Power Cable DIY - Please advise

Hi narcissus,

My experience is that choosing the proper metals is more important than the brand. Rhodium is very detailed in the extreme treble but can be hard sounding in the mid treble unless carefully matched to the rest of the system.  I tried Rhodium plugs and receptacles a couple of times and sent them back.  Gold over bronze is my favorite, but YMMV.

Whatever you choose, care should be taken to match the receptacle and the IEC to the male plug metal composition (think of it as in interaction of metal interfaces from wall to component).

Chris at VH Audio is a super guy and could be very helpful to you on this project.

Best to you,
Dave

Hi narcissus,

I have the PorterPort and I feel confident in recommending it. It imparts a clean and uncolored sound. Sort of a reference of neutrality IMO and gets along well with a variety of cords. A no-brainer at the price.

If you decide you want something that ads more life, air, and soundstaging presence to the sound, I like the Synergistic Research Teslaplex SE. I wish to disclose that I have all SR cords and cabling in my system as well as a Powercell 10UEF/FEQ, so YMMV.

All of the receptacles need several days to settle in before judging. I run an extension cord to our garage fridge for a week, changing between the two outlets on the receptacle at mid-week. Even then, they need a day or two to settle in once the cord(s) is disturbed.

Best to you narcissus,
Dave

Nice explanation Erik. Very helpful.

Best to you,
Dave

"It's not about loss of money. The damage comes afterwards, when drives you to wrong direction for your next component, when trying to tailor all this mess for an acceptable meaning."

That is the most intelligent comment regarding this topic I have ever read/heard.

Best to you geoch,
Dave

In all fairness, battery power sources do indeed address many of the issues with the dirty power coming in via the AC line. They have been tried with great success on a number of noise-sensitive, non-current-hungry components. Problem is that the application is limited to only a few non-DIY components available for sale, and they introduce problems of their own with delivering consistent peak current to the components that they feed (they run down). ole school’s solar-powered solution would be even better still...

For the remainder of the 99%+ of audio enthusiast that choose to purchase conventional AC-powered components, power cords that effectively clean up the dirty AC from the wall prior to entering their components and deliver non-limited, time responsive current is of paramount importance to good sound.

Dave