Audiophile power cords vs. the cables in your walls

[Kingrex]

Peter,
Can you confirm if DDK Ching Cheng's are copper or tinned copper wire?

Mine are tinned copper.

 

[microstrip]

Mine are tinned copper.

Did you get them from DDK?

 

[Kingrex]

Did you get them from DDK?

Yes

 

[Three quid]

I have some I bought from ddk. One that I cut to directly connect to a distribution box, it’s all copper. Mine is definitely not tinned. I want to say it looked a little oxidized too… I’m not using it anymore illl try to find it and get pictures.

 

[Kingrex]

I will look at mine again. I though it was tinned. I have a bunch of those type cords so I may have lost track of which are DDK.

 

[PeterA]

I will look at mine again. I though it was tinned. I have a bunch of those type cords so I may have lost track of which are DDK.

The ones that are about nine feet long with clear molded male end.

 

[microstrip]

I have some I bought from ddk. One that I cut to directly connect to a distribution box, it’s all copper. Mine is definitely not tinned. I want to say it looked a little oxidized too… I’m not using it anymore illl try to find it and get pictures.

Just took out the C19 plug that I fitted to one of mine - it is also copper. Fortunately it does not look oxidized ...

 

[microstrip]

The ones that are about nine feet long with clear molded male end.

The ones I got from DDK had both clear and black male end. He told me they were the same cable. Both have the green dot, so they are certified for hospital use. Measured capacitance between wires is around 210 pF, 1.4 microhenry short circuit inductance according to my records. Those are typical values for similar gauge common good quality cheap power cables. Audiophile cables can vary between much lower or much higher capacitance.

 

[matthias]

- we see so little experimenting from audiophile power cable makers with alternatives for US, UK and Shuko plugs, such as IEC or Neutrik powercon used in studios and PA systems.

+1
I replaced all mains connectors of my devices by neutrik powercon 32a

 

[Kingrex]

Mine are clearly marked Ching Cheng. Have clear male and black female. The solder makes it hard to tell of its tinned or not. I might lean to it being unplated. They are all 14 awg.

 

[microstrip]

Mine are clearly marked Ching Cheng. Have clear male and black female. The solder makes it hard to tell of its tinned or not. I might lean to it being unplated. They are all 14 awg.

There are several different types of 14AWG with similar aspect labeled Ching Cheng, You have to compare the markings with those with the DDK photos in WBF.

 

[Kingrex]

There are several different types of 14AWG with similar aspect labeled Ching Cheng, You have to compare the markings with those with the DDK photos in WBF.

I don't care enough to dig up those images. Just say I don't have any. I don't use them for anything.

 

[Folsom]

After reading some of the theories on power cables in this and other threads, I’ve been wondering why:
- for the IEC connector audiophile power cable makers don’t implement something like the IEC lock (https://ieclock.com/ ) that is used in the IT world. Common sense suggests such a lock guarantees a far more solid contact between the IEC inlet and the power cable.
- we see so little experimenting from audiophile power cable makers with alternatives for US, UK and Shuko plugs, such as IEC or Neutrik powercon used in studios and PA systems. Alternative power connectors of course are less versatile and might require a change of wall sockets and power distributors, but if the advantages are large enough, this seems a small price to pay.

Any insights from members with more knowledge on this are appreciated.

They don't improve the connection, they just stop the cable from falling out. If you remove the lock piece the internal connectors are just as good or shitty as anything else. Take a closer look, it's just little thing that snugs onto ground if you try to pull it out without releasing.

I like M101's cables very much - specifically, their Ethernet and power cables. Lubomir Dostal, the PhD inventor and proprietor of the company is not afraid to A/B his cables at audio shows, and I've been sufficiently impressed to include five of his cables in my system.
I looked up his patent on power cable design, and the abstract reads as follows:
The resistance of the electric cable of the present disclosure is surprisingly decreased despite a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the conductor when at least one metal slug is positioned at an end of the cable. Conductor wires, which may or may not be individually insulated, may extend around a metal slug or through an aperture of the slug. In combination with at least one metal slug, the cross-sectional area of individual wires or the amount of wires within a stranded wire cable may be substantially reduced without seeing an expected proportionate increase in electrical resistance, and surprisingly, a decrease in resistance may be observed.
Now specific design applications obviously go far beyond "positioning" a "metal slug" at "an end of the cable." But the two points that I find fascinating are his repeated use of the word "surprisingly," which indicates to me that a scientific explanation eludes him (and he's a scientist); and secondly, that there is an actual decrease in resistance observed as a result. In other words, an outcome occurred which was not predicted by presently accepted thinking.
One of mankind's greatest follies throughout our history is thinking that our present state of knowledge is the endpoint. It was not much more than 100 years ago that the Michelson–Morley experiment was finally ending the almost universal belief in the scientific community that the "aether" pervaded the universe and accounted for wave transmissions. I will use theory and past observations to guide my actions, but I am absolutely comfortable accepting that there are also phenomena that can be experienced but not presently explained, and I won't shut those out just because I don't understand them.

