What power cords do you like for your high-end headphone amp?

I use black IEC cords that came with computers and coffe makers.

 

I find that equipment with good power supplies employing functional voltage regulators trumps any difference in cables. 

I use hospital grade on sources through an isolation transformer. The one "custom" cable (I won) has it's best improvement on my amp and it's a VD Power 1.

Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord

 

My amp responds best to this one.

The Epiphany works 2nd best with my amp. The sound is a night and day difference, the Woos are power cord dependent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I buy used power cords for $1 or so at the W6TRW swapmeet. Always black ones and they have to be UL listed.

I also use an isolation transformer. Not sure of the brand; I originally bought it as safety gear for DIY.

Same here. If you really believe in this sort of thing, why not just use the same romex that runs from the outlet box back to the breaker? "High End" power cords may be the single biggest example of "snake oil" in all audio.

 

One time I ran a dedicated AC wire from my circuit breaker box to the AC outlets of my system. I didn't use Romex wire.

I also found that whiskey did the same effect as the power cords on sound improvement but the effects didn't last!

I use Belden hospital-grade, shielded power cables, all plugged into a 5kW Isotek isolation transformers with upgraded Hubbell sockets. All my DAC and amp have filtered IEC inlets.
Anything better than that, to me, is self-imagination.

Quote:

X 2  I can confirm exactly the same results.

 

Best I've heard is Wireworld Electra 5.2

I like to use Audio-GD Exclusive power cables for my gear. They do improve the sound and they are worth the price.

"Hospital grade" is something else I see thrown around in power cable discussions a lot, and I honestly have to wonder how many people actually know what "hospital grade" means.  Probably not - the only requirement for a "hospital grade" power cord is that the plug ends have internal strain relief to ensure that the wiring cannot come disconnected inside the molded plug; often, the ends are clear, to allow visual inspection of the wiring inside the plug.  Aside from that, there's no difference between a "hospital grade" power cord and a generic IEC power cord.  It's a redundant safety function; that's it.

 

Thus:

 

UL specification 60601-1 specifically states that all patient care equipment must use power cords with hospital grade attachment plugs. The fundamental differences between normal NEMA plugs and the hospital grade versions of the same plugs are;

1.    Prong blades must be of solid brass construction without folding.
2.    A retaining strain relief type device must be added to the inside of the plug mold to prevent any potential stress to connections and ensure grounding reliability.
3.    Must be able to pass various more stringent tests UL performs before approval.
4.    Product must be marked with the green dot as well as the phrase “Hospital Grade”

 

"More stringent tests" is basically just mechanical stresses - plug insertion count, environmental resistance, and that sort of thing.  Nothing that would affect how a medical-grade power cord transfers power compared to a standard IEC power cord, nor can I find anything alluding to specific shielding requirements for medical-grade vs standard IEC cables.

 

Just figured I'd toss the information out there, in case people didn't know what "medical grade" actually signifies when it comes to power cables.

 

Shunyata Research Venom 3.  They are around $100 and sometimes you can find a deal on them.  Love them.