2. cables
  3. 193538-10803

Question for Atma-sphere, will expensive power cables improve your amplifiers?

The reason I am asking is I feel manufacturers of high quality components include all that is ever needed, power cable wise. Sure, some people buy power cables because they need special lengths or have some out of the ordinary "noise" issues that need extra insulation. Some even like the visual aspect of the aftermarket cables. I’m just curious why many spend thousands of dollars on such when the manufacturer has taken the power cable into account when producing the product. I cannot see a High-quality audiophile component maker (especially some that sell volume) pass on a few dollars for a better sounding power cable if indeed the cable improved their product. I cannot see a person buying that $7000 amp is not going to balk if the product was introduced at  $7100 (with the better cable). 

I wonder if Luxman, Accuphase, McIntosh, Gryphon...you name it "dressed" their power cables up to look like expensive aftermarket cables, owners would be so quick to "upgrade"?

I’d be curious to hear Ralph’s opinion on the subject

aberyclark
devinplombier
574 posts
 

I suppose that, theoretically, you could bolt down your amps to make them "permanently connected appliances" per UL 749 (appliances that are connected to the electrical supply by means of other than a supply cord and an attachment plug), get rid of your IEC receptacles at the rear of your amps and solder 12awg wire directly on to your power supply PCBs, and run single uninterrupted runs of wire to your panel.

You could not use Romex in this application because it is only allowed inside walls. You would have to install appropriately secured, listed conduit in the prescribed manner.

 

 

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immatthewj
2,920 posts
 

Not really. It would merely be an extension of the in wall branch circuit wiring.

Example of a solid core wire power cord.

@jea48 , but I thought that what I was getting out of this discussion was that the reason after market cords could be an improvement was due to less voltage drop.  Which made me think that the voltage drop to be concerned about would be that which occurs AFTER the wall branch circuit?  Was I thinking about this incorrectly?  Because if I was thinking about this correctly, I was also thinking that completely eliminating the power cord between the gear and the in wall branch circuit would be the best way to eliminate voltage drop?

As far as your examples of where it is acceptable to run exposed NM cable, I am thinking that the attic would be included?

devinplombier
574 posts
 

My point was merely that you could, if you really wanted to of course, connect an amp’s power supply DIRECTLY to the electrical panel.

In other words, eliminate (a) the amp’s IEC receptacle, (b) the power cord, and (c) the wall receptacle altogether.

Home run from PCB board to panel.

 

devinplombier
574 posts
 

Oh and that wiring method would yield you an isolated ground, by definition

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