Looking For 18awg Audiophile Power Cable Options


Hi Friends,

I'm trying to find some 18awg audiophile power cables and am looking for recommendations. It seems the only ones I can find are of the AudioQuest variety, but I don't like the sound of AudioQuest cables, as they sound too sterile to me (or something, it's hard for me to describe).

I have a music production system and while I use expensive Triode Wire Labs Digital American cables on the DAC, ADC, and production computer/DAW with fantastic and stable results, I've had problems with my other components running on any thicker-gauged cables (powered KRK monitors, microphone power supply, and preamps).

I've tried several different cables on these other components, but I find any cable with a gauge thicker than 18awg results in issues of sound stability. The system needs to run for 12, sometimes 18 hours at a time, and I find that thicker-gauge cables, after about 8 hours, start to render the sound compressed, maybe slightly overloaded, and not as open, which is problematic for mixing and recording.

I started using some 18awg cables with hospital-grade plugs, and while they're definitely a big step up from the stock cables, and the stability of the sound is great, I'm just wondering if there's any 18awg audiophile-type cables out there that would give me improved performance, smoother top end, etc., just from better noise/RFI rejection. The sibilants were smoother when I used the audiophile cables, I think from better shielding, but the stability of the sound of system and vocal chain is of the upmost importance.

It's weird but I guess it has something to do with the digital components handling the thicker gauged cables better for some reason, compared to the analog components.

Any ideas/recs appreciated, thanks for your time!

 

128x128acar83

@audphile1 Thanks for your response. Yeah, I’m not the do-it-yourself kind of person unfortunately. I’m not sure what else could be the problem besides the gauge of the wire delivering more energy than the PS is designed to work with (or something). Could it be that most audiophile music systems are just not run for such long stretches for this normally to be an issue? This is all top of the line pro gear I’m working with, not cheap stuff, so if it’s an issue with design, I’m not sure what to do about it. Unfortunately, in the music production world, audiophile products are pretty much seen as "ridiculous" by most, but I’ve done very extensive tests for years and have no doubt in my mind they can make a difference, for better or worse. The Triode Wire Labs Digital American cables absolutely transformed my monitoring system and enhanced the quality of my ADC’s recording performance, and I’ve had no issues with stability or the sound changing when the system is left on for many hours. I think it’s ironic that it’s only the non-digital components that have an issue. The digital components are all from different companies, too. ADC - Mytek, DAC - Lavry, and then the computer is a custom built PC with an RME AES card.

With the other components, the only variable I’ve been able to isolate seems to be the gauge of the power cord. I’ve tried several cables over the years from respected brands, and the 18awg cables, whether the stock cables or slightly upgraded hospital grade cables, are the only ones that don’t give me issues on the analogue components, but then I notice the sibilants are a little harsher and higher frequencies not as smooth, which I’d love to fix. I really don’t know what else to say about it nor do I pretend to understand why, but it’s only after the system has been running for many hours, 8-12, something like that. I’ve done extensive tests where I ran everything on stock with 1 component on an audiophile cable/thicker gauge that’s already been burned-in, let it run for a week to settle (turning off at night), and then listened for a day to assess. It’s been some serious work, lol.

@dodgealum Thanks for the response, I will check it out, thank you.

It seems like the consensus on here is that I’m an idiot for thinking cable gauge is a factor, but I don’t know what else it could be, as that’s the only variable I’ve been able to isolate. And then I think, ok, well current delivery from 18awg is what the gear is designed to work with, but I don’t understand the technology enough to really know what difference massive current delivery would make, I’m just speculating. I do however undoubtedly have the ears to know what I’m hearing. The change is subtle but distinct, and not something I can have happening in a production system for recording and making critical mixing decisions.

Any other ideas are welcome and appreciated. I’ll do custom cables if necessary but if you guys really don’t think it’s the cable gauge, I don’t want to spend a bunch of money on it. Most of this gear is using around an amp of power, so even an 18awg cable is delivering more than it needs. I think the real benefit is more related to keeping the power clear of RFI between the power conditioner (Transparent Power Isolator) and the gear, also it seems high quality connectors make a difference, hence the notable difference with the hospital grade cables. I’ve never really understood the proposed value of flooding the gear with a ton of extra current it’s not needing to operate. Anyway, I’m open to other ideas, if we can refrain from the "you’re clearly an idiot" insinuations. ;) Thank you.

I think that there are two things throwing people off. One is that your components sound different after long periods of use and secondly that thinner power cables provide superior sound. Many of us leave our components on 24/7 due to changes in reproduction after our systems are turned on, but the end result isn’t a reduction in fidelity. If this is a power supply issue where noise is getting back into the system and in a different manner after many hours of use, then speaking with a technical person at Shunyata might be useful. I believe that Shunyata started out trying to provide less noise to sensitive equipment in hospital environments. Richard Rodgers at Shunyata would be the guy to talk to. Their focus has been reducing bleed back noise into an electrical system via their NR power cords. If you have trouble getting through to Richard, message me and I’ll provide his mobile number. I try doing this sparingly.

BTW…. There are a subset of members here that believe that spending large sums of money on power cables is a waste of money and that cable make little, or no difference in component performance.  I don’t believe that most post to criticize the rest of us, but rather are trying, in their view, to save us from wasting our money.

@acar83 I would also recommend reaching out to the manufacturer of your powered speakers and or whatever other components you have noticed this phenomena with. Get their feedback on it. 
 

I’ll add to what I posted above…

Components first, cables last. Consider getting better components rather than spending money on 18awg custom power cords.

Try some of the inexpensive hospital grade cords on Amazon.

Many are of the "iron lung jelly fish" variety (Google "iljf" + "power cord" if not already familiar with them.

I would try them in the 14-18 gauge range and not just limit it to 18 (they are cheap).

One example (18gauge).

DeKay