HIGH Quality Electric Service Panel

Per the MSB topic -- one thing I have discovered through power cord experimentation and testing is that the larger gauge solid-core A/C power wire will have a natural roll-off of high frequencies. This was very apparent to me when I constructed a power cord using three 16awg solid-core conductors for each of the live/neutral/ground on my power cord. What happened was that I lost high frequency detail. It made my equipment sound "lo-fi" and it actually caused the midrange/midbass frequencies to blare some. Using 18awg solid-core worked better, but the best was when using 20awg solid-core conductors (my power cords are now all 6 x 20awg, which makes a 12awg power cord).

That being said, if you are using a larger gauge solid-core Romex, such as an 8awg or 6awg, this may naturally help roll-off or remove any high frequency noise coming in from the power grid. Just make sure you are using solid-core.  Stranded THHN (or similar) won’t do the same thing. Stranded wiring will actually help accentuate high frequency problems. I would just make sure that the equipment power cords are able to support the high frequency charge/discharge required for your equipment to obtain those charges fast enough for the power supply. Rhodium plated outlets and power cord connectors (such as Furutech) will definitely help in restoring the high frequency detail.

auxinput said:

That being said, if you are using a larger gauge solid-core Romex, such as an 8awg or 6awg, this may naturally help roll-off or remove any high frequency noise coming in from the power grid. Just make sure you are using solid-core. Stranded THHN (or similar) won’t do the same thing.

#10awg solid copper wire is the largest found in Romex. #8 and larger conductors are made from stranded wire.

The largest single solid insulated wire manufactured, per NEC (National Electrical Code) is #8. I might add a real pain in the a** to work with.

For those thinking of using #8awg or #6awg wire for a 20 amp branch not only must the wire size be reduced at the receptacle to a maximum size of #10awg the wire that connects to the 20 amp breaker in the electrical panel must also be reduced. (Of course where the wire is stranded a crimp wire to fork lug could be used.)

Something else to consider when using #8 or #6 Romex is the number of conductors in the Romex. IF you use 8-3 with ground or 6-3 with ground you take the chance of an induced voltage being transferred from the Hot and neutral current carrying conductors onto the equipment grounding conductor of the Romex cable because of the design, geometry, of the cable. Though I have not seen 8-2 with ground, let alone 6-2 with ground, Romex apparently it is manufactured. Two conductor with ground is what should be used to minimize induced voltage onto the equipment grounding conductor.

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As for the MSB article, I don’t think the differences in SQ the listener hears, whether the wire is 12, 10, 8, or 6 gauge is necessary due to the resistance of the wire. Though for a long run VD, Voltage Drop, might come into play where the connected load is a power amp of a descent size, wattage. If that was the only reason VD would not be an issue for a dedicated branch circuit used to only power a preamp or a digital front end connected load.

So what is possibly making the differences with the different sizes of branch circuit conductors? Not sure, but I wonder if it has something to due more with impedance caused from inductive reactance of the power supply of the audio equipment.

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@jea48 - thanks, I haven't looked at 8awg or 6awg Romex, so I didn't realize they were only available in stranded.  Also, you're right on the outlets only allowing a max 10awg wire, though the Furutech outlets do have multiple inputs, so you could splay the 8awg strands into two bundles for the Furutech outlet inputs, but probably not recommended.  It's best just to use a double-run of 10awg Romex if you wanted less resistance to the outlet (and keep solid-core wiring).  This gives you an equivalent 7awg.

It's interesting that a single solid insulated 8awg wire is available, and individual wires could be used in this case.  However, they must be run in conduit from the panel all the way to the outlet (per electrical code).  Romex is the only thing that can be run bare in-walls or in attic without having to run through conduit.  And your right that it's probably a freakin pain to work with (too stiff and can't bend enough at right angles).  10awg Romex is hard enough to work with.