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Looking For 18awg Audiophile Power Cable Options

Hi Friends,

I'm trying to find some 18awg audiophile power cables and am looking for recommendations. It seems the only ones I can find are of the AudioQuest variety, but I don't like the sound of AudioQuest cables, as they sound too sterile to me (or something, it's hard for me to describe).

I have a music production system and while I use expensive Triode Wire Labs Digital American cables on the DAC, ADC, and production computer/DAW with fantastic and stable results, I've had problems with my other components running on any thicker-gauged cables (powered KRK monitors, microphone power supply, and preamps).

I've tried several different cables on these other components, but I find any cable with a gauge thicker than 18awg results in issues of sound stability. The system needs to run for 12, sometimes 18 hours at a time, and I find that thicker-gauge cables, after about 8 hours, start to render the sound compressed, maybe slightly overloaded, and not as open, which is problematic for mixing and recording.

I started using some 18awg cables with hospital-grade plugs, and while they're definitely a big step up from the stock cables, and the stability of the sound is great, I'm just wondering if there's any 18awg audiophile-type cables out there that would give me improved performance, smoother top end, etc., just from better noise/RFI rejection. The sibilants were smoother when I used the audiophile cables, I think from better shielding, but the stability of the sound of system and vocal chain is of the upmost importance.

It's weird but I guess it has something to do with the digital components handling the thicker gauged cables better for some reason, compared to the analog components.

Any ideas/recs appreciated, thanks for your time!

 

128x128acar83
vthokie83
845 posts
 

Acar83,

Not debating the reasoning behind your thought, but Morrow Audio has cables that may be near what you are looking for: Their MAP-1 uses Litz construction, and the total is 17 gauge. Their MAP-2 does as well, and the total is 15 gauge.

I have not tried their power cables, but own their RCA interconnects, XLR interconnects, digital co-ax, and speaker cables. Great value for the money, and they have a 30 day return policy.

NOTE: Morrow cables need some break in time, I would use at least their 10 day break in service.....so they come to you ready to demo.

 

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stevea1298's avatar
stevea1298
48 posts
 

Not that I know all the size cables that they can make from, a thought for a custom cable that will not break the bank you might want to check Iconoclast Cable BAV Power Cables. I have had very good results on my purchases.

Bob Howard has made me a number of cables in 2 different ga. Can send contact info if interested.

SteveA

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,098 posts
 

@acar83 

Very interesting post.

I'm a (very) long term advocate for premium power cables, and I'm trying to wrap my head around the issue of larger gauge cables having performance issues over extended time periods.  I have not observed, nor have I made an attempt to properly observe it.  I guess this proves I still have gaps in my knowledge base, and have something(s) to learn.

My thoughts and observations:

It would be interesting to know if the sonics you describe with Audioquest has been specifically with power cables or other (interconnect, speaker, digital) cables?  It's possible that if this is the "other" catagory, then you might find the power cables to have different sonic characteristics and be more agreeable with you?

Per Audioquest's specs for current power products, models that use 2-prong C7 connectors are 17AWG.  If your equipment uses 3-prong C13 connectors, the smallest Audioquest cable (NRG-X3) is 16AWG, and moves quickly to 14AWG with the next 2 models up.  

While the sonic benefits of the step up models are very apparent (to me anyway), I don't know if the larger gauge with material upgrades. and other noise, impedance improvements will provide a stable extended use benefit in your situation.

Maybe worth a listen?

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,541 posts
 

acar83:

 

I'm not recommending this, but your query reminded me of a discussion here @ A'Gon (20+ years ago) regarding making power cords out of 47 Labs OTA cable (26 gauge solid core copper in a thick polyvinyl insulation).

If you search OTA + power cord some of the posts will come up (most are contained in this thread - one which I took part in).

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sakura-systems-ota-cable-kit

DeKay

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