Audiophile power cords vs. the cables in your walls

[bonzo75]

Gary Koh wrote some very interesting posts on power cables in WBF years ago, explaining the why's of his power cables. Unfortunately his power cables are too stiff to get CE certification and we can't try them in Europe.

What is the issue with stiffness that stops CE certification

 

[microstrip]

What is the issue with stiffness that stops CE certification

I do not remember exactly, the information came from Gary Koh. As far as I remember a power cable is also tested for bending capability in a large number of cycles - minimum bending ratio is another parameter.

 

[DSkip]

My water hose works perfectly fine, but when I want a drink of water, I tend to get it from my filtered refrigerator line. Call me silly, but I think it tastes better.

 

[unfairlane]

Gary Koh wrote some very interesting posts on power cables in WBF years ago, explaining the why's of his power cables. Unfortunately his power cables are too stiff to get CE certification and we can't try them in Europe.

I`ve done and sold "audio only" pc`s from swedish EKKJ 3x2,5mm. Black rubber-cable with thread-shielding.

 

[dan31]

I have no doubt the PC’s that I have perform better than the stock PC’s from the manufacturer. If you understand the design of your components power supply you can see the potential benefits of a better designed PC. I have all linear power supplies in my system. If you have switch mode supplies different PC’s may have less of an impact.

 

[Folsom]

Solid core cables come loose and the plugs. There is no plug in existence that can exert enough force to hold solid 12awg once you start wrestling it around. (Well no plug that fits into a wall socket)

 

[unfairlane]

Solid core cables come loose and the plugs. There is no plug in existence that can exert enough force to hold solid 12awg once you start wrestling it around. (Well no plug that fits into a wall socket)

Really? I have made, used and sold 12awg solid core powercables since the 90`s. Never had any problems

 

[bazelio]

Bazelio, how ironic. Dave extols the virtues of CC. But the one place he'll say it has zero benefit is the tt psu.

You're saying you don't hear much benefit from CC...except on yr tt.

I'm not saying I heard improvements on my TT; I'm saying that I don't think TT power cord matters. But I've never dreamed of trying to compare, either. The cord provides power to the controller. My wow/flutter and variation are measurably good. What else do I need?

 

[miniguy]

I'm not saying I heard improvements on my TT; I'm saying that I don't think TT power cord matters. But I've never dreamed of trying to compare, either. The cord provides power to the controller. My wow/flutter and variation are measurably good. What else do I need?

You should keep an open mind and not assume that a PC will not affect a TT motor controller. My experience in comparing power cords on my TW-Acustic motor controller has demonstrated the same differences among those power cords when they are used on my electronics. It’s easy to hear, though I understand that all motor controllers are different and may not react similarly.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Thanx Miniguy, if I was to believe some people, I'm imagining things hearing differences upgrading my stock captive pwr cord on tt psu to current choice. You've backed up my experience.

 

[miniguy]

Solid core cables come loose and the plugs. There is no plug in existence that can exert enough force to hold solid 12awg once you start wrestling it around. (Well no plug that fits into a wall socket)

FYI, Acoustic Revive makes power cables employing elliptical cross section solid conductors. The conduit style shield apparently improves flexibility. Here is one example, their current top model which uses Furutech NCF connectors.
http://highfidelity.pl/@main-901&lang=en

 

[Folsom]

If the metallurgy isn’t just copper, or something a bit odd, it might be more flexible.

Regardless of whether they still work, I wouldn’t trust a single cable with solid copper wire to have good compression at the connector. If you reopen them later after making them then you will probably find what I’ve seen... jiggly wire building up carbon.

 

[unfairlane]

If the metallurgy isn’t just copper, or something a bit odd, it might be more flexible.

Regardless of whether they still work, I wouldn’t trust a single cable with solid copper wire to have good compression at the connector. If you reopen them later after making them then you will probably find what I’ve seen... jiggly wire building up carbon.

Never happened to me and I`ve been doing this for some time. But you need to be a bit handy, know what you are up against. And understand not to bend a solid conductor too much. But it`s worth it, anything else degrades the "signal".

 

[Folsom]

I believe nothing you’re saying. Have a nice day.

 

[miniguy]

Thanx Miniguy, if I was to believe some people, I'm imagining things hearing differences upgrading my stock captive pwr cord on tt psu to current choice. You've backed up my experience.

And just to drive the point home, look at this. A $5450 retail power cord connected to my motor controller. Crazy, huh? Common sense says it shouldn’t make a difference. But it does.

 

[tima]

I read somewhere that the Ching Chengs are anything but neutral ( whatever that means) and are in fact highly veiled...leading the listener to believe that what they hear is a change towards neutrality, but in fact once compared to a truly resolving cable that is not veiled-- a realization of how corrupting of the sound quality they truly are!

The above characterization you read somewhere doesn't seem helpful because it begs the question, ie, it assumes what it trys to prove.

Do you have the reference so others may read? Thnx.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I estimate that I will get around to comparing power cords between four and six years after I hatch the system. That should give Marty plenty of time to conduct an exhaustive power cord analysis and comparison — so I won’t have to!

 

[spiritofmusic]

So Ron, his ears and brain are your ears and brain? I'm not sure which one of you I feel more sorry for Lol.

 

[microstrip]

I estimate that I will get around to comparing power cords between four and six years after I hatch the system. That should give Marty plenty of time to conduct an exhaustive power cord analysis and comparison — so I won’t have to!

Ron,

Power cord experiments are mostly individual experiments. People have very different kinds of power mains systems and mains quality, equipment is also very different. IMHO learning from other people can be a good thing in power cables - it introduces significant bias in the process, speeding decisions!

The main question is that we still do not know for sure what we are looking for in a power cable. IMHO we have two possibilities - to be a non believer or listening to them in order to select a preferred one.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I agree, Francisco. But I remain in awe of Marty’s seemingly infinite patience to compare the sonic differences among, for example, different AC outlet metallurgies and power cord plugs. I don’t remotely have the patience — or the interest — for that.

As far as I’m concerned Marty can select the semi-finalists of the power cords, and I will choose by listening myself from among that approved group. And I do like Gary’s Absolute Fidelity, and Cardas Clear Beyond and MasterBuilt Ultra power cords.