In 2005, we began fabricating our own AC Power (Mains) Cords and now offer these on a custom-made basis for listeners have neither the time nor the resources for DIY. In fact, our custom power cords will cost you as much as you might otherwise spend on equivalent home-brew. How can we do this? As an OEM, we're able to buy wire and connectors in bulk at wholesale prices. We sell them for the equivalent of typical retail prices and the spread between the two covers our overhead and manufacturing costs. Since we only sell direct, you're basically buying them at wholesale, too.
You don't have to be a millionaire to own a high-end power cord. We offer several variations to meet both your budget and your level of obsession.
The CS (Common Sense) Custom Power Cord
The custom CS Power Cord is fabricated from stranded, 12 Gauge (3.3mm2), Teflon® insulated, silver-plated copper wire. Then the wire bundle is covered with a braided copper shield (100% coverage) and is wrapped again with heavy gauge Teflon® tape. The whole package is inserted into flexible, convoluted PVC tubing for protection and a blue or black woven nylon cover is slipped over the tubing for æsthetic appeal. The ends are then terminated with WattGate Audio Grade Power Connectors (illustrated above), with a choice of Audio Grade or Economy Grade.
The science behind our AC cords is relatively simple:
- The larger the wire gauge, the lower the overall resistance. Recent and new construction, as well as renovated vintage buildings, are usually wired in-wall with 12 Gauge (3.3mm2) conductors. When you plug a smaller gauge power cord into a wall socket that's fed by 12 Gauge conductors, the thinner wire acts like a resistor, transforming current into heat, rather than allowing it to pass through without loss from one end to the other. It's the same principle that causes a fuse to blow when there's a current overload. Our 12 Gauge power cord acts like an extension of your in-wall wiring, with no loss of power from the wall socket to your audio component. 10 gauge (5.2mm2) cords are also available for those who have special 30 Amp, 10 AWG (5.2mm2) in-wall wiring.
- Conventional copper wiring is subject to oxidation. Our copper wire is silver-plated to counteract the degradation associated with copper oxide. While copper oxide is a dead, non-conductive medium, silver oxide is still silver and is still conductive. Therefore, any oxidation that may occur has no effect on the conductivity of the wire.
- Conventional wire is insulated with PVC and is typically run with the conductors in parallel. Ours is insulated with Teflon® and given a gentle twist from beginning to end. Teflon's superior dielectric (insulating) factor, combined with the twisted geometry, minimizes the effects of magnetism between the conductors.
- The full-length, braided copper shield offers the best defense against the attraction of RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) or the radiation of EMI (Electro-Mechanical Interference). This means that our custom cords will not interfere or interact with nearby audio signals (or with each other).
The bottom line is that heavier the wire, the better the insulation and shielding, the cleaner the AC signal. What's the practical effect? You'll hear a quieter background, increased dynamics, more detail, and superior bass. We were long-time sceptics when it came to power cords, but numerous direct comparisons with stock cords made us believers. We feel confident in saying that you can spend 10 times as much and still not achieve better performance.
Our CS AC Power Cords are made-to-order in any length. To date, we've made them as short as two feet and as long as 20 feet, but there is really no practical limit. European and Asian power plugs by Furutech, as well as 20 Amp WattGate IEC connectors or 30 Amp Hubbell Professional Grade connectors, are available on special order.
The CS Ag Pure Silver Custom Power Cord
Can't sleep at night unless you know that you have the very best AC cord on the planet? We now offer the CS Power Cord in the same configuration as above, but fabricated with extra soft, 12 Gauge (3.3mm2), pure silver wire for the Load (+) and Neutral (-) conductors (the Ground is silver plated copper). Silver is the most conductive of all metals and its use insures the fastest transfer of power from one end to the other. Terminated with WattGate Silver-Plated 330i AG and 350i AG Audio Grade Power Plugs and also available in 10 gauge (5.2mm2).
