Serious Question About Silver vs Copper Conductivity for Power


Yes, I realize that this topic is going to bring out the sharks, but if I get at least one serious response, it will all be worth it.

I understand that silver conducts 7% faster than copper.  I also understand that using a dielectric insulation like Teflon is best at keeping the wire from overheating, stopping signals entering and stopping signals from leaving the conductor. I understand that a certain amount of math is involved in selected gauge of wire depending largely on how much power the component is going to take, and how much the amperage is (20 or 15).

My question is regarding certain features applied to either silver or copper conductors that may or may not have an advantage over one or the other.

I have the Kimber Kable P14 Palladian.  This uses 14awg copper conductors insulated in Teflon.  Then it adds a massive filter that attempts to mitigate the standing wave ratio to as close to 1:1 as possible. I had Kimber’s Ascent power cable prior.  It’s identical to the Palladian, except the filter. I have heard the difference between using those two cables.  Apparently, mitigating the standing wave ratio lowers the noise floor significantly. However, any filter that chokes the signal and will slow the electrical current.

As I understand it, the amplifier works by opening the rectifier to allow the capacitors to fill with energy that the system will draw from.  Being able to keep the rectifier open and fill the capacitors as fast as possible, reducing lag time, has the effect of creating more realistic and detailed sound.

With that said, changing to a power cable that uses pure silver insulated in Teflon, will ensure that power is delivered potentially faster.  Although, the silver power cable will NOT have a filter.  Therefore the standing wave ratio will not be mitigated and the electrical signal will not be choked either.

So, would the amplifier benefit from faster electrical current or slower, but cleaner electric current?  Since this signal isn’t directly applied to sound, the concepts of “colder” or “warmer” sound should not apply.

Can someone help me out without poking fun at the question?  Additionally, I am not interested in having a cable-theory debate.  If you don’t believe cables make any difference, I will not debate or have discourse on that topic.


 

128x128guakus

It is easy to troll people who are in a rush to prove what they know, especially if what they know is not a lot. If this is a troll, a lot of effort has been put into it. The poster has system pictures with many expensive accessories.

 

The best example of this is when I was running Audioengine A2+. Those are tiny and needed far less power. Those were also running on the Palladian. The power main was the Shunyata Research Delta. I felt the sound quality was incredible, except a bit thin because of the size of the drivers. I upgraded to the HD6 with the expectation that it would sound better than the A2+.

 

The first clue should be the $699/pair, powered speakers, that makes up the reference system. Most should have checked out at that point if they didn’t check out from the insistence that those most likely to be able to answer the question don’t answer the question. Expert troll or begging the answer or just confused? Either way, it has sure brought some people out with some very curious ideas of how electricity and circuits work. I find it entertaining.

 

Concerning the mixture of various answers in this thread, I feel like they all counter each other.  On the one hand, saying that the type of conductive material doesn't matter, but on the other hand saying you need more conductive material. 🤔  Then suggesting cables don't make a difference, but getting a bigger cable is best 😏. 

 

Okay, I will play along just for fun. If you insist on only getting answers from people who don't have the knowledge to answer, why are you surprised that the answers are all over the place. People with the appropriate knowledge will all respond the same. People without the appropriate knowledge will be guessing and their answers will be all over the place.

 

 

@ditusa , unfortunately, it appears the poster has a real cable in mind.


https://www.lavricables.com/cables/master-20-core-silver-silk-mains-eu-power-cable/

 

The specifications for this are what I expect from a poorly engineered untested product on Alibaba or Ebay.

@theaudiomaniac 

Well, since no one has proven themselves to be true, by backing up their supposed "correct" statements with any form of facts, it is the assumption that one should just "take them at their word." Too bad that use of sarcasm and belittlement ruins ones credibility if one hasn't proven themselves prior.  I have no choice but to disregard answers that are marred by needless derision.

I already said I don't deny my lack of knowledge. It is unfortunate that humans see questions as a form of vulnerability and a lack of knowledge a weakness and therefore feel compelled to shame, belittle, harangue, and harass such people.  Psychologically, this stems from a self-esteem issue; that is hardly my problem.

Also, cost doesn't always equal quality.  If I spent $699 on a pair of Bowers & Wilkins that doesn't suddenly stop the speakers from being "good" or well engineered. I find it entertaining that people have a false notion that lower cost equipment can't possibly sound good because it didn't financially set you back. I take some measure of pride that my system is unique and it sounds just as good as systems 10 times or more the cost.  I also couldn't care less if people believe that is true.  They don't own this system.  They've never heard this system and they will never hear a system like this. In other words, most lack the experience to judge. All they can do is make guesses.  Yet folks enjoy ridiculing people who "make guesses" 🤔 Odd level of hypocrisy.

Also, you're making an assumption that Lavricables is incapable of good engineering or haven't tested their products. Sounds like what I would expect from someone who actually doesn't know any better.

@guakus , Best of luck. I hope they build the cable more robustly then you have described here. I am pretty sure they have an outer jacket and that is good. You have been given “the facts” about the rated max current load of this thin power cord. Not one I would ever use or build. My little LPS would max that cord out!

 

If your amp or whatever piece of gear this cord is plugged into has an issue, please know the cord will potentially fault before the 2-3x higher rated fuse blows. This alone should be sobering.

@guakus 

 

One day you will understand that you, holding yourself up, as you are, as the arbiter of what is correct and not correct, when you lack any ability to do that, can never lead to an advancement of your own knowledge.

I am not assuming that Lavricables is incapable of good engineering or haven't tested their products. I am stating it. They are violating at least 2 aspects of the electrical code which verifies my statement about their products not being tested at a minimum for safety.