AC Power cable for ARC Ref 5 se.


I recently purchased a ARC Ref 5se and i heard that changing the power cord makes a difference in better sound. Can anyone recommend some power cords that they changed with their 5se? Also changing the fuse? Thanks
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Showing 5 responses by folkfreak

To @lostbears list I would also add AudioQuest -- my primary ARC dealer (Optimal Enhancement) always gets great results combining ARC amps with the latest AQ cables and I'd imagine the Storm series would be a great match -- I currently use AQ WEL on my Ref 2SE Phono and SR Galileo LE on my Ref 40
Adding a link of a picture of the back
http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649227690-audio-research-ref5se-preamp-new-in-factory-sealed-box-...

All ARC manuals are searchable, but oddly the manual does not specify what form the cord is

All the current Ref series ARC components use 20A inlets
To expand on @cleeds response the key thing is what is the maximum current draw the cable will need to handle. If it’s >15A then you should really use both a 20A IEC and a 20A plug NEMA 5-20P (the sort in which the two flat prongs are at 90 degrees to one another vs the normal parallel).

This is why the Furman Elite 20 PFI ships with a cord with 20A IEC and 20A plug -- as the conditioner can supply, and can therefore draw, up to 20A.

ARC Amps on the other hand draw well under 15A (with the exception of the Ref750 which can draw 20A, wonder what sort of plug that ships with?) and while ARC uses 20A IEC sockets as (they believe) they give better contact and more secure connections then the traditional 15A its fine to use them with a cord with 20A IEC and traditional/normal 15A plug.

But in practice most manufacturers ignore the above and, especially in the case of power conditioners, simply ship them with a standard 15A type plug -- my Synergistic Research PowerCell 12 UEF SE being a case in point, rated to 20A but ships terminated 5-15P!

Finally to further complexify things in the current AQ Power Cord range the top of range Dragon comes in both a high current and low current version -- the former will support components drawing up to 20A while the latter (Dragon Source) is only for use with pre-amps and source components drawing lower currents (oddly AQ do not specify the current limit for the cable) -- they also argue the Dragon source sounds better on sources then the big, thich high current (and it costs half as much as well)

So all in all do take some care that you get the right set up for your needs 🧐
@d2girls most people wire their listening rooms with 20A receptacles but use 15A plugs in them 😉. The Furman was the first time I’d ever seen an audio component with a 20A plug
If you think about it the real reason for using a 20A plug is to prevent someone plugging something that draws 20A into a 15A standard receptacle and overloading the circuit. There's nothing in the design of a 15A plug that makes it unsafe carrying 20A provided the circuit its connected to is rated 20A. 

This is the reason the ARC Manual for the Ref750 (which as you recall will draw 20A) goes at lengths to stress the need to connect it to a 20A circuit ... it seems odd from a safety perspective that they don't simply supply 20A plugs as well ... maybe because Oyaide et al don't make audiophile grade 20A plugs?