Accuphase AC power cord
 

In Europe, even top Accuphase components such as e.g. C-3850 pre amps are delivered with a low budget AC power cord. The reason is that any power cable for the European market has to be certified according to specific EU regulations, a costly process.

Question to the Accuphase friends outside of Europe: what kind of power cords are delivered with your components. Are there different quality levels in Accuphase power cords?

Jörg

Jörg... I am fortunate to have owned a few dozen Accuphase components. They all come with an el-cheapo power cord.

Do owners swap the supplied mains leads with "audiophile" product?

And interestingly, their owners manual tells you not to use any other power cord! :yikes: :yikes:

The power cord is certainly more than sufficient for the component that I own since its power requirements is all of 24 watts.

I've found this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/Accuphase-4...880?rmvSB=true

It's not an Accuphase cable, but looks much better as the cheap ones...

Which obviously don't even make it out of the box at your place!

Yes, i did and the difference is not subtle.

Ditto. I tried both, and the difference was not subtle. Even my wife admitted the difference (she was bored by the entire endeavor, but heard the difference).

Unfortunately the power chords had a big impact on the sound of my Accuphase E600 as well.

I had the most success with Nordost (Heimdall 2, Frey 2, Tyr 2). The generic supplied cord was ok. A Furutech Alpha 3 did not work well with the Accuphase. Overall the power cord did affect dynamic, flow, detail and openness of the sound.

I agree

What about Accuphase power cords in Japan? It would be interesting to learn about their attitude for the domestic market.

I purchased my C3800/P7100 in Japan. They came with original accuphase power cords. On Accuphase amplifier this cable's audio performance is better than any other US$150 power cords.

The german distributor 'Audio Components' sells the 7200AC-Edition with Shunyata Power Cords.
I don't know which specifically but it's worth around 400 Euros which should be around 400 USD.

You're talking about McIntosh 7200 AC, I assume...

Oops. Correct.

@ktliao88,

Thx for the info. Could you please post a picture of the cable?

I have problem to post pictures. However, you can google "Accuphase APL-1 Power cord".

Here is the link of APL-1 on Audiounion.jp:
http://www.audiounion.jp/ct/detail/new/123436/

The retail price of this power cord is ¥19440.
Accuphase is very generous in Japan domestic market.

Shunyata, Acrolink, Purist Audio Design, Jorma works well with the Accuphase components...

I purchased my gear in Japan as well. I’m content with the power cables which came with the units. Now interconnects that came with accuphase gear I use for my second system since I primarily use Transparent interconnects with my Accuphase gear.

Accuphase Power Cords
 

Gentlemen:

I'm new to the forum but I'm hoping someone can help me.

I "misplaced" the power cord that my Accuphase T-1000 tuner came with - I have a bin of power cords and I'm hoping the one of them is the "correct" cord for my tuner. I know it makes no difference whatsoever and that I'd be better off purchasing a high quality aftermarket cord but for authenticity purposes I'd like to at least know what cord is original - One of the cords has the markings Hirakowa and VM0089 The cord that I think is likely correct is marked Kawasaki -Y CSA Type SJT (this also is marked 3/18 so if that refers to date then it's not correct)

Many thanks

3/18 refers to the number of internal conductors (3) and the gauge (18) of the power cord. 3/18 or 18/3 refers to a very standard size power cord.

I'm wondering why a state of the art product would not include a state of the art power cord.
How do you take this product and put it on the market as a possible State of the art , when apparently it isn't , as it can be improved on with a better power cord? Isn't the very fact that a simple addition of a better power cord imply that the manufacturer missed a simple way to improve his product?? And therefore, he is putting a less than the best product out?..I'm not arguing that the aftermarket power cord can improve it, just wondering why the product is released with apparently a substandard part, the power cord. This seems to me a conflict. Am I missing something? It implies he really isn't releasing the best version of his product to the market.

It simply has become Par for the Course. My Accuphase A250 Reference Monoblocks ($69K) retail came with basic power cables. So did my McIntosh MC2KW Monoblocks ($80K) retail; and just like my Esoteric P1/D1/G1 Grandioso Stack ($120K) retail.

Manufacturers simply leave cable options up to the end user.

On the Speaker side of things, even Aida’s at ($120K) retail include the same elcheapo metal straps, instead of supplying high end Jumpers. Once again leaving cables, and jumpers up to the new owner.

On the rare occasion that IC’s are supplied with some Uber high end gear, they too need to be immediately replaced with quality connections.

Some people don’t believe power cords make a difference. Others do, and many have a particular brand preference. For those that believe power cords make a difference, they’re another component to be carefully selected based on the system, not just the component.

If I didn’t believe they made a difference, I wouldn’t be happy to find I was paying an extra $2k for an upgraded cord on my new preamp.

