Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig Sawyers
... Now let's scale it. Let's take a typical audio mains cable of 12AWG, which is 3.31 mm^2. And the current might typically be 1A for a really chunky class A amplifier (so 240W of standing dissipation) ...
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On a couple of points of detail, first someone trying to sell a high-end cable would probably be comparing it with the 'ordinary' IEC lead supplied with the amp. I imagine the ordinary one would have rather thinner wires than 3.31 mm^2. So they might be able to claim that there's a real difference between good and ordinary. Second chunky amps might draw 1A average but it might be a lot more than that peak (probably limited by the properties of the mains transformer) and, as has been pointed out already, the resistive losses in the cable will be worse as a consequence.
(For the avoidance of doubt, I'm pretty sure that average differences between mains cables are inconsequential and that any peak transient demands placed on the psu by the music will have to be handled by components on the secondary side of the mains transformer, not the primary.)
Cheers,
GJ