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Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?

98.225.200.105
Posted on April 25, 2015 at 11:52:24
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 I'm curious if there's some new power mains cable that has really grabbed anyone's attention in the $5.00-$10.00 per foot price range. Budget Max is $150.00 for cable only and would like to make two 6 ft. power cords. I already have Wattgate 5266i plugs and 320i IECs sitting around.

One is for Rega Apollo CD player and other is for SoundQuest SQ-84v2 tube integrated that is 15wpc. They are powered by Nordoost Vishnu currently and I have several other brands of PCs sitting around.

The two bulk wires I've been thinking of,
Supra Lorad 2.5 MKII at $5.00 per ft.
DH Labs Power Plus at $8.00per ft.

I'm not trying to "fix the sound" but rather just looking to experiment. I'd like to build a pair of budget PCs and see how they fare against some of the big boy stuff I have. I am not interested in the old AA cable which I did build years ago and it was ok for what it was. There is so much out there and I'm just curious to see if something relatively new is garnering any major interest in this price range.

 

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RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 11:04:25
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 I made a Power Plus cable for my integrated and like it very much. I do use Supra speaker cable and think they are excellent. I would think about making one of each. The Supra on the Rega and the Power Plus on the amp. Keep us posted on what you do as I have been thinking of making one using Supra also.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 11:36:40
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Belden makes 2 'contenders' which are in the DIY area.
So, you need to determine what you WANT.
Belden 19364 is 14/3 and highly regarded. Also very inexpensive if you shop around. And not JUST the boutique guys who get insane prices for this stuff.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 11:40:33
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Belden makes 2 'contenders' which are in the DIY area.
So, you need to determine what you WANT.
Belden 19364 is 14/3 and highly regarded. Also very inexpensive if you shop around. And not JUST the boutique guys who get insane prices for this stuff.

Belden also makes a stiffer 12ga wire with individually tinned stranding. Less compliant (stiffer) this is good stuff but more expensvie than the 14.
I think that is 83803.

Both are Teflon insulated and shielded.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 18:55:25
rwiley
Audiophile

Posts: 1050
Location: Southeast
Joined: February 20, 2001
 VH Audio.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 19:21:05
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Dill,
That's pretty much what I had been thinking. So far it's one combination option that seems to have some merit.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 19:26:41
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Pictureguy Thanks,
I'll have to revisit those Belden models. Need a refresher on them and see if they lean towards my current gear.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 27, 2015 at 08:26:16
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 rwiley,
Is there anything in particular at VH that you like or tried? I see prices from near my budget to way over budget.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 27, 2015 at 08:32:06
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Dill, which Supra speaker cables did you go with?
I've been thinking about their speaker line as well......looks interesting.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 27, 2015 at 09:11:41
rwiley
Audiophile

Posts: 1050
Location: Southeast
Joined: February 20, 2001
 I use Flavors 1, 2 and 4. DIY instructions on website.

 

Thanks, posted on April 28, 2015 at 12:43:46
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 VH Is a good read and lots of choices. I selected materials needed to do two 6' PCs without plugs, since I already have them, and came in pretty close to my target budget. They're on my short list now as well. I don't mind the extra work required to build them if they're that good.

 

For $8/foot....., posted on April 28, 2015 at 14:24:24
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 this DH Labs cable worked excellent for me.


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 28, 2015 at 14:35:19
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 I am using SUPRA Ply 3.4 speaker cables I made myself. Would love to try the Sword, but can't justify the cost.

 

RE: For $8/foot....., posted on April 28, 2015 at 14:42:41
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Thanks Awe-d-o-file,
That one has been on my short list and really think I'll try it on my tube integrated. Not sure if it would be a good cable for the CDP though.

 

RE: For $8/foot....., posted on April 28, 2015 at 17:20:41
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 No, I use it one place: on a slightly modded CDP which is used as a transport and it sounds better than my Music server through the same DAC and by a good bit. I was using a "whatever" Volex maybe power cord on the CDP and it was far worse than the server. That cable with cryo'ed Neotech connectors made all that difference. ALL my cables including interconnects are unshielded.


