aftermarket powercords

W WALDECKER

does anyone on this forum use aftermarket powercords? is there a dramatic difference vs stock powercords? is it true that sources and preamplifiers tend to benefit alot more than power amplifiers with a powercable upgrade? i have not adressed this aspect of my system and i am looking for input and 0pinions about powercable upgrades. thanks

louthewiz

Its all snakeoil and **** don't fall into the trap, you can go to any home-depot and make your own cables for $10.00.

Spawndn72

There is at least one aftermarket powercord in the cable demo program. Sign up for it and see if you can tell the difference for just the cost of shipping.

RuSsMaN

Power cords can and do make a difference. I suggest you sign up for the Cable Swap Program as suggested and see how / if you receive any benefits.

Lou, pretty strong words from someone, who at least per their signature has not one peice of gear with an IEC.

Cheers,
Russ

george daniel

RuSsMaN, you bring up a good point,,can older gear such as adcom 565/555 series be upgraded (reasonable cost) to accomade the newer power cables-thanks in advance.

Early B.

Short answer -- hell yes. Everything that has current running through it makes a difference -- components, speaker cables, interconnects, and power cords. The only way to know is to experience it. As mentioned, get into the Cable Swap program and/or just buy one from Signal Cable for $59. If it doesn't make a difference, send it back for a full refund. You have nothing to lose.

VR3

Yes, components can be upgraded to accept aftermarket power cables. I hear it is fairly simple.

And yes, I agree aftermarket PCs make a difference, infact - that is next on my list...

W WALDECKER

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Yes, components can be upgraded to accept aftermarket power cables. I hear it is fairly simple.

And yes, I agree aftermarket PCs make a difference, infact - that is next on my list...

i thought you said you were trying to get out of the audio scene?

VR3

Well yeah... but why would I try to get out of it without finishing my reference system?? Would defeat my purpose of ever getting in it. Gotta remove the weak links!

The first post of that thread said the following -

Ok, I've owned two CDPs now...

First a Yamaha CDC 585, then a Denon DCM-280. The Denon has been really good to me so far and it sounds excellent!

But now...it is time to move on!

So that brings me to my next component purchase, that will finish me off for a while!

Will be here in 2 weeks or so I suspect.

Next... Power Cables...

Then??? (Nothings left!! )

EDIT: I think people get so caught up in the "do wires make a difference" do people just forget that a weak link is a weak link. Don't matter how you dress it up. If you own POS cables, be it power cables, ICs, speaker wire - it is POS, $10 cables are just that. $10 cables. They won't out-last you and you shouldn't expect them to. You drop another $40 and you are into some real quality, quality that you can take system to system.

If anything, you should buy them for the sense of completion, why spend all that hard earned cash on killer components, then put some Ratshackers behind it all.

RuSsMaN

george daniel wrote:

RuSsMaN, you bring up a good point,,can older gear such as adcom 565/555 series be upgraded (reasonable cost) to accomade the newer power cables-thanks in advance.

Absolutley. Every Adcom I've ever sold, has gone out the door with an IEC.

That being said, some units already have GREAT power cords on them. For instance, my MELOS SHA-1 tube line amps. The stock power cord is VERY stout, so at my pricepoint (for power cords), I'm going to just leave them intact. (I'd probably have to spend upwards of $200 to exceed the stock cord in this instance).

Cheers,
Russ

dcarlson

Sign up for the Cable Swap (I really enjoyed the DH Labs power) and start demoing!

F1nut

louthewiz wrote:

Its all snakeoil and **** don't fall into the trap, you can go to any home-depot and make your own cables for $10.00.

Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know. :rolleyes:





George, Furutech makes very nice IEC's that you can install on just about any piece of gear. Prices run about $7.50 for the gold plate and $11.00 for the rhodium plate.

dragon1952

The DH Labs power cord is up for grabs in the cable swap program. it's sitting right here in my mongst with no one to send it to. Maybe louthewiz would like to try it for himself. Oh...that's right, he doesn't have anything to use it on :rolleyes: .....sorry! After demoing it I purchased 2 PC's, one for my pre and one for my CDP. Do they make a dramatic difference? No, I don't think so but they do make a positive and noticeable difference. I ended up with the Zu Birth PC's which can be had on Ebay starting at $55 shipped. Great power cords and very nice looking.

louthewiz

Well one thing I do know about is cables power cords etc , I am in the electrical contracting business and I have been in the field for the last 25 years as a Master Licensed Electrician and to tell you the truth the same cables that these companies claim to be superior in quality can be made by going to your local home center or electrical supply house and be built for less than $10.00!! I know this for sure because the same so called high end power cords come from the same manafacturer that makes monster cables,acoustic research and rca are all made by carol cable and wiring co,ok maybe a thicker gauge of wire might make a slight difference in sound but it would be so minimal that you would not really hear that much of a difference.What really counts is the bx/romex cable that is supplying current from the electrical device that your amp is plugged into, now if the wiring from the panel box is 14 awg (15 amps)then using a 6 ft power cord that is 12 awg will not make a current or voltage difference no matter what, now if you plug the amp into a circuit wired with 12 awg (20 amps) you might hear a slight difference but it would be minimal and I would not be foolish enough to spend $60.00 on a power cord that I can make up myself, I mean that is just stupid !!!! :cool: So like I said before **** and you can stand on your head all you want I know the truth behind these phony power cord scams.

george daniel

Sincere "thank you " for the input, I believe that I will first evaluate on my pre & power amp's--thanks again

TroyD

Right lou, if you can't measure it, you can't hear it, right?

Believe what you like.

BDT

RuSsMaN

Good call George. You might want to wait until Lou's word gets out, and sets the audio industry on it's ear. Might see some great fire sales on power cords.

You know, seeing how he's a master something something and all.

Lou, if you can do it for $10, you're sitting on a goldmine man. Get busy, and sell em' for $35 a pop - you can retire in a just a few years. Never have to go to another union meeting again!

Cheers,
Russ

louthewiz

Now that was funny ,I was not trying to be a smart **** or flamer guys so please excuse me if I sounded harsh. I just dislike those snake oil dealers fooling consumers to purchase something that anyone can do himself at home with a screw driver and wire strippers.

RuSsMaN

I know Lou.

Faak man, you're an electrician - be hardcore about it. Throw some IEC jacks on your amps, and make some $10 DIY cords and report back. You know what? We even have a DIY forum now - if you really believe it - do it, document it, post it. Save some people some scratch if they are savy on the DIY route. Show them how easy it is.

I'll even pay for you to make a couple cables (if you document it for the forum), for the cable swap program. We can add 'Lou cables'.

Cheers,
Russ

Polkersince85

If you really want to go hardcore, find a scrapped computer power supply, most have a nice IEC socket ready for the pickin.

dorokusai

louthewiz wrote:

Well one thing I do know about is cables power cords etc , I am in the electrical contracting business and I have been in the field for the last 25 years as a Master Licensed Electrician and to tell you the truth the same cables that these companies claim to be superior in quality can be made by going to your local home center or electrical supply house and be built for less than $10.00!! I know this for sure because the same so called high end power cords come from the same manafacturer that makes monster cables,acoustic research and rca are all made by carol cable and wiring co,ok maybe a thicker gauge of wire might make a slight difference in sound but it would be so minimal that you would not really hear that much of a difference.What really counts is the bx/romex cable that is supplying current from the electrical device that your amp is plugged into, now if the wiring from the panel box is 14 awg (15 amps)then using a 6 ft power cord that is 12 awg will not make a current or voltage difference no matter what, now if you plug the amp into a circuit wired with 12 awg (20 amps) you might hear a slight difference but it would be minimal and I would not be foolish enough to spend $60.00 on a power cord that I can make up myself, I mean that is just stupid !!!! :cool: So like I said before **** and you can stand on your head all you want I know the truth behind these phony power cord scams.

All the wire YOU use may come from the same manufacturer, but to say all of it is from those two large companies is simply not accurate.

