bypass outlet and hook wires directly to romex??

My thought for the last 6 months has been to run the romex straight from the service panel through the hole in the wall (where the outlet would normally be) straight to a WATTaGATE male IEC plug that goes straight into the component.

No breaks in the line, little or no need for power conditioners, or high priced wall outlets, or high priced power cords, no electrical leaks, less RF, and cheap too. If you do this with say 10 gauge OFC romex, I would think the results would be great.

And yes, to pretty things up at the wall, purchase a wallplate with the tv cable hole in the center.

If this is what you are talking about doing, I'd love to hear what you think after it's done.

-John

Thanks, Twl. I'm sorry Bwhite, but I couldn't help but feel I was now put into the position of defending Home Depot's zip cord of which I've never dabbled with in my system. So I got a bit defensive and lashed out a bit. Please accept my apologies also.

Twl, that great observation came from a very knowledgeable friend and probably saved me quite a bit of frustration and money.

But it certainly did not take me long to believe that observation.

Twl, may I ask what you've done to try reproducing the bottom-end?

I don't see how the Home Depot extension cord verses aftermarket pc or playing with interconnects have much to do with this thread. Except to say that some aftermarket power cords are better than zip cord.

It seems to me that Jvr's original post had to do with getting rid of the electrical outlet and male plug connections by soldering the two sets of wires together. Perhaps to minimize RF and maximize contact. Or just to see what sonic improvements may be obtained.

Albertporter does make a point that there are some to many aftermarket powercords that attempt to minimize RF but there are plenty that don't. There are very, very few that can act as some type of line-conditioner.

My only point was that by extending the aftermarket OFC romex wire from the service panel straight to the component(s) via a male IEC WATTaGATE plug attached to the other end of the romex would provide the best test for what Jvr is hoping to accomplish. IMO

-John

Twl, I think I have a headache. You're obviously way into this.

I know a few people at your level who also complain about the same type of thing. Because they cannot quite synergize the sub to the monitors as they see it should, they do away with that reproduction of the lowest regions all together.

That's the part I don't understand. It truly is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

My system is listed in virtual systems here on audiogon with Aerial Acoustic 10t's and a Triad Platinum 18inch sub. I love it. Dialed it in a bit and it still blows me away just how much low bass information exists in all types of music.

I wouldn't want to be without the sub. And just in case you're wondering, I'm quite familiar with the fact that there are many, many subs that have absolutely no musical definition whatsoever.

I'd suggest you buy something like an Aerial SW12 12 inch sub for $5000 new or $3000 used and see how you can configure it to your mains.

If it gets you 9/10th's of the way there, why not keep it?

-John

Bwhite, you are assuming that I've not tried aftermarket power cords, and you are also claiming that I have said aftermarket power cords are no better than zip cord.

Don't be silly.

Yes, I am aware that SOME aftermarket power cords can make a positive difference sonincally over the zip cord you brought home from Home Depot. And I'm aware of what a good one can do. That doesn't mean ALL aftermarket power cords make the same sonic difference and in the case of some any difference at all.

Personally, I've chosen to go the in-line power conditioner route instead of the expensive power cord route. The retail price of my three Foundation Research in-line power conditioners (one for each component) would be the equivalent of 3 very nice power cords.

But I believe my in-lines pc's do much more than most any aftermarket power cord could ever do.

My earlier point/idea to Jvr was that if the romex had no breaks from the service panel all the way to the component itself via a male IEC connector, then RF is minimized (since no outlet, no breaks), AC noise minimized because it is obviously a dedicated line. Therefore, the positive affects of most aftermarket power cords is greatly diminished since they do not perform the same functions as line conditioners.

Would you not agree?

Bwhite, I perceive thou art pretentious and self-elevated. At least that part appears clear. And perhaps that you had a philosophy 101 course.

I find it funny how your power cords are ranging in the $2k plus price range and yet you are performing all these tests with the zip cord you purchased from Home Depot (doesn't make sense unless you're displeased with your power cords performance). But for the sake of this thread you now pretend that it is I who performed the expirments. This is silly and should be a waste of your time and mine.

Although I've not tried any power cords retailing at the $2k plus range, I have no problem assuming there to be some to many even at that price break and beyond that probably offer no sonic improvements over the zip cord that you purchased at Home Depot for your expirments.

For the same reason one could spend $30,000 on an amplifier that may offer no sonic improvements, and may in fact sound worse than a $995 amplifier. I'm sure you would agree with this.

Based on what you claim to have spent on your system, you more than most, by now should realize that this hobby usually requires one to spend a lot of money to realize one does not need to spend a lot of money.

And, yes at this point, I'm having great difficulty believing that you have actually tried running romex straight from the service panel to a male IEC connector which plugs into the component(s).

Per your request, I forgive you.