Must Haves: Essential Power Cables for Optimal Performance

FutureShop is an authorised dealer for Merlin Cables, Wireworld, Atlas Cables, and Supra Cables. All four cables below are available from stock with our free burn-in service and 60-day money-back guarantee.

Must-Have Power Cables

Power cable upgrades have been growing in popularity as more evidence accumulates for the difference that a high-quality mains connection makes to any component it feeds. A good power cable from the wall to a distribution block produces a noticeable improvement across all equipment on that block. Adding individual power cables to each component tightens the picture further. Here are four of our most recommended options.

1. Merlin Tarantula MK6 Power Cable

The Merlin Tarantula MK6 is a completely redesigned power cable built around three twisted 2.5mm² high-purity oxygen-free copper conductors. These are coated with XLPE insulation, which has a significantly better dielectric constant than the standard PVC used in most mains cables. Additional features include ECG (Energy Control Ground) technology to reduce electrostatic interference, Ali/Mylar shielding, and natural cotton fillers between the conductors for noise reduction. The result is lower resistance, greater current-handling capacity, and better rejection of both airborne and conducted interference than entry-level alternatives.

Merlin Cables is based in South England and has been manufacturing power cables since 2001. The Tarantula MK6 is hand-assembled by trained engineers and carries the brand's award-winning pedigree. It is the most cost-effective entry point into properly engineered power cables, and the ideal first step for anyone sceptical about what a power cable change can do.

View the Merlin Tarantula MK6 at FutureShop.

2. Wireworld Stratus 7 Power Cable

The Wireworld Stratus 7 is Wireworld's entry-level power cable and a strong upgrade for home theatre and hi-fi systems. It uses oxygen-free copper conductors within Wireworld's Composilex 2 insulation: a proprietary polymer composite developed to minimise triboelectric noise, the interference generated when the cable's insulation and conductors move against each other. The moulded IEC plug uses silver-clad copper alloy contacts as standard, ensuring a low-resistance, consistent connection that most stock cables cannot match.

Wireworld power cables are characterised by their flat, stiff design, which is the product of the precision geometry used to achieve maximum conductor surface contact. The Stratus 7 brings Wireworld's signature clarity and top-end detail to an accessible price point, making it an ideal upgrade for any serious home theatre or hi-fi setup where clarity and high-frequency resolution are priorities.

View the Wireworld Stratus 7 at FutureShop.

3. Atlas Eos 4DD Mains Power Cable

The Atlas Eos 4DD is built on three principles that Atlas considers non-negotiable for high-performance power cables: low series resistance, high-efficiency dielectrics, and comprehensive screening. It uses 4mm² high-purity OFC conductors, PTFE (Teflon) dielectrics for superior insulation performance, and an aluminium foil screen terminated with Atlas's dual drain (DD) system. The dual drain arrangement provides two parallel paths for noise to reach earth, making it significantly more effective than a single drain connection at rapidly dumping RF contamination out of the signal path.

The Eos 4DD is designed for high-end systems and high-current components where the incoming RF and electromagnetic noise on the mains supply is most likely to limit performance. Atlas has since extended the Eos range with the newer "em" series, but the 4DD remains the benchmark for the dual drain approach at its price point.

View the Atlas Eos 4DD at FutureShop.

Honourable Mention: Supra LoRad 1.5 Mains Cable

The Supra LoRad is a worldwide patented, fully CE-approved audio-grade shielded mains cable, and it earns its honourable mention partly for this certification. CE approval for a mains cable is not automatic; the LoRad's aluminium foil screen, which makes direct contact with the semi-conductive insulation of the earth conductor, passes the specific shielding efficiency requirements that many audio power cables do not formally test to. The primary benefit is that the shielding prevents the LoRad from inducing interference into adjacent low-level signal cables, which is particularly valuable in systems where power and signal cables run in parallel.

The LoRad uses multi-stranded tin-plated OFC conductors and is available off the reel, making it practical for custom-length installations. The current generation is the LoRad MKII, which updates the conductor specification while retaining the original's CE approval and shielding philosophy.

View the Supra power cable range at FutureShop.

Which Power Cable for Which Component?

All four cables above represent a meaningful step up from a standard stock power cable. The question most buyers have after reading a list like this is: which one for which component, and in what order? The table below maps each cable to its optimal application.

Cable	Best component match	Key strength	Price tier
Merlin Tarantula MK6	Integrated amplifier or power amplifier as a first upgrade. Also strong as the cable feeding a distribution block.	Best value per pound in this group. Inviting dynamics, smoother top end, and natural cotton noise reduction at an entry price. Also available as the QSA Edition with upgraded internal fuse.	Entry/mid. From £69.99.
Wireworld Stratus 7	DAC, CD player, or streamer. Home theatre display or AV receiver where clarity and top-end resolution are priorities.	Composilex 2 insulation reduces triboelectric noise. Silver-clad copper alloy contacts. Wireworld's characteristic clarity and high-frequency detail at an accessible price.	Entry/mid.
Atlas Eos 4DD	High-end power amplifier, DAC, or the cable feeding a quality distribution block on a demanding system.	4mm² OFC conductors, PTFE dielectric, and dual drain RF earthing make this the strongest noise-rejection cable in this group. For high-current and high-resolution components.	High performance.
Supra LoRad 1.5	Any component in a system where power and signal cables run in close proximity. Turntables and phono stages particularly benefit.	Full CE-approved shielding prevents the power cable from inducing interference into adjacent signal cables. Unique in this group for that specific certification.	Entry. Available off the reel for custom lengths.

For a deeper understanding of what makes one power cable different from another across all the variables (conductor material, dielectric, shielding, length, termination, and grounding), our power cables guide (Vol. 2i) covers each factor in detail. And for a head-to-head listening comparison of the Merlin Tarantula MK6 against AudioQuest, Wireworld, and PS Audio alternatives, our Merlin Tarantula MK6 QSA Edition review covers a direct system comparison.

Browse the full power cable range at FutureShop, or go directly to Merlin, Wireworld, Atlas, or Supra. All cables carry our 60-day money-back guarantee and free burn-in service. Get in touch for free expert advice.