Economical power DIY cords

earwig · « **on:** 28 Dec 2007, 02:59 pm »

Have a few Marinco IEC and 3 prong power plugs(non gold plated Wattgates) kicking around.Thought I try to get a cheap source for some teflon wire. or Belden maby .Belden 83802 with a outer jacket ground wire.Only trouble I find is you need to spend lots of money on 100ft spools (not cheap).Actually why dont I just get 100ft spool of 14 guage silverplated teflon wire I could get much cheaper and wrap a bunch in 5 star configuration.Wrap some Canadian Tire teflon pumbing tape like a mummy then put a braided tube wrap over it.

Joey B · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Dec 2007, 09:13 pm »

With all respect , the VH flavor isn't real expensive and has some good design to it. Why not just build one . Most Teflon wire is not AC rated because the teflon may squish ( and short out) when stepped on . The VH wire is ac rated .

Just a thought

Joe

Andrew JC · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Dec 2007, 09:20 pm »

Try here http://www.takefiveaudio.com/mall/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=1&cat=DIY+Supplies

GerryD · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Dec 2007, 10:08 pm »

This would work well for your purposes:

http://cryo-parts.com/accable.html

satfrat · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Dec 2007, 10:24 pm »

http://www.vhaudio.com/diy.html

There's a lot of good info right from this page from Chris VenHaus on DIY designs on everything from digital cables to power cords, all 3 Flavors but not the flavor 4, which is made for high power amps. If nothing else, it's a good read. I have all flavors VenHaus power cords in my system and have always loved them over stock cords. BUT I am in the porcess of upgrading and there definitely are better cords out there than VH Audio's basic Flavors,,, at 5+times the pirce that is. I personally haven't tried Chris's tip of the line (and pricey) Airsine but you won't find another cable business that takes as much of an interest in the DIY community than Chris VenHaus cuz that was where he started.

Happy building,,,,,
Robin

Gordy · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Dec 2007, 12:46 pm »

Earwig,

Have you read this... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=15325.0 I'd give them a try before moving any further upwards, they really are quite good! You could get a 6 pack and add designer connectors to a couple (for comparison) and still be under price of any of the high dollar cords. Buy cautiously... used and or on trial from there!

Gordy

ecramer · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Dec 2007, 01:25 pm »

Earwig may also be used as a verb to mean: "to fill the mind with prejudice by insinuations" or "to attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk".[1]

BobM · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Dec 2007, 03:01 am »

Quote from: earwig on 29 Dec 2007, 11:21 am

Has anyone heard a DH labs power plus ac cord on a power amp and how it sounds compared to a Belden 83803 or simular for example?Also Ive seen that Cardas twinaxial 15.5,sheilded has been used (could be used on source equiptment or solid state preamps).Partconnexion sells Cardas and DH labs,Audiyo sells Belden 83802 only.Cardas Twinlink A speaker wire with sheild is said to be used as ac cord ,has anybody heard it?Right now Im just using a premade Belden triple 16 guage sheiled cord that came with the amp and Swan triple 18 guage,sheiled cord I got from radio shack.Actually I really question if they could be any differance having cord any fancier than this. So its really experimental but I do have several sets of Marinco IEC and triple hospital plugs to test this theory out.Also if anybody has ripped apart a Black Sand cord you guys have so raved about ,let me know its construct,Ill be glad to hear about it.

I just recently built some DH Labs Power Plus's from raw materials available at Parts Connexion. UYou can pick up the cord there for about $5/ft and the Marinco plugs too. I've been using the Belden based Asylum cords for quite a while now and thought I'd give these a try. Well I let them break in for about 100 hours and I can say that the bass is bigger, but the top end is definitely more rolled off when connected to the amp. It's subtle, but it's not quite as open. I would up using the DH Labs cord on my subwoofer and power conditioner and the Belden Asylum cable on the amp and source equipment and TT preamp.

Funny how a power cord can change the tonality of the equipment, and not just affect the extension, openness and bass response, which is what you would think.

Enjoy,
Bob

satfrat · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Dec 2007, 07:37 am »

Quote from: ecramer on 29 Dec 2007, 01:25 pm

Earwig may also be used as a verb to mean: "to fill the mind with prejudice by insinuations" or "to attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk".[1]

I heard that too hea!

