budget power cables - what to look for?

[marqueemoon]

I've never messed with upgraded power cables and want to experiment. I have a modest tube integrated and Bifrost Uber.

I've definitely been looking at the Quail Electronics "jellyfish" option, but I'm wondering if there are other options in the $50-$60 range I should be looking at. I'd like to find something that will be appropriate for both pieces. Long term I want to move to monoblocks at which point these would move over to those.

A 1.5 meter length would really be ideal.

DIY sketches me out a little, but if there are affordable connectors that are simple to terminate and reliable I'm open to that option.

 

[Smallies]

SonikLeer is $40. Like the grey color and lower noise and that's all I can comment on.

 

[dosmalo]

I really like the Quails, great value for the buck there.
Just recently got a 10' 14 gauge Quail from MCM and I cannot see spending more for anything else personally speaking.
There are very affordable connectors I've purchase thru Amazon that have been fantastic too. They're shipped from China but my last order arrived in less than 2 weeks.

 

[dosmalo]

No affiliation of course, but these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NATHW9U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NASZO0K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

:thmbsp:

 

[dosmalo]

And, you can pair these with the Quails.
They grab and hang on like a leech!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ATOLPI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[marqueemoon]

Awesome. What kind of cable did you use for your DIY and how did it compare to the Quails? Belden 83803 seems to be a popular choice.

 

[dosmalo]

The thing I like about the Quails is the flexibility. It is by far the most flexible I've had.

 

[boza]

Hello there
I've just built a couple of power cables using Aucharm audio power cable that's a mixture of solid core and multi strand with one of these iec connectors. All in they cost me about £30 uk each. I already have power cables that are good quality but these are better and a fraction of the cost. So I would say diy would be the better value for money option.
Hope this helps

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

I use 15 amp Conntek hospital grade power cords from Amazon.

 

[marqueemoon]

So, I ended up ordering 2 Asylum cords from Take Five Audio. With the current state of the Canadian dollar they seemed like a good bet, plus I was able to order the exact length I needed.

 

[bare]

Hello there
I've just built a couple of power cables using Aucharm audio power cable that's a mixture of solid core and multi strand with one of these iec connectors. Hope this helps

Interesting.. but the choice of a Chinese cable does give pause.

 

[boza]

It's actually quite a nice bit of wire I've got 5 other power cables a QED 2 Russ Andrews yellow power cables a R.A Classic power cable and a solid core cable. The Aucharm has bye far made the biggest improvement. I put one together just out of curiosity and was really quite shocked that it did more than hold it's own so I did another one for my cd player. They turned out really nice.

 

[rcspkramp]

The Shunyata Venom series gives you big bang for the buck.

 

[marqueemoon]

Cables are here. I'm playing a few albums I know well. So far so good sonically. Vocals on The Stone Roses S/T are a little easier to pick out. Bass seems a little better controlled, which with full ranges is really helpful. Listening to Perlman playing Mozart now. Definitely seems a bit more lively and layered.

On the bad side the IEC end is not a great fit with my Bifrost. It stays in, but sags, so I tucked some Post-It notes under it to keep it fully engaged.

There's also a little bit of grain which I'm hoping will lessen in time.

 

[unfairlane]

The only way to make a no-loss powercable is to use slid core. Like this one, should be shielded too if they are neat IC`s.

http://www.primuscable.com/store/p/...er-Conductors-FPLP-FT6-Shielded-1000-Red.aspx

 

[marqueemoon]

Update time. I did some recording with my band yesterday and brought the Asylum cords. Used one on my guitar amp and the other for a mic preamp.

It made an immediate and significant difference with the guitar amp. Like really significant. The treble smoothed out considerably, and I was able to use settings that previously would have been too harsh, and parts that were too muddy in the middle pickup setting before were clean and articulate.

Now that I've experienced this I'm probably going to pick up a few of these.

http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/catalog/other/powercord/AC-cord-01.htm

 

[unfairlane]

It cleaned up some of the interference..

 

[BigElCat]

I use 15 amp Conntek hospital grade power cords from Amazon.

I'm using the 20 amp, 14 awg on my subwoofer. Works great, looks cool ! $27 for a 20' cord.

 

[jaymanaa]

I'm using the 20 amp, 14 awg on my subwoofer. Works great, looks cool ! $27 for a 20' cord.

For most equipment that can utilize an IEC, the amperage will be low enough that a 14g. cord will do fine. This little book is indispensable when doing any electrical work IMHO.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/26646354?...02830528&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=91463678208&veh=sem

 

[Djcoolray]

Irregardless of make or model to include how much your paying.....

Shielded Oxygen Free Copper ! The ends should be soldered on and not be some alloyed compositite that acts like a resister !!!