PS-Audio - PerfectWave AC3 Power Cable

The PerfectWave AC3 is PS Audio's most affordable power cable and offers a significant improvement over stock power cables.

The low noise, high-speed design of the AC3 is based on 5 patents and years of listening and engineering and we believe it will bring new levels of refined beauty, power and spacious performance to high-end systems that use it.

AC power is a critical element in any high-performance audio/video system. Delivering that power to your equipment, without loss, is the job of the AC power cable.

A bit of history

In early 2000 PS Audio introduced the Lab Cable power cord.  The Lab Cable was one of the first aftermarket high-end power cables produced and it helped ignite a revolution in AC power interest that continues through today.

The Lab Cable was a major improvement over the stock power cable supplied with the equipment.  The main benefits of the Lab Cable are still embodied in today’s high-end cables: significant shielding from outside noise, internal geometries that reduce complex load interactions, heavier wire gauge to reduce power drops and the use of superior conducting materials.

It’s all in the design and construction

A stock power cable is something manufacturers purchase in large volumes from the lowest cost vendors and include in their products as a courtesy.  These power cables will always be adequate in terms of power delivery but rarely designed to take advantage of all the performance values the equipment is capable of.

When choosing a power cable for connected equipment it is important to select a model with adequate shielding, proper materials and well designed connectors that are up to the task at hand.

The PS Audio PerfectWave AC3 an excellent type of power delivery system needed for any high-end audio or video equipment.

The AC3

The PerfectWave AC3 represents PS Audio's best in affordable power cable construction as practiced over the last decade.

The AC3 is a 12 gauge pure Oxygen Free Copper cable constructed in multiple gauges and shapes.  Inside the AC3 is one hollow OFC conductor for the treble regions, one large OFC rectangular conductor for the midrange and multiple gauges of OFC bundled together for the bass.  The results of these design decisions is something rewarding to experience.

Use the AC3 in any high-end audio application as a replacement for the stock power cable.  Once connected via the AC3 you’ll most likely notice better performance in ways you didn’t realize your system was capable of because of its stock power cable.

Connectors

As early as 2003 PS Audio realized that even with the best conductor technology in the world would benefit from an improved connector.

The PerfectWave AC3 connectors are built out of a solid block of high copper content brass, and then polished to remove any surface irregularities. The surface of each is then nickel plated to help prevent oxidation of the raw brass over time.

Traditional off-the-shelf stock power cords use a tightened steel screw to hold the conductor against the prong or are simply squeezed together.   This practice is prone to oxidation and corrosion as well as loss of connectivity.

The PerfectWave AC3 instead employs welding to fuse the conductor to the machined prong and  high silver content solder in in a final technique that creates the perfect bond of welding and soldering.