Good-looking power cable

[alex-z]

I just need a cable built from pure copper, with some shielding (?), possibly not thin as a hair.

The Topping P50 has a maximum output of 25 watts, if the barrel plug and both USB ports are at 100% load simultaneously. That is so little power, your wiring doesn't need to be pure copper, and the thickness is almost irrelevant. As a rule of thumb, I round up to the nearest full amp when selecting wire gauge. By that logic, anything around 22AWG should suffice.

https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

For reference, 22AWG is 0.327mm cross section.

Shielding makes no sense on AC mains power. The power itself is already "dirty", 50% of the job performed by any power supply is filtering out that noise, and requires no special cables or high-end gear to accomplish. If we are being objectively honest here, you could power the Topping P50 with 3 rusty coat hangers and not make the slightest difference to the sound quality.

 

[ribonucleic]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If I had an expensive rig that needed a new power cable, I would go to an industrial supply house for something brutally over-engineered.

This charmer is from Grainger. $54 for 10 feet. No BS about audio fairies sprinkling pixie dust in your ears. Just getting the job done.

 

[thecheapseats]

...If we are being objectively honest here...

+1000 comment points and a 'golf clap' for "3 rusty coat hangers"... very good...

 

[thecheapseats]

I like this tester for outlet testing:

SureTest® Circuit Analyzer

61-164: Measures voltage drop under load* Hot and neutral conductor impedances Estimates Load on Line (ELL) up to 15A Tests GFCIs and EPDs for proper operation Super-bright OLED display High accuracies True RMS Line and peak voltage Identifies proper wiri

www.idealind.com

at that price - it should come with a DAC...

 

[August West]

So summary of the discussion:
1) be careful when dating an audiophile
2) basically all cables are sort-of identical (except for pricing): stock cable, oehlbach, waudio, audioquest...
3) all these cables are "generally ok" in build quality (as they have a brand who has a reputation and/or has some certifications)
4) if a cable has a build problem, I may not notice immediately

did I forget anything?

Make sure the cord is UL listed if you are in US or whatever standard is used in your country