends, today the king is Furutech GTX D BUT back then the Hubbell HBL-8200 HR was a winner.

Hubbell     HBL-8200HR.JPG Furutech GTX D.Rodium. 3pc Kit $434.00.jpg Furutech GTX Duo = $345.00.jpg
 
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Speedskater

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Sep 30, 2010
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Ham radio operatiors sometimes use these radio receivers when searching for RFI interference.
Notes from Ham forums:

If all you want is a noise sniffer, look at the Tecsun PL380. About $45 from amazon, and it's a very nice portable AM/FM RX.
For general purpose RFI DFing I like the Tecsun PL660SLV

***************************************************
I assume that the reason some prefer the Tecsun PL-380 is COST. That's
unfortunate because for $60 more (based on current Amazon.com prices) the
Tecsun PL-660SLV is a MUCH better choice for all around RFI hunting.

I have been using the TECSUN PL660SLV for over a year now and it has helped
me tremendously in locating low frequency RFI sources. The Tecsun receiver
is one tool in my arsenal.
 

Chuck Lee

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Feb 5, 2015
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The first time I ran dedicated lines I used Carol stranded copper water proof 10 gauge.

An electrician/audio friend said that 10gauge solid core romex would be better.

Was it?

Just trade offs as usual.

The Carol was darker sounding,the Romex was a bit more revealing.

I could live with either.

No real winner.
 

Kingsrule

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Thanks Chuck

That's the kind of feedback I am looking for
 

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