Cable Options from Breaker to Receptacle

Hi Al,

A lot of this hobby is based on theory. In the end it all depends on the listener.....

Maybe all the aftermarket cable designer/manufactures are reading from the same page.

Here is another one.
http://www.nordost.com/Odin-Supreme-Reference-Power-Cord-P35.asp

Jim

I think the general feeling is that stranded is better than solid but likely some will feel otherwise.
09-19-10: Stanwal

Stan, I think you have it backwards.... More use solid core than stranded for audio branch circuit wiring.....

Rtn1,

Solid core in-wall wiring
http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/wire.htm

Note: As Mofimadness said in his post make sure the in-wall wiring is Listed and approved by UL and or CSA for the intended use.

Stanwal,

With larger gauge stranded wire it is susceptible to strand jumping, strand modulation problems.

The late Bob Crump on the subject.

Solid core Romex has an absolute ton of inductance and you can use that to roll of the digital backwash and end up isolating your analog from digital with yards of the solid core Romex in the walls. Romex is insulated with PVC and, again I will say that PVC is what you want rather than anything faster as you just want to pass 60hz and attenuate anything above that.....Stranded wire, especially a twisted lay, will pass high frequencies better, exactly what you don't want to do with 60hz AC.......Regarding power cords made with PVC it apparently works pretty well as have sold over 8,000 of them the past 21 years.......

Jon Risch , an EE on the subject.

AudioQuest on the subject.

If stranded is deficient in some manner then the makers of the more expensive brands of cable are doing a good job of disguising it.
09-21-10: Stanwal

Stan,

You need to look at the make-up of the PCs. AudioQuest uses several separately paralleled insulated solid core conductors for the hot and neutral of their PCs. Cords are still somewhat flexible.

Others use stranded, but at least for the ones I have checked into, they build the PC with several smaller insulated stranded wire groups. (As Jon Risch talked about in his post.)

Example look how the low cost Pangea AC-9 PC is built. http://www.pangeaaudio.com/products.html

.

PS Audio is another PC that uses individual insulated conductors in the make up of their PCs. From the picture most of the conductors appear to be solid core. http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/description/perfectwave-ac-5-power-cable?cat=cables-accessories

.
Quote from Jon Risch post:
"In order for stranded wires to sound worse than a solid wire of the same gauge, there must be some sort of operative effect in play.

One of the theories is that it is due to strand jumping, which in turn, would be driven by skin effect and/or self inductance."

Smaller stranded wires would be less prone to skin effect etc., and so, would have less strand jumping, and less of that stranded wire sound to be bothered by. There is even a point where the stranded wire would no longer be significantly affected by the skin effect, and so, would no longer have that reason to sound any worse than a solid wire of the same gauge."
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=cables&n=100715&highlight=which+is+better+stranded+wire
.

Stan,

My intent was not sway you one way or the other. Given the choice I will use solid core wire for my audio branch circuits. Stranded is a hell of lot easier to work with though.

Cheers,
Jim