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Ideal power cord lengths?

A quick Google search suggests there is consensus that the ideal power cord length is 2m.  1m cords sound “harsher” and 3m cords sound “smoother”, with 2m being the sweet spot.  The PS Audio dude suggests that the reason is that the reason is that all cords have an impact on the power, and the greater the length, the greater the impact, good or bad.

I know many will say there is no difference between a 1m cord and a 3m cord.  But my question is, who here has tried like model power cords of different lengths, and what were the differences?  
 

Second question:  How does length factor into the equation when you have a cord feeding a conditioner, then other cords feeding components?  If 2m cords are in fact the ideal, would 1m cords be ideal when using conditioners?

I tend to believe those that say that power cord lengths matter.  While I’ve not been able to do this test myself, I’ve had these two experiences:

  • Testing Audioquest Diamond and Nordost Valhalla 2 USB cables, the cables shorter than 1.5m sounded TERRIBLE by comparison.  Especially the .75m Audioquest Diamond vs the 1.5m version.  But the 1m Valhalla 2 also sounded awful in comparison to the 2m version.  In general this opened my eyes to how much cable length matters, and counterintuitively in the case of digital cables. 
  • I have a 2019 2m AudioQuest Hurricane Source cable from back when AQ braided their cables, and I also have the newer non-braided Hurricane Source, but 3m in length.  The new Hurricane sounds vastly superior to my old 2m Hurricane.  In comparison the older cord compresses the soundstage depth.  I don’t know if the differences are due to the differences in length, or if it’s due to a design change by Audioquest.

Very interested in learning of others experiences with power cord lengths.

 

 

nyev
ghdprentice
7,064 posts
 

OP,

Your welcome… I learned something as well. (Every thing matters and more money, more better… oh, I already knew that.)

I have two direct lines. One for my power conditioner and one for my amp. I found plugging an amp into a power conditioner has never been a good thing for me… and that is the rule of thumb. Amp direct to the wall.

My amp is most effected by power cord changes of all my components. I have a good power conditioner, but it does not allow power cord changes.

 

Judging by the fact that virtually all power conditioners allow and frequently place really high end cords on them… I would say it is likely to make a substantial difference as you are going to be effecting most of your components.

nyev OP
1,031 posts
 

Thanks again @ghdprentice , and your results are consistent with what I’ve seen others report.

When I was trialing the Niagara 5000 I definitely sound my amp preferred to be plugged directly into my second dedicated line as well. But I ended up with a Torus RM-20 and it’s better with everything including my amp plugged into that.

I guess my question with conditioners is if the positive effect of a single 2m cord is reproduced by two 1m cords with a conditioner in the middle. And, if having two 2m cords with a conditioner is too much cord and makes things worse. It doesn’t sound like you have the components needed to perform such a test.  But you answered the first part of my original post, so thanks again!

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,888 posts
 

Ideal power cord lengths?

My two monoblock amplifiers sound fantastic without power cords. That said, I did an AC mains tweak eliminating the power cord and wall plug from my two monoblock amps, by installing the female IEC C13 plug onto the direct line from the electrical panel into the male IEC inlet of the power amp. Previous power cords were 12'' long, 12AWG. The two direct lines to the monoblock amps are 10 AWG BX/AC cable. Ideal power cord lengths for my amps would be no power cord. Your lengths may vary! 😎

Mike

1971gto455ho's avatar
1971gto455ho
499 posts
 

@nyev 

Two of the 3 amps in my system do require independently a 20 amp breaker service. First can do a healthy 1500 4 Ohm watts at 0.01% THD, weighs in at 136 pounds. Second a healthy 1400 4 Ohm watts at 0.05 THD, weighing in at 95 pounds. The reason for multiple 20 amp breaker services…I’m wiring anyway, do it then I don’t have to think about any order plugging things in. 

Cheers 

ghdprentice
7,064 posts
 

OP,

 

Great question on having two, two meter cords, or two one meter one cords.
 

That sounds like one that is going to be system dependent. If you can, get your dealer to loan you enough cords to figure it out. I would get a 1 meter for the power conditioner and a two meter for the amp. But I am getting older and have a greater interest in getting to the final system in my lifetime. 

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