EBay power cables... anyone tried one?

[FNQ Outcast]

I've been looking at these on ebay.... as I struggle to justify a minimum of $152 each for say, bottom of the line Isotech power cable... I'm interested in better cables as I've just installed a power conditioner into my setup...

 

Anyways, anyone tried something like these... oh, & compliance with Australian safety laws?

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/385436356278?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=rzl87bs7tl2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Hzw5f2pdSE-&var=653301313387&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Neo]

First of all fake oaiyde pugs, they don’t make an AU version of the in AC end and no they do not comply with AU laws. Why not buy them and report back to us if you fried your gear or you felt there was an improvement. 
Neo

[Weka]

Many members of the Audiogon cables sub-forum rate the Accuphase power cable as being a good performer:

Accuphase 40th Anniversary Power Cord  (uncertified plug, so use at your own risk). 

The majority of them in my experience are just fancy sleeved junk.

 

[Vinylear]

Have a look at Audio Principe power cables made here in Australia. I bought 3 in the first covid lock down, delivery was free.

https://audioprincipe.com.au/australian-power-cables/

[Camac]

Not too sure about the cables but the plugs on those cables are the bottom on the line alright, about $12.50 each. From what I have read, the C-004 from Japan (Oyaide) are the best kettle plug ends but as previously stated, they don't supply oZ version of the three pin plug. C-004 are $150-175 each. I am in a similar position when it comes to cables so I am starting with the supplied and then trying different types either through HiFi shops or generous audiophiles and then and only then will I start laying out the cash. Last thing you want is a pile of unsatisfactory cables. Good Luck. 

[thatmetalman]

And as a wise owl stated... 

 

"...the directional cables, the oxygen-free copper, the World War I vintage triodes still spattered with the mud of the Somme, and all the other depressing paraphernalia of pseudo-science and anti-science. I have spent more time than I care to contemplate in double-blind listening tests - properly conducted ones, with rigorous statistical analysis - and every time the answer was that if you couldn’t measure it you couldn’t hear it. Very often if you could measure it you still couldn’t hear it. However, faith-based audio is not going away any time soon because few people (apart of course from the unfortunate customers) have any interest in it so doing; you can bet your bottom diode on that. If you want to know more about my experiences and reasoning in this area, there is a full discussion in my book Audio Power Amplifier Design (Sixth Edition) - Douglas Self."

[audiofeline]

The ebay cables aren't shielded.  The clone Oaiyde plugs would not be certified for use in Australia, and from the "sticky" topic on power cables the assembled cable should be certified for Aust use, which these manufactured in China would not.  

 

They might be just ordinary power flex tarted up to look expensive. 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2024 by audiofeline

[grammefriday]

As mentioned above, the Audio Principe cables are good value for the money. I have two of his power cords and an XLR interconnect

[POV]

On 24/11/2024 at 12:02 PM, audiofeline said:

The ebay cables aren't shielded.  The clone Oaiyde plugs would not be certified for use in Australia, and from the "sticky" topic on power cables the assembled cable should be certified for Aust use, which these manufactured in China would not.  

 

They might be just ordinary power flex tarted up to look expensive. 

 

 

Best off avoiding shielded power cables if possible anyway unless treating a very specific, isolatable problem (but even then there is usually alternatives)

[muon*]

I tried a couple, not the one specifically in your post.

 

While I found a little benefit subjectively over stock jug plug cables, the assembly/construction can be from OK to very bad to dangerous.

 

Edit: I won't mention the ones I tried as I do not wish to promote them in any way, shape or form. Better to save a little and get EMG ones.

Edited November 26, 2024 by muon*

[audiofeline]

2 hours ago, POV said:

Best off avoiding shielded power cables if possible anyway unless treating a very specific, isolatable problem (but even then there is usually alternatives)

I'm (genuinely) curious why you recommend in general avoiding shielded power cables (no arguement with the disclaimer for the appropriate situations that they can address). 

From where I see it, I can't see that a well-constructed/safe shielded power cable would do any harm. 

 

[POV]

On 26/11/2024 at 9:52 PM, audiofeline said:

I'm (genuinely) curious why you recommend in general avoiding shielded power cables (no arguement with the disclaimer for the appropriate situations that they can address). 

From where I see it, I can't see that a well-constructed/safe shielded power cable would do any harm. 

