A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?

What Bill Thalmann told me......, posted on November 6, 2009 at 18:31:50
Marc Bratton Audiophile Posts: 4578 Joined: June 15, 2000	He's the engineer that probably designed your MV52. He now owns his own restoration/repair business. He told me that the power cable snakes right under a major printed circuit board, there's no room to put in anything bigger, and it wouldn't improve the sound anyway. Coming from him, I listened.

RE: What Bill Thalmann told me......, posted on November 7, 2009 at 09:48:17
popsy Audiophile Posts: 253 Location: seattle Joined: March 4, 2007	okey doke, cords are out...guess i will concentrate on tube selection!

RE: A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?, posted on October 31, 2009 at 01:00:23

Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 13112
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
Contributor
Since: June 24, 2005

I have one or two people a month calling me or emailing me asking if I would convert their older amp or preamp to an IEC plug so they can swap AC cords thinking they can dramatically improve the sound.
I tell them,flat out NO!! Nothing will beat a soldered in AC cord because even if you buy a 2k dollar cord,its still going to just slip over the pins inside the IEC plug which are made of aluminum or steel. THis can cause micro arcing and every other noise associated problem. THis is why I like the soldered in AC cords because you know you are getting a great connection and its solid.
If you want the IEC filter,you can buy one and take out the IEC plug and just solder your line cord to that and still have a solid connection. This is why I would leave your nice amp the way it is because a fancy cord isn't going to better than amp like a power supply upgrade would do.
Just my 2 cents.
I
If the power supply waveform isn't pretty,neither is the sound in most cases.

RE: A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?, posted on November 2, 2009 at 11:04:30

Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 5944
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001

Hi Michael,

Since I have not experimented with power cords, I can neither agree nor disagree with what you say about the lack of sonic merit of "upgraded" power cords. I do want to point out that there is such a thing as upgraded IEC inlet with blades of good conductors with gold, rhodium and other plating (w/ matching plugs). However, I make no claim to the sonic efficacy of these inlets.

I do applaud you standing on principle, rather than just taking peoples money!

Dave

RE: A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?, posted on October 31, 2009 at 14:16:18
Peter Breuninger Reviewer Posts: 292 Joined: August 28, 2002	Michael, I have to respectively disagree here. For "whatever" the mumbo-jumbo reasons, power cords can make a major difference on new a-n-d on vintage gear. More detail-bigger soundstage, stuff like that. I wish it wasn't so. Try them before you fry them :) Peter Breuninger

RE: A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?, posted on October 31, 2009 at 15:01:06
gusser Audiophile Posts: 841 Location: So. California Joined: September 6, 2006	And there is not a shred of evidence as to how this occurs. There are some theories as to RF noise but this is rare and unlikely in most applications.

RE: A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?, posted on October 31, 2009 at 15:12:15

Peter Breuninger
Reviewer

Posts: 292
Joined: August 28, 2002

I hear you.

It's kinda like... how do you measure image placement in a soundstage? Where do I see that on my oscilloscope? The unknown is the essence of our hobby. It's what drives us on the road to our personal nirvana.

I say- with all honesty- try anything that brings results. And power cords fall into this category. Heck, its a hobby, not life and death medicine.

Go Phillies!

Peter Breuninger

Won't argue with a Phillies fan!, posted on October 31, 2009 at 16:12:57
gusser Audiophile Posts: 841 Location: So. California Joined: September 6, 2006	I grew up there!

RE: A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?, posted on October 31, 2009 at 08:36:05
popsy Audiophile Posts: 253 Location: seattle Joined: March 4, 2007	mr. samra thanks for the info and I will follow your advice, thanks!

I agree. Question...., posted on October 31, 2009 at 07:14:35
onemug Audiophile Posts: 547 Location: So. California Joined: April 19, 2003	On a stock cord from a Marantz 7c or original Mac C22, where the 2 prong plug can go in your wall socket either way, can it make a difference one way ot the other?

RE: I agree. Question...., posted on October 31, 2009 at 12:29:32

Ron Oehlert
Audiophile

Posts: 4646
Joined: December 18, 2003

Simply flip the plug over & Hear for yourself. AC = Alternating Current, but one side is so-called Hot & the other so-called Neutral, yet Either side can KILL you via electrocution. DO NOTICE that the Cord itself is marked via a rib or ribs on one side & use those marks as orientation if you hear any differance. Convention holds that the ribbed side of cord should orient to Neutral (longest slot in wall outlet) IF the cord is properly connected inside the chassis (non-ribbed side to switch & fuse).

Thanks Ron, posted on October 31, 2009 at 15:28:09

onemug
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: So. California
Joined: April 19, 2003

I do listen both ways and have not heard much if any difference. I've always tested my vintage tuners (chassis ground to earth ground, nothing connnected to unit during test) for lowest ground potential and go with that. With tuners, you can't play the same song over and over to compare both ways. In the case of the 7c, it was 160v one way and 60v the other. The 60v was with the ribbed side to neutral like you said.

RE: 60v / 160v, posted on October 31, 2009 at 16:17:20
gusser Audiophile Posts: 841 Location: So. California Joined: September 6, 2006	These readings indicate there is a cap and/or high value resistor to chassis ground from one side of the line. They used to do this up until the 1980s. I never understood why.

Thanks Gusser, posted on October 31, 2009 at 16:50:36
onemug Audiophile Posts: 547 Location: So. California Joined: April 19, 2003	Normal for a 45 yr old tube preamp? I have it plugged in the 60v orientation.

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A/C cord on C-J MV-52 replaced?

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