The Standard 14 Gauge (4mm2) Molded AC Cord
If you're on a very tight budget or need a stock replacement, we also offer a good quality, 14 Gauge (4mm2), shielded cord with moulded plugs at each end. For a true bargain basement price, they will outperform any original 16 or 18 gauge stock power cord. Only available in 6 foot (1.84 meter) lengths with North American connectors.
Special Configurations
Do you have an unusual requirement for which you cannot locate an off-the-shelf solution? It could be an umbilical that connects a power supply to an amp or preamp or an uncommon gauge that requires a special connector. Let us custom build a solution for you!
For example, we recently fabricated a pair of 10 gauge (5.2mm2) power cords for a client in the Seattle, Washington, area. He needed a 30 Amp, 10 gauge (5.2mm2), 120V, twist-lock male plug on one end and a 15A WattGate Female IEC connector on the other. We were able to meet his needs, within his budget, as shown below.
Custom 10 AWG (5.2mm2), 30 Amp AC Power Cord
| Prices | Plus shipping from Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA |
|---|
Standard
Power Cord | 14 Gauge (4mm2) 15A shielded power cord, with molded IEC Female and North American Male connectors
$20.00/6 feet (1.8 meters) only |
CS Custom
Power Cord |
12 Gauge (3.3mm2) Double-Teflon insulated and fully shielded power cord, featuring 15A WattGate Economy Grade IEC and North American terminations.
$125/6 feet
Add $10 for each additional foot over 6 feet
Subtract $5 for every foot under 6 feet
European and Asian power plugs by Furutech, as well as 20 Amp WattGate IEC connectors and 10 AWG (5.2mm2), are available by special order for a slight additional charge. |
12 Gauge (3.3mm2) Double-Teflon insulated and fully shielded power cord, featuring 15A WattGate Audio Grade, silver-plated IEC and North American terminations.
$250/6 feet
Add $10 for each additional foot over 6 feet
Subtract $5 for every foot under 6 feet
European and Asian power plugs by Furutech, as well as 20 Amp WattGate IEC connectors and 10 AWG (5.2mm2) wire, are available by special order for a slight additional charge. |
CS Ag Custom
Pure Silver Power Cord |
12 Gauge (3.3mm2) Power Cord featuring Pure Silver Load (+) and Neutral (-) Wires with a full copper shield and 15A Silver-Plated WattGate Audio Grade IEC and North American terminations.
$695/6 feet
Add $75 for each additional foot over 6 feet
Subtract $35 for every foot under 6 feet
European and Asian power plugs by Furutech, as well as 20 Amp WattGate IEC connectors and 10 AWG (5.2mm2) Pure Silver wire, are available by special order for an additional charge. |
| Unterminated 12 Gauge (3.3mm2) Wire Bundle for DIY |
(3) color-coded, silver-plated copper, 12 Gauge (3.3mm2) conductors in a Teflon jacket, with full copper braid shielding, wrapped again in Teflon tape
$10 per foot
$32.80 per meter |
| Additional Protective Covering for DIY |
Includes a length of convoluted PVC and your choice of Black or Blue nylon mesh cover
$7.50 per foot
$24.75 per meter |
| Warranty | 10 Years on all parts and labor |
| Availability | Now ! All power cords are built to order by hand in our workshop in Troy, New York, USA. Lead time is typically 2 days from order to shipment. Allow 2-4 weeks for special orders with European or Asian wall plugs. |
30 Day, Risk-Free Trial
Try any of these cords at home for 30 days. Make a full evaluation in your own system, at your own convenience, without the pressures of time or sales personnel. If you're not completely satisfied with the improvement, return them in their original condition for a full refund. Certain restrictions apply.
Tempo Electric LLC
PO Box 770
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-0770
USA
(518) 542-7004
The best time to reach us by telephone is 10AM-6PM, US Eastern Time.
If you reach our voicemail, please leave a message with the best time to return your call.
You can always contact us by eMail, instead. Either way, we will try to reply within 24 hours.
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