audiphile power cords


Do upgraded power cords really make a significant difference in sound quality? I have a Jolida 502p that I think sounds pretty good. What do you recommend for a power cord that would make a significant improvement?
al2214
Romex wiring found in many buildings actually works quite well. So it really becomes all about that last few feet and also how well the power cord is terminated- molded cords generally are not terminated very well.

Ralph (Atmasphere),

Are you saying that a power cord made from Romex with quality terminations would make a great power cord if you can deal with the stiffness? Would you recommend twisting, braiding, or leaving the conductors parallel?
Ketchup, pending Ralph's response I'll mention that I'm pretty certain using Romex as a power cord would be a violation of electrical codes, and potentially an excuse for an insurance company to not pay in the event of a fire.

Romex is designed for in-wall or other uses which would not cause it to be repeatedly flexed. If it is used in an application where it might be repeatedly flexed, the concern is that fractures could develop, which could lead to internal hot spots as a result of the increase in resistance that would occur at the locations of those fractures, which could result in fire. (The heat generated by a resistance is proportional to the amount of power it dissipates, which for a given amount of current is proportional to the amount of resistance).

While it wouldn't surprise me if there are some audiophiles who have used Romex for power cords, it's not something that can be recommended.

Regards,
-- Al
Thanks Al. I'm aware of the dangers of using solid core wire for power cords, but you bring up a good point. There are (or at least were) some aftermarket companies that make solid core power cords. I assume they are not UL listed and could result in insurance claim problems. I'm not sure I would want anything like that in my system.
Interesting question, deserves a good answer but I haven't got one, well actually I might. Not all gear benefits from an Audiophile power cord. I have found that most tube amps and some solid state amps derive very little benefit whereas many other ss amps do. This phenominum may have a lot to do with its power supply. But anyone who owns a Class D switching amp knows that a quality aftermarket power cord can make all the difference in the world.
Phd, please go back and reread some of my earlier comments and you will see an answer based on measurements as to why power cords make a difference, which includes tube and solid state amps.

Ketchup, I'm with Al on this one: I don't recommend having anything to do with a power cord made of ROMEX!!
I had a signal magic PC on my EAR 868. When I replaced it with the Triode Wire Labs 7+ it made a big difference.
Leading edges of vocals were softer. Unnecessary sibilance was gone. A much more organic sound all around.
So I'd say yes, a PC can make a difference.
I'm not an Electrical Engineer or even slightly technically inclined, so don't know how or why.
Just saying it as I hear it....
I used to DIY power cords out of Belden and other cables, yes, including Romex. Shielded 12ga. was good too, and I was happy. They got power to the equipment from the wall, were not prone to EMI, and this all seemed really good!

If you had told me I would be buying silver foil power cords for a big chunk of change, I would have laughed.

Until I passed through Atlanta and went to Verastarr Audio. Mike had invited me in to hear his power cords anytime, so I thought I would stop by. A phone call arranged a demo.

I was on my way to Florida, I had decided to move after selling my small business. My MN house was being completely remodelled, and all my systems were taken down and in storage for the foreseeable future. I sure didn't need to buy anything.

It was the best demo I ever had, and the best I had ever hear a system sound. I have never hear Magnepans sound like that, ever. They never actually disappeared because the speakers simply were _not there_, ever. This is unbelievable because this rarely happens with Magnepans, and when it does, they generally disappear for only a few seconds at a time, not so with his system!

I had never experienced this anywhere close to the degree I heard it at Verastarr.

Mike Powell had a fully modified Jolida integrated driving Magnepan MG-12 speakers, with his Grand Illusion II power cord on it, and his DAC had a Grand Illusion II power cord too. At the time, he was voicing the newest revision Grand Illusion II power cords

To get some sort of baseline, I asked him to take the power cord off the DAC, and put a general purpose, cheapie IEC cord in its place,

After about ten seconds, I asked him to please put the Grand Illusion II cord back into place.

The music had been completely robbed and stripped of the dynamics, rhythm, and snap, the PRAT was diminished, the goosebumps on top of goosebumps were all gone. (Normally this would leave one layer of goosebumps, but in this case, they were ALL gone.)

The sense of being completely immersed in the musical moment was completely gone! Simply put, it sounded _like a stereo_.

Like I said, I would have laughed. if you had told me I was going to spend good money on a power cord, I would have laughed at you. Even more so if you would have asked me to purchase them when my system was in storage, and not even set up...

But MSRP got discounted, and then it got affordable. The credit card emerged. I knew I had to have the cords on 2 CD players and a preamp, for starters...

And the fact that I was remodeling and my system was in storage became moot- I knew I would have it together again, and I needed what these cords brought to the party.

Now I own three of them, and I'm convinced that nothing but a foil power cord will give you the results I have gotten. There is simply something about foil topology that just sounds right.

I hadn't actually bought anything from Mike for many years, probably since 2010. Usually I don't buy ANYTHING new! I was happy to put my money down.

(I realize this sounds like a shill, but I am not affiliated with Verastarr in any way other than a customer. And it had been five years since I had previously purchased his lowest priced interconnects and speaker wire.

To the OP- send Mike your Jolida for the full mod package. When I heard that integrated, the performance was so good, it made me upset! I have a pair of tube amps that retailed for 45k, and another that were 30k. That modified jolida... grr. The fact that anyone got that level of performance for that little money made me feel like I missed the boat...
Hi Theduker, I enjoyed reading your post, very interesting to say the least, well written, kept my attention, may I ask what part of Florida you going to?,:-)
Miami currently but looking all over for a house for me! Miami is expensive at the moment, so I'm looking everywhere! I am sure the keys are a bit isolated, and day drinking in my camper van isn't something I aspire to... Nevertheless, I am looking there, and in Miami, and Broward and Palm Beach as well as gulf side...
The house I've rented could desperately use the ASC RodenTraps that all the chi-chi 'philes are using.
Yes Stealth V12 power cords on my entire system brought it to a new level of resolution and detail.
Hi Theducker, thank you for your reply, you might check out northwest Florida, Destin is quite nice, so is fort Walton, and Pensacola. :-)