Question for Atma-sphere, will expensive power cables improve your amplifiers?
The reason I am asking is I feel manufacturers of high quality components include all that is ever needed, power cable wise. Sure, some people buy power cables because they need special lengths or have some out of the ordinary "noise" issues that need extra insulation. Some even like the visual aspect of the aftermarket cables. I’m just curious why many spend thousands of dollars on such when the manufacturer has taken the power cable into account when producing the product. I cannot see a High-quality audiophile component maker (especially some that sell volume) pass on a few dollars for a better sounding power cable if indeed the cable improved their product. I cannot see a person buying that $7000 amp is not going to balk if the product was introduced at $7100 (with the better cable).
I wonder if Luxman, Accuphase, McIntosh, Gryphon...you name it "dressed" their power cables up to look like expensive aftermarket cables, owners would be so quick to "upgrade"?
I’d be curious to hear Ralph’s opinion on the subject
No, that could create another problem. No power disconnecting means at the hard wired piece of equipment. A plug and receptacle is an approved disconnecting means. Also, imo, the hard wired Romex in no way could be considered as a power cord. .
Probably one of the most miss understood grounds by audiophiles. . |
@immatthewj said:
. In response to my post:
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That’s definitely important for feeding a power amplifier. Not really an issue feeding a solid state DAC though. But with that said in 1998-1999 I bought a new Arcam alpha 9 CDP that Stereophile gave, as I recall, a B+ review rating. It would have been A- except for,... which I can’t remember. I swear the power cord at best was 16awg wire. A flimsy looking cheap power cord. Ya, plenty big for a unit that says on the rear panel by the IEC inlet 20VA max. (20 watts max). For the heck of it I had an unused OEM 14/3 power cord that came with an ARC amp. I hooked it up to the Apha 9. The CDP sounded better to me. Why? Beats the heck out of me. Don’t knock it, until you try it! .
Like I said, i don’t think of the power cord as an extension of the branch circuit wiring. It is said the power cord is not an extension of the in wall branch circuit wiring, but rather an extension of the audio equipment AC power wiring. Some say it’s the last 5ft to 6ft of the power wiring feeding the equipment. What ever an aftermarket power cord does, at least from my personal, and umpteen other audiophiles listening experiences, they do hear differences from aftermarket power cords. Some power cords for the better, and others for the worse. I think it has a lot to do with the equipment it is connected to. I get kick out of posts where a guy says there can’t possibly be a difference in power cords. If the wire gauge is big enough for the connected load of the equipment that’s all that matters. But then they say, they tried a so called audiophile power cord and their OEM power cord sounded better. What??? A power cord can’t possibly make a difference but the audiophile power could did not sound as good as the OEM cord that came with the equipment. Can’t have it both ways. . |
Is a disconnect required at permanently connected appliances? Generally, electric cooktops, dishwashers and the like don't have a disconnect at the appliance, just at the panel. That's also why they have to have dedicated circuits. Like I said, for this to be kosher you'd have to "permanently install" your amps. That may be inconvenient, though only mildly so by audiophile standards. And again I would not recommend Romex for this application but rather EMT or MC, which provide insulated ground as a bonus. I don't disagree that the latter, like so many other things, is misunderstood by many audiophiles but it does provide some benefits.
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