5ft is optimum for sound.
Power Cord Length
Here's one for the electric wizards to kick around. Whilst attending Axpona this weekend I was doing some power cord shopping. At one particular display I was being told by a very well known cable company representative, I'll not mention the name so it doesn't influence any responses, that the rule of thumb is that in order for the pwr cord to be effective it needs to be at least five feet long. This allows the current to be in the cord long enough for it to be effective. Ok, I'm really dumb when it comes to this sort of thing so maybe I said that in the most simpliest of words but that's pretty much how it was explained. Anyone care to elaborate on this good or bad?
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- 51 posts total
Without getting into the debate of long or short cables and what sounds better or if aftermarket cables makes any difference...based on my experience with at least half a dozen high end cable manufacturers, they recommend to stick with standard lengths simply due to the best value, in-stock availability and future resale. From what I have seen, the most common std. lengths being sold are 5' power cord and 6' or 2M speaker cables. I have owned from 3', 5' , 6' and 10' power cords with absolute no audible degradation in any of those lengths. |
Really? That’s why? That was your reason? Huh?
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/visits/shunyata_visit_interview.htm
Food for though. For those that believe most of the EMI/RFI noise generated in the ac power feeding the power supplies of audio equipment is actually generated from the associated audio equipment of the audio system equipment consider this. IF you believe that two dedicated branch circuit is better than one to decouple the power supply’s of a CDP from an amplifier, there by preventing the digital hash from the CDP going back out on the power cord and then reentering the power cord of the amplifier, then why is it so hard to understand that a power cord couldn’t be designed to help do the same thing? What IF you have a CDP and an integrated amplifier plugged into the same wall duplex receptacle using the OEM power cords that came with the equipment. Will the two power supplies of the CDP and amp be more likely coupled together than they would if they were fed from two dedicated branch circuits? What IF a well designed power cord can reject the digital hash, (call it what you want, RFI, harmonics, high frequencies, what ever), from going back out on the CDP power cord to the duplex receptacle and then reentering the power cord of the amp’s power supply. Would that be a good thing? So, IF you believe such a power cord can be designed and built which do you think could accomplish the task better, a power cord that is 2ft in length or one that is 5ft in length? |
If the power cord performs some type of filtering than probably the longer the better. If the cord is to transfer current like for a Amplifier or a power conditioner than a heavier gauge shorter wire would be best. But in reality, I have used quality power cords that are a few feet long and some that are 5 meters long. If they are properly designed for the task there should be no problem with sound quality. |
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