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Best DIY power cords?

99.67.90.88

Posted on December 17, 2011 at 12:14:16
samoore
Audiophile

Posts: 296
Joined: December 22, 1999
I can't beleive the prices on power cords! But, I also want to upgrade the OEM cable on my equipment. What are the best DIY options out there for a budget minded audiophile? I am thinking about $100 for a 6 ft power cable that can handle a decent amount of current.

Thanks!

Steve
Remember, it's all about the music.

 

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RE: Best DIY power cords?, posted on December 19, 2011 at 11:01:11
robss
Audiophile

Posts: 146
Location: PNW
Joined: April 10, 2008
You have some good advice here (especially from bartc) that is consistent with my experience, having once been in your situation. The answer(s) to your question would depend upon what the power cord would be connected to - power amp. or source being a major distinction. The VH Flavor 4 is quite stiff you should note. It works well with SS amps. as I used it. The Shunyata Venom 3 (at $99) is a great product worthy of consideration on several counts: one of the most highly praised (by reviews), affordable (based upon value) and actually has resale value (when you desire to move up or on). In the past I had made many DIY power cords as well, some quite expensive, but always with mixed results. I have always liked the results of any of the Shunyata power cords. I stopped looking, and listening to other brands some time ago. Somewhat surprisingly, my experience has taught me that greater gains in "better music" are to be had by upgrades from power cords (especially less expensive ones)vs. ICs or speaker cables. My experience, yes, but I am not alone. Good hunting. Bob

 

I like this one, posted on December 19, 2011 at 08:37:40
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37470
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since:
April 5, 2002
Belden 83803

Double shielded 12 gauge Belden step up from the Asylum cord (which I also have). All materials available at Parts Express.

 

I have these on my, posted on December 23, 2011 at 22:31:48
Maxamillion
Audiophile

Posts: 856
Location: New Jersey
Joined: May 26, 2006
P5 Powerplant, CD player and Preamp. Use 83803 with Wattgate plugs - sounds good, but very stiff, so use right angle plugs in tight spots.

 

How about a power cord for around $15.00......, posted on December 18, 2011 at 20:45:24
I haven't tried this one - see below - but I have made a few of the Asylum power cords and they cost around $20.00 if you source the materials yourself. I preferred them to several commercial power cords that I tried. Good luck and happy holidays.

 

How about electrocution or burning down your house?, posted on December 19, 2011 at 09:54:59
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1586
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
I really really really don't like the looks of this thing. I don't care how good it sounds. There are several ways to build a safe cord that sounds good. This is NOT one of them, and I think it's pretty irresponsible to post this kind of junk. Good luck, indeed!

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

Nothing wrong with the way they made the cord, they mention added heatshrink around the gap, posted on December 23, 2011 at 13:59:00
That cord pictured in the link has no unusual assembly, just the outer cover taken off where the ferrite in added, then a heatshrink is to be added (in the disclaimer) I guess you just looked and read nothing?

 

Reading the text is too challenging, no doubt. nt, posted on December 24, 2011 at 08:56:14
nt

 

Cute, but not true, posted on December 28, 2011 at 15:29:00
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1586
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
I did read it. I don't like the fact that the insulation of individual wires rubs against the corners of the ferrite clamp. That's where the cable is most likely to kink and possibly wear insulation to allow a short circuit heating or conducting point, even if its exterior is covered by heatshrink. It might be a good design, but it's not a safe design. It might be just fine for a hundred years of use, but what if fails? There are others that are more safe, so why gamble?

I wonder why you recommend or defend it if you haven't built or heard it?
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

I have now made it..........kind of.............., posted on January 30, 2012 at 20:18:17
The Caroll cable is no longer available at Home Depot. In driving around town to various Home Depots the 10/3 available seems to be different at different locations. They have both a 300V and a 600V 10/3 available. The 300V is thinner and seems to have a thinner outer cover, just perfect. One location had Chinese sourced and the other American. I picked the later. Cost is $1.76 per foot.

IEC is the Shurter 4782.0100 and I didn't have any P&S 5266 left, so I used the yellow plug sold at Harbor Freight, and most definitely Chinese in origin. These cost $3.00 each on sale and sound excellent. I skipped the ferrite as I am dubious about using them, and I wanted to get a base line, and maybe try one later. I have a whole box of them.

I agree with your reservations, and if I were going to be moving the cord around lots, I would think twice, but under the circumstances, I am comfortable.....or woefully ignorant, take your pick.

Sound wise, I have only compared it into my PLC. Compared to an Asylum Cord, exact original recipe, it seems to have tighter and more extended bass, the midrange focus is a hair better and the highs are nicely integrated. I need to listen more but IMHO and in my system, I prefer it. YMMV.

 

I have made several types over the years., posted on December 18, 2011 at 07:39:11
bartc
Audiophile

Posts: 4424
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: November 25, 2002
My best results have generally come from using Chris Ven Haus' designs, sometimes with off the shelf materials (very cheap and easy!) and sometimes with his or other commercial materials (superior and not necessarily cheap).

For amps I recommend a version of his Flavor 4. For other devices, take your pick of his other designs depending upon shielding (don't use for analog, but generally good for digital) and grounding scheme (2 or 3 pin plug system).

While you can quickly and cheaply make one out of THHN and a good P&S plug from your hardware store, using better wire (Ven Haus makes great wire) that's cryoed and better plugs (Furu or Oyaide, if you can afford them), brings much better results. You WILL know the difference.

But then, you'll often know the difference from stock PCs with virtually any upgrade of quality, DIY or commercial.

 

Take Elizabeth's advice, posted on December 17, 2011 at 19:10:26
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 13966
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
There's also the ever popular and reliable Asylum Powercord, designed
by Bob Crump, and available from Take Five Audio in Canada at very
reasonable price.

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

For the cost of the plugs, wires and effort, a Shunyata or Pangea is available at about $100, posted on December 17, 2011 at 15:03:26
I used to make my own cords.. The cost of the parts for plugs, then any wire better than stock off the hardware store shelf stuff is high too.
Zero resale value..
I bought a pile of Pangea cords and never looked back.
The Shunyata Venom 3 is also a good well received powercord.
So for about the saame price you can try one of those.

 

Agreed, , posted on February 3, 2012 at 10:15:13
jihad
Audiophile

Posts: 2342
Location: chain o' lakes
Joined: February 20, 2003
to a point.

Once you get into top quality connectors, conductors etc.... you can save money versus the same quality that's available commercially.


Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

 

Supra Lo Rad, posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:14:14
FSonicSmith
Audiophile

Posts: 528
Location: Midwest
Joined: February 18, 2009
Here you go. If I can assemble five homemade power cords without burning my house down (been two years!) and get great sound, so can you. Trust me. The answer is that nobody makes better power cord wire than this stuff; http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&search_in=name&search_str=lorad
The wire is far more important than the connectors. My advice is to skip Oyaide and the like, and go with base model Furutech (still not cheap). I tried my hand at shrink tubing and did only a midling job so my cables are not much to look at, but I am sure you could do better.

 

RE: For the cost of the plugs, wires and effort, a Shunyata or Pangea is available at about $100, posted on December 18, 2011 at 04:48:02
dianathehunter
Audiophile

Posts: 205
Joined: March 22, 2001
Yep the newest diamondback can compete with the great majority of brand new priced cords to $800 ....and though at the time I auditioned one of these cords in my system to evaluate them for friends , who did buy several each, I might compare it to something like the VH Audio Airsine, not as good mind you but approaching some of it's sonics

 

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