audiphile power cords

The # 1 rule for more marginal audio tweaks is always ask "why?". It works in life in general the same way.

There should be some good reason to try anything, especially an expensive piece of technology. Any technical gadget worth its salt is designed a particular way for a specific purpose. If it is not, or if it might be but nobody can tell you why, just move on to clearer waters.

One or two people saying "this is what I heard" is NOT a good reason, even if somehow it could be determined that they did in fact hear what they relate. Its a data point that means something, but relatively little alone in teh big picture. The question is always why does something do what it claims to do. Even an unsubstantiated theory on why is better than nothing, which is what one might end up often getting with this stuff.

If even the maker cannot provide a good answer, then best to just move on until someone can. You'll probably end up in a happier place sooner and for less money.

Hi Audiolabyrinth

It depends on your tube amplifier you want to try the tube rolling or power cord swapping with. I have a Jolida JD-502P tube amplifier and when I spoke to Jolida they told me the change that made the most difference sound wise was rolling with 12AX7 tubes. A buddy of mine who has a different amplifier found power tube rolling and a power cord change improved the sound in his system. I say call the maker of your tube amp to see and then experiment on your own.

@ Tls49, Interesting, I used the Gauge caculator link you provided, Thankyou for that, As it turns out, My power cord uses 60 runs of 10AWG, The Caculator says my power cord is 1 AWG!!!, Awsome!

Audiolabyrinth, if you are referring to your Tara Labs Cobalt, I think you are confused. It uses 60 runs of a smaller wire to make 10 AWG, not 60 runs of 10 AWG. It would be impossible to terminate 60 runs of 10 AWG to the Cobalt's connectors. Also, it would be much larger and extremely difficult to bend, and as Atmasphere stated, required by law to be flexible.

If a simple power cords can improve the quality of sound to the extent that it warrants its exorbitant price tag, why would you not (as a designer and seller of amplifiers) sell your amplifier straight out of the box with such a power cord.

The problem is that there is a very good chance that the power cord will be dumped in favor of another. This is why we have always had IEC connections on our products, so it is possible to audition power cords. FWIW, on our MA-2 we actually have 2 separate AC circuits, using 2 power cords. This was done to minimize the effects of the AC wiring both inside and outside the amplifier. That feature was designed into the amp in 1990.

The power cord is never being used as a filter BTW. I can only describe that idea as mythology.

Regarding the readings that Shunyata had in that article, I think it would be very interesting to test some common cords on there, like certain models of Belden. I think that heavy gauge is usually a good place to start- install some decent connectors and you are usually well on your way. However if you think about it, just doing that and selling it at a normal markup will result in a power cord that costs at least $150.00- maybe more like $200...