AudioQuest FireBird

The FireBird is a mains cable from AudioQuest, intended to power the components of an audio-video installation. It is a high-end power cord designed to replace the standard mains cords supplied with hi-fi equipment.

The alternating current distributed by the mains supply was never designed to meet the demands of high-resolution audio-video components. Electrical noise is present from the source, and is then increased by radio-frequency noise picked up by the power cord itself, before coupling into the equipment's power supply and circuit ground. This phenomenon can cause distortion and losses of low-level signal, an effect sometimes referred to as masking, which tends to reduce the perceived finesse and detail when listening.

Power amplifiers are particularly affected: during dynamic passages, they draw on large reserves of transient current, and the way the power supply responds and then stabilises directly influences the quality of the sound reproduction. The FireBird follows this logic, aiming to better manage these constraints than a generic mains cord.

This type of cable is aimed at already well set-up hi-fi or home cinema systems, where the user is looking to optimise every link in the chain, including the mains power supply, which is often overlooked. It is intended for enthusiasts who have already invested in quality sources, amplifiers or speakers and who wish to limit losses caused by mains noise.