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Still mystified by mega expensive power cords

AC travels miles from the substation, enters my house, goes into a panel, then runs to my hifi equipment. Once inside the equipment it goes through whatever wiring the manufacturer used. I don't understand how the few feet from the outlet to the back of the gear can make some of the dramatic changes claim (low end goes down another octave, deeper wider soundstage, etc). My thought is that as long as the power cord is shielded so that it's not working like an antenna, properly grounded, and of sufficient guage so that you're not loosing juice to heat, and has contacts that make a solid connection, any power cable should sound like the next, especially since the AC coming in is rectified and smoothed.

I'm not looking for flames, but for those that believe in power cables, enlighten me. Or said another way, can that $11,000 plus power cable I saw today possiblet do more than fatten the manufacturer's wallet?
128x128zavato
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Zzzzzzz...........Zzzzzzzzz...........Zzzzzzzz....
Oh! wha? hey if you have not read enough by now. Nothing is going to add to the vacuum left by more blather.
Though I am CERTAIN this will gather the usual suspects all blathering on .. and on.. and on..
'Scuse me. Zzzzzz..... Zzzzzzz.......
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
903 posts
 
I've read plenty and heard plenty. I remain mystified though. Delivering 120v, 20 amps isn't that tough. Tight connections, adequate AWG, ground and shield. Back in the day when I used to change my own oil I believe I would have bought a length of belden, some good connectors and went to work. I suspect that's exactly what any number of purveyors of high priced power cords do. And they add a techflex cover too.

Maybe I am in business! OPM Cable and Wire in now born!
french_fries
735 posts
 
If you have a power amp that needs considerable current to do its job, the power cord should be of a decent quality to match- IMHO $500-$1K is enough money to do the job properly. As for source components, with the exception of tube preamps and/or other pieces using a bit more than the usual amount of current, the cord should be well made, especially the terminations. Flexibility is a big plus when trying to hook up everything behind a rack system or cabinet.
In regards to extremely expensive power cords, if there is something else i need to know about (of a scientific nature), i would like to be educated further so i "can get excited" over them as well.
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