Just as with speaker wires, the question of whether an expensive power cable can influence the audio quality is a hot topic among audiophiles. Simple resistance is the most significant characteristic of an amplifier power cord. The durability and contact resistance of connectors are critical for power amps and other equipment. Any decent system, with all of its audio components, must have high quality. Another truth to remember about power cords is that there are tens of metres (if not more) of electrical wiring running from the breaker box to the wall. So, installing expensive power cables between the power socket and your, e.g. amplifier, while you do not know what quality the other hundreds of meters of cable wiring inside your walls look like does not sound reasonable. Nevertheless, this does not mean that quality differences in power cables do not affect one’s home audio system’s sound.
Generally speaking, a decent power cable is recommended. Expensive high-end power cables might not have the positive impact on the hearing experience you were hoping for. However, it is safe to say that cheap, low-quality power cables can indeed harm your audio system’s sound and can even damage your audio system’s hardware in the worst case!
Do you want to learn how to install a power supply to an amplifier module? Check out our blog post “How to connect the Mean Well power supply to an amplifier board”!
