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

aberyclark03-09-2025 11:46pm

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mclinnguy Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 740 posts 03-27-2025 at 03:21pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Several years ago, on Audio Asylum forum a guy built a DIY power cord using CAT5 twisted 4 pair data cable. WOW!. 120Vac. Available short circuit fault current at the wall outlet for a 20 amp circuit could easily be in the hundreds of amps before the breaker will trip. I have read on audio forums where DIY power cables where built using Speaker cable. @jea48 This doesn't surprise me, but one may conclude those with the budget of a Gryphon would be a little more inclined to not "cheap out" and DIY? But it is the manual for a reason!
atmasphere Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 12,061 posts 03-27-2025 at 04:15pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete This being the case, may I assume then, that aside from the measurable quantities of voltage drop and bandwidth of the cable, nothing else will have an effect on sound quality from power delivered by a power cable, everything else unchanged? And, how difficult is it to build a power cable with the greatest possible bandwidth? @kevn I previously described the two most important aspects that affect an amplifier, insofar as a power cord is concerned. There are other effects but there are so minimal they can be ignored. I don't think the 'greatest possible bandwidth' is all that important, since the charging time we're talking about is milliseconds rather than microseconds (so not particularly high frequencies). So the task is actually pretty easy once you understand that fact. The raw AC Voltage drop across the cord dominates the equation, so to speak.
westcoastaudiophile Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 448 posts 03-27-2025 at 05:17pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @atmasphere +1 "I don't think the 'greatest possible bandwidth' is all that important, since the charging time we're talking about is milliseconds rather than microseconds" power delivery capacitor charge speed is limited by: 1) power network, with all transformers, between power plant and outlet point, which is highly inductive, thus slow 2) some small effect of power cable. 3) amp internal circuitry, including transformer/s and series resistance in the charge current flow.
faustuss Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 39 posts 03-27-2025 at 05:32pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @jea48 "Years ago I used to post a photo of a power cord sold by an audiophile internet company showing 3 single insulated conductors twisted together with only a loosely protective covering of a cellophane plastic. WOW. Going from memory the wires were 16AWG." Mapleshade - they had a whole "loom" based around this construction.
jea48 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,650 posts 03-27-2025 at 05:37pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @faustuss That’s it! Look at them high quality audiophile connectors.