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

19364 is PVC insulated (nt), posted on April 28, 2015 at 18:03:39
welly
Audiophile

Posts: 1648
Location: QLD
Joined: January 22, 2001
 ...
Cheers

Welly
He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife.
- Douglas Adams


 

RE: For $8/foot....., posted on April 28, 2015 at 18:42:04
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Thanks awe-d-o-file, that is good to know.
I've been reading up on the DH Labs Power Plus and there seems to be a fairly consistant consensus on its character. It's the leading cable on my list so far.

 

RE: 19364 is PVC insulated (nt), posted on April 28, 2015 at 19:16:43
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Some guys are really off-put by the tinned wire in the 12ga, too.

ME? I think my amp comes with 16, so the 14 should be a breath of fresh air and BUDGET priced for all it will do so well.
One of the Emotiva monoblocs comes with 18! And NOBODY over there seems to care.

OH! At least one guy around here is REALLY spun-up about CARBON in the insulation!

Name your price / name your poison
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 29, 2015 at 13:56:06
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



If you can raise your budget a bit, the Oyaide PA-23 bulk power cord has been called a poor man's Acrolink power cord. It features 14 AWG single crystal OCC copper conductors, a floating foil shield (no drain wire to terminate), audiophile quality dielectric with resonance control, and a carbon loaded layer for energy storage dissipation. Priced at $62 per meter = $217 for 3.5 meters (11.5 feet).

BTW, the Oyaide PA-23 is the least expensive bulk power cord product worthy of premium Oyaide 004 Beryllium AC connectors, IME.

See link:

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 29, 2015 at 14:41:25
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Duster,
Thank you. That one was never on my radar at all and could stretch a bit if it were well worth the few extra coins. (Which in fact you just commented on in your post as I was typing this.) I wonder if my cheapie Wattgates are up to task with this cable?

Truly, I need to keep this little project under control 'cause I know me all to well. What starts as a $100 item ends up costing $1000 somehow??? and it always starts with that "if you can stretch your budget just a bit" line. No disrespect to you at all !!. I'm sitting here laughing / remembering my days as an audio salesman when I'd get a budding audiophile on the hook looking at Adcom, Carver or NAD separates and I'd keep'em nibbling as we looked at the Nakamichi and Forte' stuff. "If you can stretch your budget a bit more?"..........there we'd be, in the land of Krell, Levinson, Audio Research, Wadia, Classe'............good times back then.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 09:14:17
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Duster, I've looked around and haven't found a source that I'm familiar with for the Oyaide PA-23, or they no longer have stock. Also seems that Oyaide has a cloning issue so is there anyone you can point me towards?

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 10:09:57
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I think Chris VenHaus of VH Audio could special order it for you, including allowing a 0.5 meter increment so you don't have to buy 4 meters when you only need 3.5 meters. Not all sellers allow bulk cable orders that involve 0.5 meter increments. I'm only aware of fake Oyaide AC connectors; I've not come across any fake Oyaide cables from online sellers.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 10:10:17
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 While an economy Wattgate won't allow the kind of performance premium AC connectors tend to provide, I think you would find the Oyaide PA-23 still provides improved performance vs. lower-budget options. Perhaps you would consider upgrading the economy Wattgate AC connectors with premium AC connectors sometime in the future.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 10:40:22
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Thanks Duster, I'll send Chris an email to see if he could do it.

As for the plugs, I figured they'd be the dictator, of sorts, with what kind of performance wire I'd bother stepping up to. That's why I set my budget fairly low, to match the level of the plugs on hand here.

