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Power cable education needed

Hi everyone. I need some education on power cables. I have been reading that a good power cable is vital to a good sounding system. If that is true wouldn’t the companies the make the components include a good power cable to insure their product sounds the best that it can ? Should I evaluate the power cables in all of the components in my system? 
ronboco
raysmtb1's avatar
raysmtb1
808 posts
 
So then can you please explain to me what these giant power cords bring to the table? I purchased a couple and I couldn’t notice a difference. I’ve got good hearing and approximately 50 K in my system. I’m trying to figure out what a $10,000 Power cord brings to the equation. I’d love to have an explain to me. Thanks
molingus
15 posts
 
It's hard for me to explain, too. But, let's say you're replacing a power supply for your laptop or something. You need one with exactly the same voltage, probably 19, but the amps doesn't need to be exact. When the laptop says the power supply is "19V, 5A max," it means 5 is the max amps the device will ever use. So a 19V, 10A supply won't hurt it. The only reason it would draw more power, measured in watts, which is volts x amps, is if there were a short inside the unit, or maybe you attached a 32V supply, or something. In that case, the fuse will burn, cutting all power. Putting a larger fuse in your amp won't supercharge it. It only puts the component in danger. It's like bungy jumping off a bridge and adding 30 feet to the cord so you'll have a longer ride. 
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Jump on Purist or Tara asap do the entire system be a sport
jerkface
73 posts
 
So then can you please explain to me what these giant power cords bring to the table? I purchased a couple and I couldn’t notice a difference. I’ve got good hearing and approximately 50 K in my system. I’m trying to figure out what a $10,000 Power cord brings to the equation. I’d love to have an explain to me. Thanks

Asking the wrong person.  Personally, I can't even see how such a product could be successfully A/B'ed to ascertain a difference.  I don't argue with people who believe in expensive power cables, because to them I'm just pissing on their fun, and I don't want to be that guy.  
molingus
15 posts
 
As far as the power cord, I don't know what they bring. Certainly, you need one that is big enough to supply the current needed. An 16 gauge copper wire is rated for about 20 amps, way more than any consumer grade amp. In fact, your electrical panel breakers are probably only rated for 15. Also, a shielded cable can block RF noise, but only for the length of the cable. It won't do anything about the noise the line picked up from the power station to the outlet you plug it into
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