​

What is any of that suppose to mean? A metal slug in relation to the cable in what way? What kind of metal? Is it between windings or in series? That's the most useless information I've seen in a minute. That's like saying, "my works better with a full container in it."

Besides that low resistance isn't the highest desire in a cable anyhow.

I have less issues with multiple runs than all the gear on 1 wire and the massive amount of component to component noise generated and shared on the single branch.

Europe has no code issues that are problematic to proper power to a stereo with multiple branch wires. You actually have better panels in some regard as the comb bus on CB is copper, as well as the ground and neutral bars. We have to fight aluminum in the US.

There are copper bus bar panels in the US. But it seems like they hardly ever get used because they cost more. It seems like the "Homeline" from SquareD is almost ubiquitous and it is aluminum. The better QO is copper.

 

[Atmasphere]

Besides that low resistance isn't the highest desire in a cable anyhow.

If we are talking about a power cable, low resistance is at the top of the list of desirable attributes, since most of the problems with power cables being audible have to do with Voltage drop across the cable.

 

[Zuman]

What is any of that suppose to mean? A metal slug in relation to the cable in what way? What kind of metal? Is it between windings or in series? That's the most useless information I've seen in a minute. That's like saying, "my works better with a full container in it."

Besides that low resistance isn't the highest desire in a cable anyhow.

You DO understand that's my point, right (that there can be more going on than we can presently explain in power transmission applications, including why an undefined "metal slug" at "an end of a cable" should lower resistance)? I'm certainly not saying that lower resistance is the only goal.

 

[Atmasphere]

You DO understand that's my point, right (that there can be more going on than we can presently explain in power transmission applications, including why an undefined "metal slug" at "an end of a cable" should lower resistance)?

IMO, your point isn't actually a thing in engineering circles. An undefined 'metal slug' at 'an end of a cable' wont reduce resistance. It will raise it, that is if the AC power is actually flowing through it. If the AC power is not, the slug is there for show and talking points.

 

[Zuman]

IMO, your point isn't actually a thing in engineering circles. An undefined 'metal slug' at 'an end of a cable' wont reduce resistance. It will raise it, that is if the AC power is actually flowing through it. If the AC power is not, the slug is there for show and talking points.

Agreed. I'm also a scientist (retired/wildlife conservation...which is also rationally-based). But the patent application satisfied the examiner to a sufficient degree that it was granted. I'm simply noting that the inventor was "surprised" by the outcome - which you and I are, also - so that indicates to me that there are variables at play which have not yet been identified. That's the extent of my argument.

 

[Atmasphere]

Agreed. I'm also a scientist (retired/wildlife conservation...which is also rationally-based). But the patent application satisfied the examiner to a sufficient degree that it was granted. I'm simply noting that the inventor was "surprised" by the outcome - which you and I are, also - so that indicates to me that there are variables at play which have not yet been identified. That's the extent of my argument.

I have a few patents myself. When I was challenged on one of them the examiner cited some of the prior art, one of which was a patent of mine.

I really got the feeling at the time that they don't really have expertise in the fields for which the patents are for; unsurprising as the patent should be something that is new. So they can be fooled which is why there are humorous books about patents that were clearly granted on that basis.

 

[Folsom]

If we are talking about a power cable, low resistance is at the top of the list of desirable attributes, since most of the problems with power cables being audible have to do with Voltage drop across the cable.

That would be nice if it were that simple. Low resistance is as simple as using 10-14awg. The sound and why the sound changes has a lot more to do with other attributes, in more significant ways. Sadly it doesn't measure like anything really so it is insanely frustrating to understand why it does affect sound so much.

 

[DasguteOhr]

If we are talking about a power cable, low resistance is at the top of the list of desirable attributes, since most of the problems with power cables being audible have to do with Voltage drop across the cable.

Exactly, it is best to use high-purity copper cable, good ferrules with suitable pliers. The contact surfaces should be heavily silver-plated, such as Neutrik Powercon or Kaiser plugs ( contacts& screws thick silverplated)