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Power cables and power conditioners

I've searched this topic, but didn't find any clear discussion of my question.  If there is one, feel free to point me to it. Otherwise, I'm curious.  Having just purchased a new amp and rearranged my cables, etc, I'm wondering if there is value in having a high end PC for my power conditioner(s).  I have Ice Age Audio Frankencables for all my gear running from the power conditioners.  Well, sort of.  I have a PS Audio PowerPlant 12 and a Panamax M5300.  My amps, streamer, preamp and sub are connected to the PowerPlant, while gear with wallworts or fixed plugs (MiniDSP EQs, cable box, old CD player) are connected to the Panamax.

In particular, I'm wondering is there a benefit to connecting the PS Audio PowerPlant to the wall with a high quality PC?  As a 'regenorator' and not a power conditioner, it is converting my house current to DC and then back to AC.. It seems to me that doing would negate the usual benefit obtained from adding a high quality power cord (but I certainly could be wrong).

And on what I presume to be the opposite end of the spectrum, it seems to me that the gear attached to the Panamax with low quality power cords would negate any benefit (if there even is one) to having a high quality power cord from the wall to the Panamax.  But, again, I could be looking at this all wrong.

Enlighten me.  Thanks.

mbarrett635
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,898 posts
 

The cable feeding your PP12 needs to be high ampacity.  all the power going to all your other components must come in on that cable.  So it needs to be 12awg and preferably 10awg.

Jerry

mbarrett635 OP
25 posts
 

Sorry; as is usually the case, I wasn’t clear enough. The power cord to the PP12 is a 10 awg PC, but not particulary ’Hi-Fi’. It’s a heavy duty PC I pilfered from an old battery back-up from my computer system. I’m wondering if I should invest in another FrankenCable for it.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,433 posts
 

@mbarrett635 the answer is very simple. Get a 10awg high quality power cord for the PP12 from a retailer that offers a good return policy. Audition it and decide for yourself.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,117 posts
 

I saw an interesting video with a top person at benchmark. He said the order of things which were most important for good sound were, from top to bottom:

1. Room

2. Speakers

3. Amp

4. Preamp, DAC

5. Cables, power.

Have you got 1-4 as good as they can be? If not, it's not yet time to worry about power.

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