If I did believe (and I do), I’d be equally unhappy to find I was paying an extra $2k for a Transparent pc when my whole system is wired with Shunyata.

OEM is just that, and nothing wrong with it at all.

Then comes the aftermarket options that present different levels of additional performance. One and done is a rarity but the choice is always yours.

FWIW and IMHO, The fact it does not include a state of the art power cord, or platform or isolation footer options of interconnects or speaker cables or anything else for that matter has little/nothing to do with whether it's a SOTA amplifier (same point for other component types at all).

I think the issue for the manufacturers is simple,...if they build and amplifier does that mean they can also design and provide a SOTA power cord? Probably not the case after which they're faced with the gamble of choosing which other manufacturer's power cord they would include and how high up the scale. Their probability of offending or at least putting a number of potential buyers off their intent to consider the amp (or other component) goes way up and they eventually lose sales due to the choice of power cord "A" versus "B" if prospective buyers don't agree with their choices.

At the very least they have to raise the price thousands of $$$ to put a true SOTA power cable in there whether it's $3K or $10K, etc...as they have to
include a pricey cord that won't come free to be certain.

In short, the manufacturers lose either way; either people may not buy as they don't like the choice of included cord or they might not buy due to uptick in price. Russian roulette if you ask me...

From another point of view, I don't want a manufacturer to effectively dictate that I must like and pay for specific power cords, interconnects, etc...I think it's the best possible decision to leave this to buyers' discretion and just to focus on making the best component, amp or speaker possible.

FWIW....

Another reason is length. Some customers may want short cables and others may want longer ones. At the esoteric/stratospheric level we're talking about, these differences can make a huge difference in cost.

Why not extend this argument to supplied interconnects?

People (me at least) want the choice of which cable brand to purchase.

The cables that come in the box from Accuphase are just to get you going

+1, same conundrums for the manufacturers and potential buyers that I and others have noted. Frankly I don't want an amp manufacturer or other components to make me pay for cables that I would not keep/use.

Come to think of it, speaker manufacturers don’t supply any cables. Not even cheap ones for “startup”. Perhaps we should be glad that amp manufacturers toss in a freebie power cable.

Good way to look at it!

Ok, as this is the Accuphase page and the power cord debate, which brand goes nicely with Accuphase gear? It is a question of taste, right? Can we summarize that Wireworld is neutral, Nordost is open, Shunyata is warm?
(this is just to provoke your answers ;-)

I use Shunyata Delta NR on my Accuphase integrated. I tried other brands but prefer the Shunyata. I could see where others might prefer a different brand, however. It comes down to personal taste and other factors such as flexibility and budget.

"flexibility" - does that mean the cable is flexible?
Some of these high-end cables are as stiff as hell and so heavy its difficult to keep them in place

Yes, exactly. Shunyata sells an EF (extra flexibility) series of power cords along side their NR (noise reduction) series.

Has anyone used Synergistic Research power cords and if so what was your experience? This is being suggested to me for use with an E270.

grey17... Welcome to AA! :wave:

I wonder if there is - like everywhere - a question of quality (precision, soundstage, etc.) and taste (more round, more clear, etc.).
With Wireworld it is obvious, Stratus and Aurora are clear, Electra is more round, Silver Electra is transparent, Platinum Electra I have no idea. And the quality is always a jump forward.
And I have no idea about the other brands (Audioquest, Nordost, Shunyata, Cardas, Chord, etc. etc.).
I am looking for something transparent and clear, like the Silver Electra...
Can somebody help me in the cable jungle?
Otherwise, I stick with Wireworld!

Thank you Ivan!

So a bit more background for the group - while having the E270 on loan for an audition my local dealer sent an Isotek EVO3 Premier. I also had an Audience Forte F3, PS Audio Prelude and PS Audio AC3. I initially used the Forte 3 with the Accuphase and though enjoyable I found the slight bass emphasis of the Forte was too much of a good thing in combination with the E270. When I switched to the Isotek there was more of a balanced sound and I made my buying decision based on that combination (but I didn't buy the Isotek). I am now using the Accuphase with the PS Audio AC3 I had on hand. Everything is plugged into a PS Audio Dectet which is connected to the wall with the Forte.

The Accuphase seems to reflect the characteristic of the power cord, so a bit of a struggle to figure out the right option since it isn't possible to hear every cable within the context of my system.

I am also in the market for power cords for C3850 and a pair of A250. I can get Cardas Clear Beyond or Shunyata locally. Shunyata is more expensive. I am a slight bias towards warm sound. Do u think I can get away with Cardas ?

I am not familiar with current Cardas cords. I use Shunyata and have found they out perform Audio Quest, Nordost and other cables in my system.