To me, it's like putting PepBoys house brand tires on my AMG instead of Michelin Pilot Super Sports........total mismatch. Yeah I can drive it but it'll never be what the car is capable of.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 11:19:15
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Your reasoning is insightful, but there's no need to dumb down one aspect of a design just because another aspect is not high performance. Even humble audiophile devices can benefit from high performance parts and tweaks. However, I think you are correct regarding the notion of never knowing what the Oyaide PA-23 bulk power cable is capable of unless premium AC connectors are implemented. But I think it's a better investment to obtain a product that offers future upgrade path potential as well as resale value. That said, from a distinctly high performance standpoint, I wasn't satisfied with the Oyaide PA-23 for use with a DAC in a second system until it was re-terminated with an Oyaide P-004 Beryllium AC plug and Oyaide C-079 Gold IEC connector. I would be disappointed in myself if you were unsatisfied with the Oyaide PA-23 when terminated with economy Wattgate AC connectors. Therefore, I suppose the disclaimer "YMMV" is appropriate at this time.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 13:39:04
430cruz
Audiophile

Posts: 253
Location: S. E. Pennsylvania
Joined: March 13, 2009
 Duster, I just spent that last 10 minutes scrolling through your system. If it's a current reflection of what you have going on now, then I totally understand where you are at and where your advise is coming from. You have some nice gear there, several of which I owned in the past. I was there and beyond to a scary degree.
(ps, that 18k pre was huge surprise at its price and can't imagine what it's like now with your mods.)

You're right about not dumbing it down for the sake of the Wattgate plugs, they can always be upgraded down the road and would keep your advise/recommendations in mind. It's possible that they'll do fine with my current gear and can always upgrade plugs later. If this had been for one of my older kilo-bucks systems then I'd be all over your suggestions but this is for much more humble system. And I will always take suggestions with the knowledge "YMMV" whether said or not :)

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 14:37:54
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Your Nordost Vishnu power cords seem to be terminated with either economy Wattgate or Marinco AC connectors. If it's reasonable to use economy AC connectors for a Nordost power cord, terminating the Oyaide PA-23 with the same type of AC connector might also be a reasonable thing to consider. However, I don't know the sonic signature of the Nordost Vishnu power cord, so the same "YMMV" disclaimer still applies. I know it can be difficult work within a budget, but it can be a worthwhile thing to extend a budget if it's still affordable. A quintessential audiophile budget adjuster is an AC outlet upgrade when a new power cord is introduced within a system. It may depend on how far one wishes to take their system, one way or another, and how valuable that goal might be to a listener.

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on October 13, 2015 at 22:38:18
Tweaker456
 Apex Jr has 10 AWG silver plated ofc wire that I use. Very inexpensive compared to hyped audio products. Tweaker

 

RE: Any new budget friendly bulk power cable for diy?, posted on October 14, 2015 at 11:03:27
cabelok
Audiophile

Posts: 150
Location: Phoenix
Joined: September 9, 2015
 Bought some shielded hospital grade 3x14 cords from stayonline.com. I tried out a cord of theirs to see the quality. I've been involved with cable harness manufacture for many years (1983) on the crimping/processing side. My criteria may be different to what audiophiles are looking for (they mainly listen with their eyes). Its not my intention to criticize this. I'm also not an electronic/electrical engineer (I don't look at specs) but someone who listens for perceptible differences. If it sounds bad I throw it out instead of trying to fix it.

1. The cable needs to be copper (I'm not sure if 99.99999% will be better)and able to flow current, 14AWG in my opinion is adequate. I'm not sure if bigger will have any effect, unless the cable is used to 'tune' the sound. I have no experience with this.

2. I haven't dissected a high end power cable to see how they are terminated. Unless they have dedicated crimp tooling that produces a voidless or air tight crimp I would solder using high quality eutectic silver solder. Screwing the wires onto the blade is in my opinion not ideal. An alternative is ultrasonic welding, but not many can afford this equipment (Blue Jeans have one). My understanding is that hospital grade cords have to be soldered. When I look at some of the high end plugs like Furutech you see gold plating, carbon, billet aluminum, 99.9999999% copper (joke) and plenty of bling, but the most important thing the connection is not shown. I'm not sure they even tell you how important the termination is.

3. Shielding in my opinion is very important. The braided tin plated Cu is okay, but Mylar with a drain wire is better (100% coverage I believe). You can go overboard and use Teflon insulated conductor wire or pairs and then twist them to cancel out whatever is still lurking in a double shielded jacket with a twist of lemon. If you're running a tube amp you may have to do something about the ground/earth - I have left mine off. My toothbrush is also not grounded....

 

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