Photon46 · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Dec 2007, 02:22 pm »

Earwig, I've built all the flavors of VH DIY power cords with the teflon jacketed Belden cable and my advice would be to not waste your time. They DO sound better than stock cable, but compared to the Cryo-Parts AC cable, they operate a considerably lower performance level. Now I did use Furutech rather than Marinco connectors, so I don't know how much of the Cryo-Parts performance advantage is due to that difference.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Dec 2007, 02:31 pm »

I ordered some rubber tubing from VH only to find out it came from one of the companies we own! It was too small for the 8 gauge wire I was using from Home Depot. I used a washing machine outlet tube instead to put my wires in and some large TechFlex to cover it. Then get the 3:1 shrink tubing so it wraps both the connector end and the tubing and you have yourself a neat and tidy cable assembly.

FredT300B · « **Reply #11 on:** 31 Dec 2007, 11:42 am »

Belden 83803 is available in 1ft increments from Parts Express: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=100-790&CFID=42137&CFTOKEN=38553837

ecramer · « **Reply #12 on:** 31 Dec 2007, 01:57 pm »

http://zebracables.com/diy.html 83803 at a better price but only order in 2 foot increments

Quote from: FredT300B on 31 Dec 2007, 11:42 am

Belden 83803 is available in 1ft increments from Parts Express: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=100-790&CFID=42137&CFTOKEN=38553837

Philistine · « **Reply #13 on:** 31 Dec 2007, 09:06 pm »

I've made up PC's using Marinco connectors and Belden 83803, nothing special (if you want to try one let me know)- I understand that cable geometry is a significant factor in addition to shielding/conductors/connectors etc?
Finished up with a couple of Zu Mothers and Acoustic Zen Tsunami, both change the sound character. I struggle with the concept of spending a high percentage of the total spend on cables and other related tweaks, and prefer to direct my $ towards components - on this basis I draw the line at more than $350 for a PC.
I'm going to try one of the Cryo Parts cables next, I've not seen a bad review yet.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Jan 2008, 01:48 pm »

I have 2 spare, unused Volex if you would like to try one. They didn't do much for me. YMMV

Photon46 · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Jan 2008, 03:51 pm »

Earwig, you are so right about it being difficult to sort the wheat from the chafe when it comes to cable technology. Not everyone uses cryogenics to inflate price though, blanket cynicism isn't fully warranted. For instance, Cryo-Parts doesn't really charge higher prices for their products than most non-cryoed connectors, wiring, etc. sold by other vendors. They really believe it makes a positive difference. (I swear, I'm not a shill for them.) Me? I don't know, I've never cared enough to experiment with cryo vs. non cryoed wire and connectors. But if I can buy a cryoed connector for the same as the non cryoed version, why not? Like you, I think I'd have a hard time justifying more than $300-$400 for cords and interconnects. Thank gos for the used market.

Photon46 · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Jan 2008, 12:37 pm »

You know Earwig, after my first experiences building all the DIY VenHaus "flavor recipes" with the red Teflon jacketed Belden cable, Shurter IECs, and Pass/Seymour male ends, I would have agreed with you about the subtle nature of improvements power cords effect. (This is after the addition of a PS Audio Power Plant in my system BTW.) But the Cryo-Parts and Virtual Dynamics power cords were, to use a tired phrase, nearly jaw dropping in the improvements the brought in many areas. Their changes were much more audible than the changes I've heard in interconnects. Now admittedly, I've not used any interconnects with high price tags. (Oyaide PA-02 w/Vampire 800b, Signal Cable Silver Reference, Music Metre Canto, Synergistic Research Alpha Sterlings, among others.) Maybe the high ticket stuff would really be ear opening, I don't know. In my system though, power cord changes are much more audible than the interconnect changes though.

Philistine · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Jan 2008, 03:18 pm »

In support of Photon's findings I too have found changes in IC to be incremental, and changes in PC can be more dramatic. I wouldn't discount PC's as a 'upgrade' path until you've had the chance to try a few in your system, if they do make a difference you then need to decide what value you put on any changes you may hear. I put my value limit at $350, expensive to some but cheap to others, and would have to think long and hard at spending $1k plus

I still have trouble getting my head around PC's making a difference. I've heard the position that the electric current goes through crappy cables to get to your equipment so anyone who believes the last 3-6ft makes a difference must be nuts. On the other hand I've heard the position that this is not the last 3-6ft but the first 3-6ft your equipment sees. I was in the former category until my local dealer loaned me a top of the range Shunyata PC

and I became a convert.

ecramer · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Jan 2008, 04:19 pm »

earwig

cant do much better then this even diy if you add up the parts
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=49146.msg440798;topicseen#new

DaveC113 · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Jan 2008, 05:49 pm »

What do you guys think are the best economy IEC Female and 120 V plugs?

Dave