Power cord replacement

[dognut]

Hello,is there any advantage to installing a heavy gauge power cord in a tube reciever? Lets say a 14/2. I noticed the ditigal cd guys do it all the time on high end cd players.

[PaleRider]

If you want the optimal powercord you should make up one of some solid core wire, shielded if possible. Avoid multistranded extension-cables, they ruins powerquality.

[pjanda1]

Power cords do make a sizable (IMO) difference, but not necessarily because they are bigger or smaller. A friend and I were comparing a two on his Melody tube amp a few weeks ago. The stock cord (18g), actually had more bass than my cheap cord, the Volex 17604 (available at Mouser and others). We cut off the stock AC plug to use a Pass and Seymour 5266X (available at Home Depot). The Volex/P&S cord was better in most every other way. It was tonally richer. The treble was more extended. It was all around easier to listen to. The bass of the stock cord was bigger, but maybe bloated by comparison. It's tough to say with a amp/speaker combination we weren't used to (his amp, my speakers). He was shocked at the magnitude of the difference. Frankly, I was also surprised, and I use these cords all the time.

My volex cord is an easy to source version of the infamous "Asylum Cord" designed by Bob Crump. It uses Belden cable, the P&S AC plug and a Shurter IEC (I try to wire captive when I can, but I have used to molded Volex IEC to good effect). Google will turn up all sorts of info on the Asylum cord, but this is the original thread:
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?...an&r=&session=

Here is another cheap and interesting cord. I haven't heard this one, but it is cheap and acclaimed. http://www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/ILJPOWER.html

pj

[pjanda1]

P.S., I'm into cheap stuff, but if you want to go high-end (and still DIY), this is where you need to be: http://www.vhaudio.com/products.html

pj

[analog_sa]

Wow, a wire thread with no idiots? This ain't gonna last long

Fwiw i would also go for the solid core although it's probably not complying with a whole lot of safety regulations.

Assuming the receiver is something ancient with a lot of poor quality caps, the power cord may be a secondary area of improvement. Don't overdo the gauge.

[Brett]

Originally posted by dognut
Hello,is there any advantage to installing a heavy gauge power cord in a tube reciever? Lets say a 14/2. I noticed the ditigal cd guys do it all the time on high end cd players.

It won't make any difference. Concentrate on the stuff that actually does, like the PS itself.

Lots of info he in that regards and Morgan Jones Valve Amplifiers book has more.
Broskies Tubecad site has tons as well and PS cleanliness is one of his fave items.

The suggested solid core cable will be illegal in many countries.

[Ty_Bower]

Originally posted by analog_sa
Wow, a wire thread with no idiots?

I've found these upgrades from Elemental Voice to be far more effective than any modifications you could make to your power cord.

http://www.nathanmarciniak.com/elemental/

[Evenharmonics]

Originally posted by Ty_Bower


I've found these upgrades from Elemental Voice to be far more effective than any modifications you could make to your power cord.

http://www.nathanmarciniak.com/elemental/

Don't forget the Pebbles .

[Evenharmonics]

Originally posted by pjanda1
Power cords do make a sizable (IMO) difference,

What about the wire between the circuit breaker and the wall socket that you plug that "upgraded" cord to? Those are typically cheap wire by companies like Romex.

[leadbelly]

Originally posted by Evenharmonics
What about the wire between the circuit breaker and the wall socket that you plug that "upgraded" cord to? Those are typically cheap wire by companies like Romex.

It's cheap wire, but it's also solid strand 14AWG. Your point doesn't make a case against upgraded cables. Common sense does that Just kidding, I shy away from exotic bullspit, but I like big thick cables too.