Power Cables and Wall Sockets

...power cables can only be as good as the in-home wiring coming to the wall socket.

This is not entirely correct. The main culprits negatively affecting your hi-fi gear are devices plugged in in close proximity, so the power supply of your CD player is affecting your amplifier ( and vice versa) more than your kitchen appliance that may sit on a different circuit. The more hi-fi gear you have plugged in the same or near socket, the more cross contamination you get. And all your hi-fi gear is closely interconnected through, you guessed it, the power cables.

The upgraded wiring/dedicated high quality circuit is of course a big improvement in most cases, but it depends on the quality of existing wiring/supply.

10 gauge is a good idea for an amplifier that intermittently draws much current to power loud passages, but for class A such as SET, it is not necessary. Before you spend on "clean power" AC regenerators or filters do you hear all the claimed "dirty" noise when your amplifier is on with no source playing; e.g. phono without a record playing? AC power strips which may have filters have value for the insurance of surge and spike protection, including such protection for FM antenna cables in case of lightning. 

Keep in mind another thing. The ripple filter in the power supplies in your components become more effective at higher frequency "dirt." Such noise can be written as a Fourier series of the fundamental frequency above 120 Hz and the higher frequency harmonics are not only much lower, the reactance of the power supply capacitors in inversely proportional to the frequency and the reactance of the inductors is proportional to the frequency. The power supply ripple filter, which is already good enough to make 120 Hz inaudible allows less of the higher frequency lower voltage Fourier series terms get through. It does this better than any power box costing thousands of dollars.  

+1 dedicated line and Hubbell. Result was imperceptible noise floor and dynamite performance.  

@clearthinker

I have swapped out power cords long ago to optimize them… but hadn’t touched them in a couple decades. When I did my last upgrade about a year and a half ago my new components used 20amp connectors to the components. All of my existing cords were 15a. So, I started with stock. Then my dealer lent my a bunch of Cardas. All my stuff is Audio Research. The DAC still had a 15a connector so I started there I had WireWorld, DH Labs, JPS, Cardas… hree different grades, and Transparent… and a couple more. The difference was pretty noticeable if you know what my system sounds like… particularly between the Cardas and others… Cardas wonderfully warm but lowering the details and tipping the balance too warm. The DH Labs and wire world were detailed but lost bass… Transparent just nailed it.. very detailed - natural sounding with great bass. The differences are fairly substantial. There was a clear winner… Transparent. I did this with each piece of equipment.

Then it came to my amp. This was much more problematic. The Transparent was just thinner (I was not using the cord made for amps… this might explain it)… but Cardas Clear Beyond was too warm… but the bass was outstanding… mesmerizing. I would occasionally switch to something else… but then have to go back to the Clear Beyond… but still not completely happy with the details… a bit too rosy.

Finally my dealer brought over a AudioQuest Hurricane. Wow… the difference is just plain huge. I can’t imagine anyone not being able to hear the difference (I have a non audiophile coming over this weekend to listen, we will see). Not quite a component level change… but close (much bigger than the switch to the REF 160 mono blocks from the REF 160 stereo unit)… but huge. The Hurricane increased drops the noice floor, solidifies images, and greatly defines the bass notes in space much better… all without overly warming the system and remaining natural.

My dealer dropped by to drop my TT off. Without explaining what I heard I had him listen to the Cardas then the AudioQuest. He then described what he heard…. And exactly described in virtually the same words what I had heard. A very big and profound difference all positive. In my system, the change bigger that the direct line I put in. The direct line made a large difference… this was bigger. They are additive so this is great. The direct line cost almost exactly what the power cord costs ~$1,700.

Anyway. I have not been dealing with every change sounding better, each being trade offs… but trying to get my amp (system) right… I am ecstatic to have found the right power cord for my amp. There is one AQ above the Hurricane… it has silver in it… I know that is going to give more details but will tip the balance to the treble. My experience definitely says I don’t need to try that one,

I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally found a solution for my amp. I have been struggling with this for a year. This power cord Is a very significant improvement for my system… a change in sound quality worth many times the cost. I originally thought it was a $5K power cord… I would have purchased it… it is worth the cost in my system… although I don’t have $5K to spend.