Replace pwr cord w/IEC socket on vintage gear?

06-27-11: Rrog
In my opinion installing an IEC on vintage equipment is a mistake and it does devalue the equipment. I personally would not buy a vintage amplifier with an IEC modification. Besides, the amplifier was voiced with the existing power cord.

You may have a point there. I don't know how much consideration Heathkit put into the power cord, but it *is* a bit odd, even for that era. It's a high current design amp with a massive power supply--40 lbs for a rated 125 wpc. The power cord is a 2-conductor (no ground) small diameter cord. It reminds me of the stock used for extension cords for Christmas tree lights.

When I first plugged this amp in, it sounded pretty thin, but I figured that the capacitors had to charge up. So I stopped the music and let it warm up and charge up. That helped immensely.

The thing is, I've now left the amp on about 30 hours, playing music for at least 8 of those, and the sound is so superb I don't think I want to mess with it after all. When I posted this thread 12 hrs ago, there was still a slight edge that I figured a fatter cord might fix. But now--geez you guys will think I'm crazy--its tonal balance, low noise, speed, dynamics, and low level detail remind me the most of an early '90s class AB Rowland Research amp. And for a 30-year-old amp I picked up for $219, that's good company to be in.

I'm playing an album I've had for 15 years, that I've heard many times on many systems, and through Sennheiser HD580s, and this amp is revealing low level cues and details I didn't know existed. But it presents them in a totally natural perspective, not in a hyper-detailed way. It just makes everything sound more real than I ever heard this recording before.

I don't think the amp was voiced for the stock power cord. The amp probably wasn't voiced at all. It was spec'd out, and well spec'd out at that. Heathkit offered some excellent products. It's fine to replace the power cord, particularly if it's frayed or totally wimpy, but swapping power cords to find the right one kinda' goes against the vintage vibe, if you know what I mean. Just stick an Acme or Volex on it -- it's more along the lines of what the designers at Heathkit would do.

Onhwy61, So, you don't think Heathkit listened to their products? They just built them to specs and got lucky? I don't believe it's a fluke that some vintage equipment sounds better than others especially when "stereo" was actually more accepted than it is now or ever will be.

It it helps there are IEC pigtails that can be purchased.

They use the same or slightly larger hole from the original cord for connection to the internal wiring and allow after market cord connections minimal alteration of the vintage component case. The cord connects externally at the end of a short pigtail.

I modded a pair of Dynaco mono amps with them. Not easy to find but they do exist.

"With vintage equipment it is more important to make sure the polarity is correct when you plug it into the wall outlet"

power cords on stock vintage gear can be plugged into an outlet either way theres no difference in the size of the prongs like on modern cords. it dose not matter which way they are plugged in. im talking about 60s and earlier not 80s which i dont consider vintage.

its up to the owner which way to go IMO those as mentioned 16/18 gage power cords do not do justice to those fine music making machines from the golden age of audio. if its the music and not collecting thats important i go with an iec every time.