Class D and Power Cables


I just put a new pair of W4S Class D monoblocks in my system. So far, I'm very pleased with the result. Now that I know I'm going to listen to them for awhile, I'm starting to consider power cords. But, I started thinking. Does a power cord actually make a difference with these new digital Class D amps? Before I run out and spend a few hunderd on power cables, I was hopoing some of you fellow Agoners could give me some input/experiences. Thanks in advnace.
teletrout
It might depend on design of power supply. Some class D amps have straight linear PS while others (like mine) have switchers and some have switchers with power factor module. The most sensitive to power cable is perhaps linear power supply. Switching supply is less sensitive since it is regulated while Power Factor correcting type like Bel Canto Ref1000v2 have additional bank of capacitors minimizing short current spikes - a way that power supply normally takes energy from mains. All this is only my guess and I suspect that any amp can take advantage of better power cable. It is only to what extend.

Hifial is absolutely right - class D is analog. Outside it presents itself as as normal amplifier with about 1% of switching noise that is not audible but inside it operates on principle of Pulse Width Modulation (duty cycle of constant voltage square wave converted to average value of voltage). What is hard to understand is that duty cycle and not the voltage is analogous quantity (it is continuous without discrete steps)
Most of aftermarket cords are made the way they divert the sound and color it to make sure that consumer hears differences. They've been introduced into high definition audio as another layer of brainwash and source of ez money.
My experience with the d-Sonic amps I bought early this year is that they are the most grateful equipment I have yet encountered. Nearly everything i did to or for them paid out in improvements in sound. They improved substantially when given better cables. I started out with diamondback platinums, a decent entry level cord, but they really came into their own when I installed pS-Audio's former TOL Pc he extreme SC that retailed at about $1000/meter. These can be found here on agon used for under 400 now. They also performed nicely with an older pair of Synergistics research X2 Master couplers.

FWIW, I got the biggest improvement in the amps' sound quality by putting them up on isolation platforms. I got a huge return for around $200. Because they are so small, they only need small maple blocks ($90 at dawnsplatforms) and two sets of mapleshade isolation blocks ($50) and some used brass footers from the web ($60) made a bigger difference than going from the diamonbacks to the PS Audio power cords.
I own a pair of Red Dragon M-500 Class D amps. The sound of the amps was greatly improved all across the board when I started using the Lessloss DFPC power cords. It was a night and day change for the better (for me and my tastes)
I also have a Audio Research 150.2 Class T (Tripath) Amp in another system and I replaced the stock cord with the Lessloss DFPC Signature Power Cord and again the sound and performance of the amp improved tremendously. The improvements that these cords made are not subtle. Now when I used either of these cords on my Tube amps (Quicksilver V4's) the results were a different story. I much preferred the stock cords. That holds true for my tube preamp from ARC (SP16).It seems to me that it's all about synergy with a certain product so if you can, try before you buy. In my experience the Lessloss cords worked miracles on the SS Class D and Class T amps but not so much on most everything else I tried them on, including a DAC (Benchmark DAC 1).Some products when mated with other products really click for the better, and only your ears can decide what sounds best to you. These aftermarket power cords definitely do something but it might not be something that you like. Good luck in your search for the right PC for your amps.
I have tried Clarus Crimson power cord on both Bel Canto and Jeff Rowland class D amps with amazing results.