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

"Good power cables are essential. I'm just wondering if the expensive aftermarket cables make things "better" over the stock cable. Honestly, I'm not certain Atma-Sphere even supplies a cable with their equipment."

The reasons are fairly obvious. If a manufacturer included a $1000 power cord with an amp, 90% of the potential customers will say they already have a high end power cord and you're forcing them to buy something they don't need, or they just don't want it for some reason. There are thousands of cables in the marketplace. Does it make sense to force 1 particular cable on everyone? If you give the same cable to 5 different people, you will get 5 different opinions. 

Even if a manufacturer supplied an upgraded power cord at a reasonable price there are those that would still need to upgrade to the cord of their choice, so why not keep the retail price lower to compete with the competition.

Good power cables are essential. I'm just wondering if the expensive aftermarket cables make things "better" over the stock cable. Honestly, I'm not certain Atma-Sphere even supplies a cable with their equipment. 

@yesiam_a_pirate I'm with you, I think my mind/ears think something may be better. I've never done a TRUE double blind test. 

I've had a hard time testing said cables.  Plugging in, listening, swapping, repowering ad nauseum....... then my ability to discern gets mushy. "Recency bias" colors my perception. 

I asked the same question to ARC once. "Why don't you give me the best power cable matched to your $90,000 330m? Or do you?"   I was told- "we voice our amps to our standards and any changes that you make to your further satisfaction do not detract from our finished product's absolute quality."  Hmm..... 

The reason I am asking is I feel manufacturers of high quality components include all that is ever needed, power cable wise.

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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.

Different strokes for different folks. Not everyone’s taste is the same.

If a manufacturer included a $500.00 + power cord for a piece of high end audio equipment that would increase the price of the equipment by $500.00, or higher, for what ever the price of the power cord is. I can already hear the customer say to the dealer, "I don’t want that power cord. I use this brand."

Read page 8 ... The power cord can have audible effects! A good cable is recommended.

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@carlsbad

I'm guessing the $4000 cable cost nowhere near the selling price to produce. I'm also guessing the external $4000 cable will offer nothing better than the internal wiring of the component power supply can deliver. Again, assuming we are not talking about a custom length or some super rare listening environment. A Lamborghini will come with everything you need to take the car to the fullest extent. However, someone in a rare case may need to put snow tires on it (I know bad example).

@jea48 Nothing negative at all. I love Ralph’s products. Ralph is the only high end manufacturer that I am aware of on these forums. I always respect his opinions. I’ve seen Nelson Pass quotes to where (paraphrasing) "high end" power cables are no better than the ones he provides. I’m just curious how Ralph views the topic. Now there’s many dealers on this site and we all know what they are going to say. One rarely hears from an actual high end designer/manufacturer.

I get some arguments for actual "audio" wiring and cables. High end (aftermarket) power cables and fuses are two things I have a hard time putting my arms around.

@aberyclark I doubt atmasphere reads through new threads/posts daily on Agon. Chances are he would miss this thread of yours.

There is a way you might get his attention and he might respond to your thread. Might... JMHO, you come off with a negative bias right out of the gate.

Anyway, this should let him know you mentioned him and his company.

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

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It’s human nature to want to modify. How often does a stock Lamborghini stay stock? Compared to a Chevy Cavalier. 

The OP seems to be mixing “good enough” with “better-best”.

Typically, high-end electronic components designers are not also high-end cable manufacturers which requires different expertise 

@aberyclark You postulate a $100 cable--something similar to Ice Age Cables basic cable which I use for the basid "upgrae cable".  That makes a lot of sense to me for a manufacturer to include that.  

Now to include a $4000, for example, cable would be a bit more difficult.  Lets see what Atmasphere says.

Jerry