"So far, I've heard apologists and personal attacks.
Either I haven't built a cable using good enough parts, or I haven't gone through the appropriate rituals (stretching, cryogenic treatment, etc). "
One needs thick skin to post on audio forums these days I'm afraid. A big problem with the sort of question the OP asks is that responses reflect each individual's experiences and we tend to think our particular audio experiences are universally relevant. After forty years in this hobby, I still am amazed at how performance expectations based prior experiences and products can be overturned in the context of new components or systems.
FWIW, I've tried numerous DIY powder cords over the last twenty years or so. In my experience, it's impossible to make categorical statements about whether a DIY build can compete with a manufacturer's finished cable. Some think that the connector's are more important to the end result than the cable and if that's the case, that is one area where the DIY builder can gain a leg up on the price/performance ratio of ready made cables. I had surprisingly positive results using inexpensive Home Depot Carol 12/3 a/c cable off a reel combined with Furutech Fi-28 connectors when I needed an 11' foot power cable to test a system reconfiguration. I ended up using a Wireworld Eclipse a/c cable in that application in the end, but the DIY was quite close in performance. On the other hand, DIY versions of Chris VenHaus' "Flavor" cords did nothing positive for me in any application I tried at the time. Furutech's newest bulk FP-S and DP-S cords have been well reviewed and my experiences with the FP-SO22n on sources have been very positive when compared to other Wireworld, Harmonic Technology, Shunyata, DH Labs, and Mojo Audio manufactured cords. I've built a 20 amp cable with bulk Harmonic Technology AC-11 wire, Furutech Fi-25g, and a Hubbell H320 c-19 connector that sounds very comparable to a Shunyata CX/HC Black Mamba. I do take a lot of care to strip the conductors with no nicks, clean and polish blades of connectors, and apply small amounts of Pro-Gold to mating surfaces prior to assembly.
Either I haven't built a cable using good enough parts, or I haven't gone through the appropriate rituals (stretching, cryogenic treatment, etc). "
One needs thick skin to post on audio forums these days I'm afraid. A big problem with the sort of question the OP asks is that responses reflect each individual's experiences and we tend to think our particular audio experiences are universally relevant. After forty years in this hobby, I still am amazed at how performance expectations based prior experiences and products can be overturned in the context of new components or systems.
FWIW, I've tried numerous DIY powder cords over the last twenty years or so. In my experience, it's impossible to make categorical statements about whether a DIY build can compete with a manufacturer's finished cable. Some think that the connector's are more important to the end result than the cable and if that's the case, that is one area where the DIY builder can gain a leg up on the price/performance ratio of ready made cables. I had surprisingly positive results using inexpensive Home Depot Carol 12/3 a/c cable off a reel combined with Furutech Fi-28 connectors when I needed an 11' foot power cable to test a system reconfiguration. I ended up using a Wireworld Eclipse a/c cable in that application in the end, but the DIY was quite close in performance. On the other hand, DIY versions of Chris VenHaus' "Flavor" cords did nothing positive for me in any application I tried at the time. Furutech's newest bulk FP-S and DP-S cords have been well reviewed and my experiences with the FP-SO22n on sources have been very positive when compared to other Wireworld, Harmonic Technology, Shunyata, DH Labs, and Mojo Audio manufactured cords. I've built a 20 amp cable with bulk Harmonic Technology AC-11 wire, Furutech Fi-25g, and a Hubbell H320 c-19 connector that sounds very comparable to a Shunyata CX/HC Black Mamba. I do take a lot of care to strip the conductors with no nicks, clean and polish blades of connectors, and apply small amounts of Pro-Gold to mating surfaces prior to assembly.