Early B.

louthewiz wrote:

Well one thing I do know about is cables power cords etc , I am in the electrical contracting business and I have been in the field for the last 25 years as a Master Licensed Electrician and to tell you the truth the same cables that these companies claim to be superior in quality can be made by going to your local home center or electrical supply house and be built for less than $10.00!! I know this for sure because the same so called high end power cords come from the same manafacturer that makes monster cables,acoustic research and rca are all made by carol cable and wiring co,ok maybe a thicker gauge of wire might make a slight difference in sound but it would be so minimal that you would not really hear that much of a difference.What really counts is the bx/romex cable that is supplying current from the electrical device that your amp is plugged into, now if the wiring from the panel box is 14 awg (15 amps)then using a 6 ft power cord that is 12 awg will not make a current or voltage difference no matter what, now if you plug the amp into a circuit wired with 12 awg (20 amps) you might hear a slight difference but it would be minimal and I would not be foolish enough to spend $60.00 on a power cord that I can make up myself, I mean that is just stupid !!!! :cool: So like I said before **** and you can stand on your head all you want I know the truth behind these phony power cord scams.

Your 25 years of electrical contracting experience is totally irrelevant to understanding the value of aftermarket power cords, especially if you don't have any experience with them. In fact, your background is hindering you from being receptive to the practical experience of most of us on the forum. The purpose of this forum is for us to exchange ideas and learn from one another. But we're not here to convince you about anything. You are free to keep your mind closed to things you don't quite understand.

shack

Bite you tongue....shack.....and repeat...

It's not worth the effort....

It's not worth the effort...

It's not worth the effort...

(like you said Jesse)

There....I feel better now....I'm out!

haimoc

Good (shielding) powercord makes a different effect to the system, but not to every system. In particular to power amp, for example.. tighter bass. The only problem is where to draw the line of money spending that is depending on individual.

In general, interconnect and speaker cables make more changes than the power cables.

DarqueKnight

I replaced all except two of my power amp power cords with an aftermarket cord (Signal Cable MagicPower cord). I have not gotten around to changing the stock cords on two of my amps to an IEC socket. I also switched the power cords of the two preamps in my two channel rig. In each case it was money well spent.

I could have made a nearly identical cord myself. The basic components are readily available (Belden power cable, Marinco connectors, etc.). Figuring in the cost for materials and my time taken away from other activities, it was more advantageous for me to buy them.

F1nut

The words of one very well respected audio designer/author, Lynn Olson.

"Mainstream AES-school engineers have ridiculed "audiophile" power cords for many years, but EMI emission from solid-state-rectifier power supplies is no joke. It's hard to identify on a scope (the trace just looks a little thicker), but a wideband spectrum analyzer clearly displays the comb spectra created by the switching devices. The fancy power cords may be doing their greatest benefit by partially shielding the dirty power supplies from other solid-state equipment and CD players."

Here's the entire article.
http://www.nutshellhifi.com/library/FindingCG.html

Now, tell me can you make a power cord like this from Home Depot???

RuSsMaN

If he can, I'm opening a Home Depot charge account at 7am tomorrow.

F1nut

Let me address one other comment you made, Lou. You admit that power cords may make a slight difference, but it would be so minimal that you would not really hear that much of a difference. This is audio, the slightest difference and hopefully improvement is what tweaking/upgrading is all about. Most tweaks/improvements in audio (when you get above mass market crap) are not night and day. Rather, it's the sum of these tweaks that result in major improvements.

amulford

I didn't think they made any difference, but I found differently. And I wasn't the only one to notice. My 13 yr old stepson could tell, and he really doesn't know what to listen for.

He picked some of it out though, little bugger.

But hey, whatever blows your skirt...

amulford

Now, tell me can you make a power cord like this from Home Depot???

Where'd that come from?

DarqueKnight

W WALDECKER wrote:

does anyone on this forum use aftermarket powercords?

You can find lots of info by doing a search using the terms "magic power cord" and "magic power cable".

Use the search link in the blue bar above rather than the search window near the top of the page.