 

 

Sure no problem happy to explain.  Firstly (and importantly) shielded power cables are generally unnecessary in hi-fi audio systems, noting that power cables carry low-frequency AC signals (50 Hz) that are unlikely to interfere with audio signals within the audible range (20 Hz–20 kHz).   The strength and behavior of an electromagnetic field generated by an AC signal does depend on its frequency and amplitude. Power lines carrying low-frequency AC (50 Hz) produce an EMF that basically oscillates at these frequencies.  Lower frequencies, such as 50 Hz, have longer wavelengths and are therefore less likely to couple with and interfere with high-frequency audio signals, particularly when the audio system components are designed with adequate shielding and filtering.  So whilst it's not outside of the realms of possibility that EMF from an unshielded power cable could couple with frequencies in the very low bass range, it's actually exceptionally unlikley.

 

Secondly, properly designed audio equipment already incorporates internal filtering and shielding to address any potential noise from power cable sin the very rare scenario that it would have been a problem.

 

Thirdly, introducing shielding into power cables can however sometimes create more problems than it solves, such as increasing capacitance and inductance, or (more likley) causing ground loops if the shield is not properly implemented. Additionally, in actuality shielding can reflect noise back into the power supply of connected devices, potentially amplifying internal noise rather than reducing it.

 

For most setups, simple best practices in cable management are more than effective enough and reliable for mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI). Keeping power cables and signal cables separated, crossing them at 90-degree angles when they must intersect, ensuring proper grounding, and using high-quality power supplies with internal EMI filtering are proven, straightforward methods. These approaches avoid unnecessary complexity and cost while maintaining the integrity of the audio signal. In most cases, shielded power cables add little benefit and may inadvertently introduce issues, making thoughtful cable management a better solution for addressing EMI concerns in the vast majority of circumstances.

 

There will be very specific circumstances and installations where utilising shielded power cables assists with dealing with specific problems (which is exactly how they are typically utilised in industry as cure rather than a prevantative medicine) but in the vast majority of situations they are unnecessary, add no value, but have the risk of introducing issues.

Edited November 28, 2024 by POV

[bob_m_54]

21 hours ago, POV said:

noting that power cablescarry low-frequency AC signals (50 Hz) that are unlikely to interfere with audio signals within the audible range (20 Hz–20 kHz)

Except in that annoying 50Hz hum band.. LOL. But I agree, they do nothing to keep interference from entering the power feed to your equipment, and very little to stop the 50Hz hum affecting an interconnect cable, unless it is poorly shielded and laying very closely in parallel to the power cable.

 

Where they are used in industry is in power cables that feed Variable Frequency Drive Motors, where PWM is used. Basically the power feed to the motor is a square wave of varying pulse widths. This would cause a lot of EMI/RFI could affect control equipment operation.

 

Another lesser known way they are used in Industry, so I found out, is as a mechanical safety device in portable hand tools. The idea being that if the cable gets run over or pinched, the active will short to the grounded shield and trip the circuit breaker.

[075Congo]

Just looking at the two power cord types offered by Audio Principe .......there are notations for each power cord re QC (Quality Control) testing for a few characteristics......but the power cords are not Certified for Australian Standards......that's a whole different can of worms and much more expensive. Certainly a step up from the Ebay crap but not quite as it seems.

Edited March 1 by 075Congo
different idea

[Weka]

On 26/02/2025 at 11:14 AM, 075Congo said:

Just looking at the two power cord types offered by Audio Principe .......there are notations for each power cord re QC (Quality Control) testing for a few characteristics......but the power cords are not Certified for Australian Standards......that's a whole different can of worms and much more expensive. Certainly a step up from the Ebay crap but not quite as it seems.

 

My understanding is that the complete cord assembly is not required to be certified providing the rewirable plug used has certification to the AS/NZS 3112 standard and the cable used is covered by a Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) attesting to it complying with the applicable cable type specific Standard.

 

Without knowing what cable they use, they otherwise appear legal to me based on their website descriptions.

 

[Vinylear]

It is stated on the Audio Principe site,

 

QC tested using Wavecom TNT-el Appliance Tester, suitable for testing with respect to AS/NZS 3760:2010 includes earth bond test, insulation test, continuity and polarity. 

 

What more do we need?

[andyr]

2 hours ago, Vinylear said:

It is stated on the Audio Principe site,

 

QC tested using Wavecom TNT-el Appliance Tester, suitable for testing with respect to AS/NZS 3760:2010 includes earth bond test, insulation test, continuity and polarity. 

