Power Cords - Equipment Priority?

DO NOT ever use solid core wire for component power cables since it is not recommended by many electrical codes due to fatigue failures (i.e. breaking).

Probably the majority of audio grade aftermarket power cords made today use solid core wire for the hot and neutral conductors in their construction.

Individual insulated solid core wires are paralleled together to make a larger gauge conductor.

Jim

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it!

@jea48 - I sorta generalised - I should have said DO NOT use ROMEX solid core wire. 

A case could be made for higher quality solid core wire being softer - as in the case of Gutwire cables. 

But I prefer not to use solid conductors at all because apart from breaking, the clamp in the connector can work loose resulting in arching.

And that's not the only problem - some cables  use wire that has insulation not rated for mains use,  e.g. they actually use speaker or interconnect wire for hot and neutral - I only use wire rated to 600v - a common mains rating.

Beware of cables that have forged UL stickers - not a good sign and very hard to spot

One cable I purchased around 10 years ago had LIVE/NEUTRAL wires connected in reverse polarity - which would make the neutral side of your components power supply circuitry - LIVE!

Lots to be aware of - another reason for going with a trusted brand or build it yourself

Regards - Steve

I have to agree with boxer12 and jbrrp.  Over the past 20 years, power cords have made the largest impact in my system when it came to cable upgrades (i.e., ahead of IC and spkr wire).  Depending on your box count, IME the first place the cord should go is the amplfier and a close second on your digital source (with a PC designed specifically for digital gear). 

On another point, off topic a bit, is the use of isolation transformers.  I've owned several well known PLCs in the past, but the most effective by far is an isolation transformer.  While there are several audiophile approved companies making them and audiophile prices upwards of $2K, I found a hospital grade Powervar iso xfmr on Ebay for a tad over $200.  I put in some better outlets/wire and WOW!  Line noise gone, lower noise floor, more texture, etc.and no downside.  Granted Imy amp is only 100w/ch, but larger iso xfmr are available. 

If you upgrade the power cables going from your conditioner to your amp(s), do you also need to upgrade the power cable going from the wall to the conditioner? 

Wondering if it's a case of the "weakest link" here, or if the power conditioner cable itself doesn't matter as much because of what the conditioner does to the power once it's received it from the wall, thus negating the importance of the cable from the wall to the conditioner.