Upgraded Power Cables

[Ethancf]

Anyone here upgraded their power cables? If a component was worthy of an upgrade, wouldn't a power amp be about it? Curious.

[dorokusai]

You should make your own decision, don't listen to us morons.

Cable Swap Program

[Whadyasay]

The only real advantage to upgraded power cables is a larger guage of wire. Most supplied power cables use 18GA wire, 16 in some rare cases. Using 14 or 12GA wire in the power cord may help your amp draw more current from the outlet to recharge the capacitors more efficiently (or something), but tonally, the only thing I could see is posibly less interference and noise...but that's most likely when compared to really cheap-ass power cables with crappy insulation and such...or with particularly bad electrical conditions...in which case a power conditioner unit may be a better solution.

If you really want to try a power cable upgrade, and you're relatively handy with a screwdriver and wire stripper, here's the simplest way of doing it. Get these:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=100-577

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=110-400

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=110-402

Paying a few hundred dollars for a power cable is a bit ludicrous if you ask me.

[dcarlson]

Get in on the DH Labs Power in the swap. It's a no brainer power cable. Cheap and great performance.

[shack]

I agree with doro....get in the Cable Swap program and give a couple of them a try. I was a skeptic until I HEARD the difference.

[polkatese]

Originally posted by dcarlson
Get in on the DH Labs Power in the swap. It's a no brainer power cable. Cheap and great performance.

Thanks to Paul (pjdami) I am hooked to DH Labs power cables. In fact, I am making a couple more. Affordable, sounds great (for me), looks awesome! (without techflex), and simple enough to assemble.

[dorokusai]

I was also impressed with the build quality of the DH Labs PC that Paul made for the program.

If you do get interested in the DH Labs, touch base with Dave Shepherd.

[pjdami]

Originally posted by dcarlson
Get in on the DH Labs Power in the swap. It's a no brainer power cable. Cheap and great performance.

dcarlson,
Are you going to post a review on the DH Labs Power Cord review thread. Let me have it one way or another. Don't worry about hurting my feelings or anything. I want an honest opinion. I think its a great power cord for the money and to me it sounds better than the SC magicpowercord in my gear. To me it sounds noticeably warmer (when used on amps) with a little more of a wider and enveloping soundstage (not that the SC is any slouch).
Paul

[Early B.]

Anyone here upgraded their power cables?

I upgrade power cords on all of my gear. Makes a difference in sound quality. The better your gear, the more impact they make, so don't put a $100 power cord on a $50 CD player.

And yes, start with the amp, then your source.