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Power Cables for Class D Amplifiers

Do Class D amplifiers that are very efficient, high power, (ie 600 watts at 8 ohms 1110 watts at 4 ohms) require the heavier lower gauge power cords (10, 9, 8 guage) that we see used on the heavy inefficient high power and high current amps? I ask because the stock power cable that came with my Class D amp was even thinner than the usual stock cord. It's something like a 14 gauge power cable! Is a 10 gauge or lower power cable needed in this ampliifier class as it would be in Class A or AB?
foster_9
davehrab's avatar
davehrab
380 posts
 

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that class D amps do not have power supply caps used for storage ... so it may behoove users of this class of amp to go to a larger gauge power cord to act as a temporary  reservoir on high current demand passages 

The larger cable  wouldn't be an actual  reservoir as in storage but a bigger cable would allow for more instantaneous deliver on strong peaks

With the high efficiency of the class D amps you will probably get a 16 or 14 gauge power cable from the factory  ... increase it to 9 gauge and reduce the restriction if and when a peak in the music calls for more instant current

I wonder if those who have had success with after market power cords on class D amps  did so from the after market power cord being a larger gauge ??

todd129's avatar
todd129
10 posts
 
This is an interesting point RE: class D power reservoir success. One aspect of my rig is that the power filtering components that I use are intended for live performance in venues with poor house power. They store up juice -- apparently 40 amps. I'm not an electronics guy, but this potentially supports your hypothesis. Dunno about the power delivery specs or gauge  on the Wireworld Electra 7 cables. They are odd and flat. 
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Here is an update for my amp situation. I was able to acquire Red Dragon M1000 monoblocks and they sound wonderful when paired with Shunyata Venom 3 power cords which are only 14AWG. For me I found no need to get a 10AWG or thicker power cord on my Class D type amps.
ps7256's avatar
ps7256
40 posts
 
Have been running the Shunyata Venom 3 from my Rotel RB1572, (Class D) to PS Audio P10. The P10 runs from a PS Audio AC3 Power cable, (3 Feet) to PS Audio Power Port Classic Outlet. Running Shunyata Snakebite from Superphon CD Maxx, (Preamplifier) to P10. Without changing settings on P10 since connecting these Power Cables for the last 8 months I have noticed a greater 'blackness' for lack of a better way of describing it between tracks and a very lovely decay at the end of particular favourites that I did not either notice prior to the connection of these cables, maybe (placebo) or they have broken in very well.
herndonb
124 posts
 

Purist Audio Design Aquila Digital AC power cord.  Is an incredible sounding power cord for digital stuff, i.e. Class-D amps, PCs, digital cable/satellite boxes, most TVs, gear with using switch mode power supplies, etc.  Aquila Dig AC is amazing.

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