 

What more do we need?

 

It's not what we - the buying public - need!

 

It's what 'officialdom' needs - which is, probably, an official certification from a recognised testing authority - which will cost a minimum of $5,000 ... making it out of contention!  

 

[Weka]

25 minutes ago, andyr said:

It's what 'officialdom' needs - which is, probably, an official certification from a recognised testing authority - which will cost a minimum of $5,000 ... making it out of contention!  

 

What certification are you referring to?

 

The plugs described in the website listing are both certified and the cable used is only required to have an SDoC confirming compliance with the relevant electrical cable Standard. There is no requirement in the Electrical Regulations for the completed cable assembly to also have independent certification if the above conditions are met.

 

Shouldn't we be supporting local manufacturers, not dissing their products with technically unfounded comments.

[POV]

Power cables, sold as assembled must be tested to meet the requirements of, and be marked with the RCM (regulatory compliance mark) in order to be legally sold in Australia.  Even a cable that meets all of the individual testing requirements, and in the case of an IEC cable meets all the specifications of the IEC standard is still technically not legal if does not bear the RCM.

 

I am not specifically familiar with the company you are talking about or their products…so I am not commenting on the relative legality or otherwise of their products.

[Weka]

I disagree. A cable assembled with rewireable connectors does not itself require certification or a Regulatory Compliance Mark. It is the connectors that must be certified and carry the RCM.

 

On the other hand, cable sets with molded on connectors do require individual certification and an RCM.

[POV]

9 minutes ago, Weka said:

I disagree. A cable assembled with rewireable connectors does not itself require certification or a Regulatory Compliance Mark. It is the connectors that must be certified and carry the RCM.

 

On the other hand, cable sets with molded on connectors do require individual certification and an RCM.

It’s not really a debate where one can agree or disagree…as we are coming at this from a fact based approach.  What you are talking about is that each individual component in an assembled cable needs to carry the RCM which is also true, but once a retailer/manufacturer assembles them into a cable and sells it, it is now sold ‘as assembled’ and it requires the RCM to be legally sold in Australia.

 

You could argue the case that the RCM does not make the as assembled cable any safer, and that’s a fair place to argue from….but bit doesn’t change the regulatory compliance requirements.

 

I’ve been doing this stuff for a really long time, and I own and run a very large electronics manufacturing and installation company.  We manufacture our own power cables up to 600 volt and the compliance requirements are really pretty clear.

[andyr]

19 minutes ago, Weka said:

I disagree. A cable assembled with rewireable connectors does not itself require certification or a Regulatory Compliance Mark. It is the connectors that must be certified and carry the RCM.

 

On the other hand, cable sets with molded on connectors do require individual certification and an RCM.

 

As you can see from this post:

 

3 minutes ago, POV said:

It’s not really a debate where one can agree or disagree…as we are coming at this from a fact based approach.  What you are talking about is that each individual component in an assembled cable needs to carry the RCM which is also true, but once a retailer/manufacturer assembles them into a cable and sells it, it is now sold ‘as assembled’ and it requires the RCM to be legally sold in Australia.

 

You could argue the case that the RCM does not make the as assembled cable any safer, and that’s a fair place to argue from….but bit doesn’t change the regulatory compliance requirements.

 

I’ve been doing this stuff for a really long time, and I own and run a very large electronics manufacturing and installation company.  We manufacture our own power cables up to 600 volt and the compliance requirements are really pretty clear.

 

... unfortunately, you seem to be ignorant.  (And I'm pretty sure that electrical standards in our Eastern-most State are the same as for the rest of Australia.   )

 

[Dragoon]

On 27/11/2024 at 8:45 PM, POV said:

 

…………. noting that power cables carry low-frequency AC signals (50 Hz) that are unlikely to interfere with audio signals within the audible range (20 Hz–20 kHz)……….

What a bizarre statement.

 

D

[POV]

7 hours ago, Dragoon said:

What a bizarre statement.

 

D

well not withstanding that you snipped the quote minus my more detailed explanation about EMF frequency coupling…what is it that you find bizarre about it?

[Addicted to music]

On 02/03/2025 at 11:35 PM, Dragoon said:

What a bizarre statement.

 

D

 

unless you have faulty components that leak 230VAC into the audio circuit,  you’re not listening to 230VAC 50hz.   And it’s this that people that think power cables make difference don’t understand

Edited March 3 by Addicted to music