It is a very complex question. I think that every manufacturer has their secret sauce. But I can tell you that a lot of parameters influence the power cable. Dielectric, most of good cables are in air. Geometry is very important as well. And there are a lot of other small details that matter more or less depending on the design. I have two completely different designs at moneoone and at the end only the ears can be the judge.
In term of construction, what's the difference between cheap vs. expensive power cables
When it comes to interconnects and speaker cables, it is easier to understand the justification for the costs of these cables. But when it comes to power cables, it is a little difficult to understand.
Some believe that as long as the power cable has enough gauge the that's all you need. I've used some cheap power cables vs. some high price cables and there are clearly differences in sound, so the "gauge" of the cables is not the ONLY thing and it's a little bit more complicated than that.
In speaker cables design, you can adjust the R/L/C parameters to achieve a certain kind of sound and it's easy to visual how these parameters will affect the sound. For example too much C then the sound will lack leading edge. Too much L then the sound will be brittle. If too much R then the sound will lack dynamic. Or if the cable has too much jitter, then the transparency will be affected.
But the power cable main job is to establish a DC source, it's not too clear how the R/L/C parameters will affect the sound the same way these parameters will affect the sound of the speaker cable. Also I am not sure how jitter would affect a power cable either
So the bottom line is what's actually inside a power cable that make them so expensive? Do they use fancy dielectric? How about construction geometry?
For a designer, I mean how do you fine-tune your power cable. How do you know your power cable will sound good?
Some believe that as long as the power cable has enough gauge the that's all you need. I've used some cheap power cables vs. some high price cables and there are clearly differences in sound, so the "gauge" of the cables is not the ONLY thing and it's a little bit more complicated than that.
In speaker cables design, you can adjust the R/L/C parameters to achieve a certain kind of sound and it's easy to visual how these parameters will affect the sound. For example too much C then the sound will lack leading edge. Too much L then the sound will be brittle. If too much R then the sound will lack dynamic. Or if the cable has too much jitter, then the transparency will be affected.
But the power cable main job is to establish a DC source, it's not too clear how the R/L/C parameters will affect the sound the same way these parameters will affect the sound of the speaker cable. Also I am not sure how jitter would affect a power cable either
So the bottom line is what's actually inside a power cable that make them so expensive? Do they use fancy dielectric? How about construction geometry?
For a designer, I mean how do you fine-tune your power cable. How do you know your power cable will sound good?
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- 61 posts total
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Requisite Audio makes cables for the recording industry but will sell to home audio enthusiasts. They have very reasonable prices for their cables that would surprise most here but their power cables start at around $600 or so because that's the cheapest they can make them and still have them perform at the level they require. http://requisiteaudio.com/ Just making something that can pass local code and won't burn the house down doesn't mean it will sound good in one's system. All the best, Nonoise |
- 61 posts total