Do power cords make a difference when upgrading from OEM?

[addictaudio]

Per the title, I was wondering if it is worth upgrading power cords from the OEM ones that are supplied with subwoofers, TV Amplifier, Receiver, Blue Ray, etc...? If so, which ones are recommended that will not break the bank, but provide a noticeable difference? Thanks in advance.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Yes, upgraded power cords make a big difference. They transfer wealth from you to the people that market and sell upgraded power cables. Functionally they provide no benefit whatsoever, other than perhaps looking nice.

 

[slipperybidness]

Think about all the romex in your wall that supplies the power from your breaker to your power outlet. Now, you are going to upgrade the 3 feet of cable from the outlet to the electronics and think you will get an improvement?

Kind of silly when you think about it like that?

 

[addictaudio]

Thanks guys. I am still learning. The upgrade came as a recommendation from me by an installer, even without me buying these from them. They said it would make a difference in some components, such as the subwoofer, on the Emotiva XPA-5, etc... I just wanted to check with you all. Emotiva makes some power cords that are reasonably priced, so I was considering them. Now if it makes no difference whatsoever, then there is no point, if this is what you all are affirming here. I do have a Panamax 5300 PM power conditioner, and was planning on using OEM power cords, until the advice was brought up to upgrade them.

 

[addictaudio]

PS: Nothing will be connected directly to the power outlet. All power cords connect to the power conditioner.

 

[avliner]

PS: Nothing will be connected directly to the power outlet. All power cords connect to the power conditioner.

One more reason to avoid the so-called special power cords, IMO!! Just think about it this way: if all OEM power cords are really that under-rated (as widely spread by the other side), then we must send ALL EE's around the globe back to school, in order to "re-learn" how to calculate things out properly. Think about Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Integra, HK, Yamaha, Emo, Outlaw, Sherbourne, Oppo, Panny, Sony, Toshiba, Sammy, LG and the list goes on and on, though.

Bottom line: they just don't know a s**t about it, don't you think so??

 

[slipperybidness]

Yup. You think all these companies will spend big bucks on development and production and then cripple the product right out of the gate with an insufficient power cord?

 

[addictaudio]

^^^ Thanks for the opinion guys. My thought about this subject was like with the automotive industry. Surely manufacturers exhaust systems, for example, flow fine for the application. But people like me, may want to purchase an aftermarket exhaust for improved sound, looks, and a little power gain. The same may hold true for a cold air induction, as surely stock OEM units may flow sufficiently. In essence, I thought the same theories may apply to this matter. But if you are all saying that there are no differences perceived from aftermarket power cords, then there is nothing left to it

 

[j_garcia]

Thanks guys. I am still learning. The upgrade came as a recommendation from me by an installer, even without me buying these from them. They said it would make a difference in some components, such as the subwoofer, on the Emotiva XPA-5, etc... I just wanted to check with you all. Emotiva makes some power cords that are reasonably priced, so I was considering them. Now if it makes no difference whatsoever, then there is no point, if this is what you all are affirming here. I do have a Panamax 5300 PM power conditioner, and was planning on using OEM power cords, until the advice was brought up to upgrade them.

It was bad advice.

 

[its phillip]

^^^ Thanks for the opinion guys. My thought about this subject was like with the automotive industry. Surely manufacturers exhaust systems, for example, flow fine for the application. But people like me, may want to purchase an aftermarket exhaust for improved sound, looks, and a little power gain. The same may hold true for a cold air induction, as surely stock OEM units may flow sufficiently. In essence, I thought the same theories may apply to this matter. But if you are all saying that there are no differences perceived from aftermarket power cords, then there is nothing left to it

The thing about those car parts is that there will be measurable differences (ie lighter weight, more horsepower/torque, more grip, etc). Not likely with the power cords, unless one is faulty.

 

[Rickster71]

^^^ Thanks for the opinion guys. My thought about this subject was like with the automotive industry. Surely manufacturers exhaust systems, for example, flow fine for the application. But people like me, may want to purchase an aftermarket exhaust for improved sound, looks, and a little power gain. The same may hold true for a cold air induction, as surely stock OEM units may flow sufficiently. In essence, I thought the same theories may apply to this matter. But if you are all saying that there are no differences perceived from aftermarket power cords, then there is nothing left to it

Now it makes sense why you would wonder if the same thing held true for wire.

The difference being, auto intake and exhaust systems are intentionally made a little restrictive with baffles and plenums.
All to make them quieter.
No such practice takes place with power cords.
Many snake oil power cord manufacturers use that exact phoney auto analogy to sell their wires....beware.

 

[Ampdog]

Repeating, as I have said under "Speaker Cables".

( I am not as sceptical as I may sound. Only it is often a question that the wonderful things manufacturers claim are so contradictory to basic electric principles that all us EEs must go back to varsities or technicons should they be correct. My subsequent impression : If the manufacturer displays such ignorance of principles, how am I supposed to buy his product with confidence? A CEO of a famous cable manufacturer once wrote to me (I could almost hear the soft confidential tone): "Mysterious things happen when two wires meet ..." Really ... need I go on?)

The main claim-to-fame seems to be the reduction of noise, "purifying" of the signal" etc. With a stretch of the imagination that might be true where the mains supply is noisy. This is certainly not true of all (most?) mains supplies. "Purifiers" are usually effective in such a case - but first determine if you need it!

As for special wires: They can contribute nil if anything to purifying a mains input. This should be done in the device (amplifier) in the first place; I am amazed at the number of even high-end products bringing the mains in 'naked' - not even a capacitor across the transformer primary as was the custom before. Futher LC mains filtering was the custom a decade or more ago. As for claims of wider soundstage, more air, ambience, crispier high notes, improvement involvement, hearing the second vioilinist wheeze ...... no comment.

It is simple to do a blind test - comparison with, say, ripcord (representing the opposite end of the scale). The universal advice: If possible compare under neutral conditions and make your conclusion then. (As before, nobody is advising using flea wire).

PS: What is often a factor is the poor quality of mains connectors. They can corrode in a short time, and can be pulled and replugged occasionally to clean off any layers, etc. Some of the OTC consumer stuff is really atrocious.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

PS: Nothing will be connected directly to the power outlet. All power cords connect to the power conditioner.

If one wants to organize things, for example; a blue cord could be used between the blu-ray player and power conditioner, yellow for turntable, red for amp, etc. One might want a longer or shorter cord than the OEM for flexible placement of gear.