Budget Power Cords For Tube Mono Amps ?

With my circa-200w VTL monos, the inexpensive aftermarket cord I preferred best among the several I tried was the original Shunyata Sidewinder. Probably like anything in this low price range, it's a cord with discernable flaws (brightness if used in the wrong context, and not the most refined) and isn't necessarily gonna work with every component. But on the tube amps in particular it really lent a welcome boost in the areas of clarity, speed, spatial presentation, and bass control, and just plain made the music come to life better than other similar cords I tried in this application. I also had the opportunity of comparing the Sidewinders at home with its nearest replacement in the Shunyata lineup, the Diamondback, and concluded the latter wasn't as impressive a cord, being more colored and less accomplished in those areas I noted. Sidewinders are 10ga., and were selling around the $125-150 range for 5ft. last I knew but could be lower now.

Zaikesman makes a very good point (one which I was thinking about posting earlier but was too lazy) and that is that what may work well with tube amps in terms of budget cords is probably going to be an issue of synergy more than anything else.

I did a lot of experimentation with the Volex and Belden (Crump) DIY cord a number of years ago and, frankly, in my solid state system, I found a number of reasonably priced cords to be substantially better. Matty's suggestion for the DH Labs (you can do a DIY DH with Marincos for $70 or so) is an excellent one for most people but that cord may be a bit too "warm" with tube amps. So Zaikesman's suggestion on the Sidewinder may be quite appropriate for the VAC's. Another DIY option that may work well is the JPS Labs in-wall cable terminated with Marincos (this will probably run you into the $125 area); this cord is quite good on amps (10 guage live & neutral with a 12 guage ground) and is certainly livelier and more aggressive than the DH Labs. I use both of these cords in my system and, IMO, they are both miles ahead of the Volex or Crump/Belden cord, although I've had them both cryoed and run them in well on a fridge or freezer before putting them into my system.

Thanks guys.

BTW, anyone try Signal Cable Magic cords in their system ?

If you are of a mind to DIY, Cryo-Parts sells excellent quality materials for a DIY cord that will cost you about $120.00 each. I built two five foot cords with their Cryo-Max II ac cable and Furutech cryoed connectors that bowled me over with the improvements they made to my amp and P300 a/c regenerator. I'd used some VenHaus and Crump recipe DIY cords made from Belden cable and Pass & Seymour & Schurter connectors previously. The Cryo-Parts are very obviously superior, quite audibly on a higher level of resolution. Knowing the markup on retail products, these cords would probably sell for $500 each.