Dedicated Audio - PS Audio Jewel Power Cord

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The PS Jewel series was created to fill an important need in home audio video: that of an affordable power delivery system that everyone can take advantage of, regardless of their make, model or budget.

The inspiration for building the Jewel series was the need for an even more affordable stock-cord-replacement.

The Jewel series is our most affordable power cables yet. Available in the standard IEC style.

The Jewel IEC
The Jewel IEC solves a problem people have with their systems, the stock power cables.

PS offers an entire line of high-end state-of-the-art power cable delivery systems that replace the standard or stock power cables supplied by manufacturers of consumer electronics. Problem is, even our most affordable AC Series power cables cost enough that their use throughout the system can be problematic. Enter the Jewel our most affordable power cable replacement series.

The Jewel are not the AC Series power cables but they do have a lot in common: solid machined and welded contacts for both the male and female ends, heavy use of shielding and lots of copper.

The Jewel IEC is a 12 gauge power cable built around pure oxygen free copper with double shielding to keep the noise out.

The Jewel IEC is affordable and makes it possible for anyone to finally replace all the non-critical power cables in the system with a quality low noise product.

For critical listening applications we still recommend the AC Series of power cables with their exotic geometries, materials and heavier gauge wiring combinations of both solid core and Multistrand copper: for all other applications, the Jewel IEC is the way to go.

Jewel cords use our custom male and female connectors
Virtually every aftermarket high-end power cord uses a similar style of off-the-shelf male and female AC power connector. These off-the-shelf connectors find their way on cables as low a s $50 to as high as many thousands of dollars and are considered state-of-the-art.

But, are they state-of-the-art? Absolutely not. They are flawed and compromised when compared to a PS Audio power cable. The plug prong is a three-piece affair made from a piece of stamped metal (the IEC is constructed in the same manner). The three parts are the prong, the clamp cover and the screw. The prong and clamp are made from brass and the screw is constructed of steel.

To build a high-end power cord with these off-the-shelf connectors, you have to accept a compromised connection scheme: basically you insert the conductor into the clamp and tighten the steel screw is used to hold the conductor in place.

The problem with this style of build is several fold: multiple pieces are prone to oxidation, corrosion and poor fit, and using a steel screw to pressure copper against the brass prong is not the best connection in the world.

There are two other problems with this type of off-the-shelf connectors: loss of contact surface area where the holes in the prongs are and exposure to air with all the associated problems caused by humidity, pollution and oxidation.

The holes in the prongs
Have you ever taken a close look at the male prongs on your power cable? Even the best power cords in the world have them. Ever wonder why they are there?

Our research has indicated that these holes, which reduce the contact surface area of the male prong, were first introduced over a quarter of a century ago to solve the problem of plug grip when inserted into the female AC socket.

Years ago, and well before the advent of the Hospital Grade receptacle (like the PS Power Port), plug grip strength was achieved by the addition of small dimples in the female AC outlet. These dimples, which are no longer manufactured, snapped into the associated holes on the male prongs to achieve a tighter connection.

So, while the dimples have disappeared the holes have not. We're certain there are probably half a dozen reasons why these are still there, but this explanation was the best we could find.

How we solved the problem
To solve these problems PS engineering went to work designing an entirely new male and female connector from the ground up.

To address the issue of multiple pieces of stamped and dissimilar metals in the actual prong itself, we decided to machine our prongs out of a solid block of high copper content brass, and then polish both the female prongs and male prongs - and finally nickel plated the exposed male prongs.

By machining the new prongs from a solid block of material, we were also able to resolve the dilemma of the unnecessary hole in the mating prong as well as the dissimilar metal problem.

Even the female side of the PS power cable is revolutionary as well. So strong is the grip force of the PS power cable IEC female ends that you can literally dangle a piece of equipment from the PS power cable without it falling.

Cold and Hot Welding
Once we had a single piece of machined metal with an appropriately sized hole to receive the cable's conductor, it was time to do a better job of attaching the conductor to the connector.

Traditional power cords use a steel screw tightened to hold the conductor against the prong; a method prone to oxidation and corrosion as well as loss of connectivity due to repeated twisting of the connector.

The PS Jewel and AC Series employs two forms of welding to fuse the conductor to the machined prong: cold and hot.

Cold welding exerts thousands of pounds of pressure supplied through the force of a hydraulic press to squeeze the two metals together such that the metal structure of the two pieces actually fuse together.

To further insure a perfect connection, we then solder each of the machined prongs with high silver content solder in a hot welding technique that creates the perfect bond.

Then they are hermetically sealed
To address the issue of long term conductivity and eliminate problems such as oxidation, PS engineers designed an outer shell that is molded over the machined, cold and hot welded connectors.

This molding process, which also incorporates a built in strain relief, will keep the outer elements away from the all-important fusion of the prongs to the conductors.

The custom connectors on the PS Jewel and AC Series alone will revolutionize the category and set new standards for state-of-the-art status in power delivery systems.

Removable ground pin
One of the coolest new innovations we came up with on the AC Series and Jewel power cables is a removable ground pin.

The ground pin on a power cable is there to tie the ground of the AC receptacle to your equipment. However, in some cases, this ground pin can cause a ground loop and cause hum and buzz in your system.

Traditionally audio and theater enthusiasts have used what is known as a "cheater plug" to solve this problem and break the ground loop. A cheater plug is an inexpensive three prong to two-prong adapter.

Unfortunately, this adapter ruins many of the benefits of a high-end power cable like the AC Series or Jewel.

PS engineers invented a better way: a screw in ground pin. Normally, you would leave this alone. Should your system have a ground loop problem that is causing hum or buzz in the loudspeakers, simply unscrew the ground pin of the Jewel and the buzz is gone!

This just might be the solution you've been looking for.

Is it safe?
Generally yes. We recommend keeping the ground in place whenever possible. However, sometimes it's necessary to eliminate a ground loop by removing the ground pin. When you do this there's no difference between removing the ground pin and using a three prong to two-prong adaptor like a 'cheater plug'.

The ground on a power cable is used to tie the metal chassis of your equipment to a safety ground. Many pieces of equipment use only a two-prong plug with no ground and this is perfectly acceptable and safe for use in the home.

Putting it all together
From the machined prongs hewn from a solid billet of material, to the cold and hot welding, over molded and hermetically sealed connectors, excellent shielding and finely stranded spirally wound conductors, the Jewel cables will open your eyes and your ears with a level of improvement you probably never dreamed of at a price you can afford.

It's time to get the power delivery system in your home audio/video system right. Remember, if you don't get the power delivered to your equipment properly, then you will never take advantage of your investment in fine equipment.

It's time to maximize your system and get it right. Get it connected and get it powered with PS!