Power cables

[Hostility]

I did a bit of searching around on the net, but really didnt find what i was looking for. Ive been looking to up my onkyo 807's power cord to something beefier. Now im finding some local for $100-150-$200. Now on DIY local sites ive found iec connectors with matching power connectors for $15 each. Now for wire, i found at home depot 10/3 extension cord cable. Is this stuff good or is there something im missing in these expensive wires? I dont think the Home depot wire is shielded, is that important? my onkyo runs like 5-6 feet straight down into my power center.

 

[Adam]

Hi. I'd be surprised if the stock power cable that came with the Onkyo wasn't sized properly to provide sufficient current to the electronics. That said, if you're looking to lower the resistance in your cables, you could get a lower gauge. The 3-conductor cables should work just fine based on the online images of the 807 - one of the conductors just won't be used. You might even have a spare PC power cable around that is lower gauge.

What is the gauge of the stock cable? It probably has some writing on it that says. I'm just curious - thanks.

 

[Irvrobinson]

I always make my own power cables for custom length. I use Marinco plugs & IEC connectors from Parts Express, and I get Carolco 12/3 SO cable from Home Depot. Don't bother using anything heavier than 12 gauge, because unless you did custom wiring your house is probably 14/3. You can get cheaper Leviton plugs at Home Depot too, but the Marinco stuff is so much better. The Marinco connectors run about $30, and the 12/3 cable is a dollar or so a foot.

 

[Hostility]

adam, the stock power cord seems to be maybe 14g. def not 12. No the wiring would be 14/2 in the house, So i guess that makes sense to run 12. Im just getting a bit confused on what wire i should be using from all this hype of wire on the net of special wire and conductors and jackets etc.etc.

 

[avliner]

If I were you, I wouldn't bother changing the original power cord though, unless it's defective, which seems not to be.

Could you imagine, for instance, how the EE's over at Onkyo would feel by releasing a single power cord below specs??

 

[jonnythan]

My toaster pulls over twice as much current as that Onkyo ever will and it seems to do just fine with 14 gauge wiring.

 

[Rickster71]

I did a bit of searching around on the net, but really didnt find what i was looking for. Ive been looking to up my onkyo 807's power cord to something beefier. Now im finding some local for $100-150-$200. Now on DIY local sites ive found iec connectors with matching power connectors for $15 each. Now for wire, i found at home depot 10/3 extension cord cable. Is this stuff good or is there something im missing in these expensive wires? I dont think the Home depot wire is shielded, is that important? my onkyo runs like 5-6 feet straight down into my power center.

Don't expect any power or sound benefits.
But...if you want to make some custom length power cables out of SO cable that looks cool covered with Tech Flex and look beefy....sure, why not?
Have fun, think of it as a hobby.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Don't expect any power or sound benefits.
But...if you want to make some custom length power cables out of SO cable that looks cool covered with Tech Flex and look beefy....sure, why not?
Have fun, think of it as a hobby.

My view exactly, but I don't do Tech Flex.

 

[j_garcia]

If the one you have works and is long enough, find something else to spend your time and money on.

 

[Hostility]

So there is no benefit to upgrading then. Alright I'll stay away from it. I'm just having a hat time picking in between the lines with power cables and speaker cables and what ones to use. But I will save my cash if a night power cord is useless, thanks

 

[Irvrobinson]

If the one you have works and is long enough, find something else to spend your time and money on.

Well, there is another reason. For those of us not able to hide our cables, a lot of power cables these days, even with expensive and premium electronics, are cheap, molded, inflexible, things that refuse to lay flat even after a heat gun treatment. 12/3 SO lays flats and bends easily. The cable that came with my ATI amp is especially annoying n this regard. Unfortunately, the ATI has a 20amp IEC connector, and they aren't cheap.

 

[j_garcia]

Well, there is another reason. For those of us not able to hide our cables, a lot of power cables these days, even with expensive and premium electronics, are cheap, molded, inflexible, things that refuse to lay flat even after a heat gun treatment. 12/3 SO lays flats and bends easily. The cable that came with my ATI amp is especially annoying n this regard. Unfortunately, the ATI has a 20amp IEC connector, and they aren't cheap.

Yes, I had an issue with the factory cable that came with my 8300 too, it was loose in the socket. So I replaced it as well, but the replacement cable wasn't that expensive either.

 

[jinjuku]

So there is no benefit to upgrading then. Alright I'll stay away from it. I'm just having a hat time picking in between the lines with power cables and speaker cables and what ones to use. But I will save my cash if a night power cord is useless, thanks

I'll make you a power cable. Remember the more you pay me for it the better it will sound to you

 

[Irvrobinson]

I'll make you a power cable. Remember the more you pay me for it the better it will sound to you

Only if it's cryogenically treated.

 

[jinjuku]

I have a chest freezer in the basement.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...and is long enough,....

And, there is a solution for this if not, an extension cord

 

[mtrycrafts]

So there is no benefit to upgrading then. Alright I'll stay away from it. ...

Very good idea.

 

[Hostility]

Now dare I ask what you guys think about speaker wire. Monoprice 12g vs more pricey stuff. I was actually scrolling through a local website about speaker wire and tons of ppl posted up what wire they were using and a lot of guys said thy tried many wires but so and so's wire sounded best

 

[j_garcia]

Now dare I ask what you guys think about speaker wire. Monoprice 12g vs more pricey stuff. I was actually scrolling through a local website about speaker wire and tons of ppl posted up what wire they were using and a lot of guys said thy tried many wires but so and so's wire sounded best

"A lot of guys" were wrong.

Speaker Wire

 

[avliner]

Very well said, John