Pre-amps with seperate power supplies .....


I have a pre-amp with a seperate power supply that is connected by an umbilical cord. I am not an electrical engineer and I do not pretend to be one nor do I play one on TV.....I am pretty sure that there is DC current going from the power supply to the main pre-amp to power that component. Does it make any sonic sense to upgrade that umbilical cord seeing how that it is ''only'' carrying DC current ????? The pre-amp in question is a Classe' CP-700. I have asked this very same question to the fine people at Classe' and they said improving that cord would not make any difference.... So, I will ask that question here and also see if anybody has actually upgraded that power cord.
garebear
"Granny is right in that lots of parts choices are compromises by the builder to control cost qand stay within certain price target."

I would say this is true of lower priced products, however, the peramp in question is a Classe CP 700 ($8,000).

"Look at the standard power cords components are shipped with for one example of cost cutting."

IEC sockets and stock power cords were created by reviewers, dealers and the market. Many manufacturers resisted IEC sockets for many years because the socket itself is a compromise compared to a hard wired cord. Audio Research was one company that was not willing to compromise until the pressure became too great. Why should a manufacturer provide an expensive power cord when the user is going to replace it anyway.

Rrog...thank you but it not the main power cord - it is the umbilical cord between the power supply and the main chassis pre-amp. Big difference
Garebear, I realize it is an umbilical cord. I was responding to a comment made about cost cutting and power cords were used as an example.

I would go with the engineers at Classe Audio and use the original umbilical cord. I think they know what they are doing. If you have any doubts give them a call.
"I think they know what they're doing"
They know exactly what they're doing and part of this decision making
includes economic considerations (with some companies it isn't the
engineer's call to make). Even expensive components can be built with very

average part quality to stay within a pre determined budget target. The
builders working with these cost limitations are able to produce good
sounding and competitive products. Those components can be easily
elevated to very good and excellent levels with well chosen better parts.

It you're satisfied with the choices made in choosing parts then that's fine.
As Grannyring astutely pointed out, there's is often room for improvement
(sometimes significant) as an individual isn't hampered with the same cost
constraints for their specific audio system. As I noted before the issue of
part quality varies from one builder/ company to another. This is why many
companies will offer upgrade packages (better, caps, resistors,
transformers, tubes, wiring etc.). They recognize much better quality is
available but the cost puts it outside the price target of the standard level
components (for example V cap or ultra grade resistors options).

It's a personal choice and I believe options to improve/upgrade is a good
thing, your call.
Regards,
I have a Cary SLP05 preamp that has a separate power supply connected by an umbilical cord. I tried the RAL replacement and found the stock cord to be far superior. In all fairness, I probably didn't give the RAL umbilical enough time to break in but to my ears, it sounded horrible