AudioQuest NRG-X3 Power Cable (C5)

The AudioQuest NRG-X3 with C5 coupler is a three-pin power cable for compact devices whose power inlet has the shape of a cloverleaf.

Technically, it's the same cable as the C13 version — same copper, same geometry, same construction. Only the end that goes into the device is different. And because the C5 connector is electrically rated lower, it belongs on small sources and power supplies, not on power electronics.

Why the NRG-X3 in the C5 version?

Because the cloverleaf connector often sits on exactly the devices that are especially sensitive to clean power: small streamers, external power supplies, compact DACs. The cables bundled with them are usually the thinnest thing the market offers. The X3 counters that with direction-controlled Long-Grain Copper in Semi-Solid Concentric geometry — a few solid strands in one layer, cold-welded contacts, a jacket that doesn't already crease the first time you plug it in.

What you get

A cable that brings more calm exactly where it's needed: less background restlessness in the sound, cleaner contours, a bass that ends instead of trailing off. Plus a mechanically stable fit — bundled-class cloverleaf plugs tend to loosen over time. This one stays where you put it.

Who is the C5 version for?

For anyone with a three-pin cloverleaf inlet on their device — common on network players, small DACs, laptop power supplies, and some turntable preamps. Straight talk: the C5 connector is limited to 2.5 A. If you want to power an amplifier, you're in fundamentally the wrong place here and need the C13 version. And if your device shows only two round contacts in a figure-eight shape, that's a C7 — this cable doesn't fit there either.

Our verdict

An unspectacular but very useful cable. It closes exactly the gap where many good systems fall short: the pricier power cable is available everywhere in C13, but hardly anyone thinks about the small source with a cloverleaf connector. That's exactly what this variant is for — and it does its job quietly and reliably.

Technical data

• Type: power cable, AudioQuest NRG series (entry level), three-pin
• Conductor: Long-Grain Copper (LGC), direction-controlled
• Geometry: Semi-Solid Concentric
• Gauge: 1.31 mm² (16 AWG)
• Current rating: up to 2.5 A at 220–240 V (limit of the C5 connector)
• Mains-side plug: Schuko (CEE 7/7, three-pin, grounded)
• Device-side connector: IEC C5 (cloverleaf, three-pin)
• Termination: cold-welded plug contacts
• Jacket: black PVC with red stripes
• Available lengths: 1 m, 2 m, 3 m
• Included: 1 power cable in the length selected

Frequently asked questions

How do I recognize a C5 inlet?

By its shape: three round contacts arranged like a three-leaf clover — colloquially also called a Mickey Mouse connector. A C7, by contrast, has just two contacts side by side, and a C13 has three in a wide trapezoid. The fastest way to tell is to look at the cable you already have.

Can I use it to power an amplifier?

No. The C5 connector is limited to 2.5 A and therefore not intended for power electronics. Even if an amplifier happened to have a cloverleaf socket, the reserve would be too thin. For amplifiers, use the same series in the C13 version with a 10 A rating.

Is the C5 version technically inferior to the C13 version?

No, the cable itself is identical: same LGC conductors, same 1.31 mm² gauge, same geometry and termination. Only the coupler at the device end differs — and its permitted current. So you get the full X3 technology, adapted for smaller devices.

What mains plug does the cable come with?

With a three-pin Schuko plug per CEE 7/7, as with the entire EU version of the NRG series. Whether you need an adapter for your outlet, we're happy to clarify with you beforehand — a quick message is enough, and you won't be ordering blind.

What speaks for buying at HD Zürisee?

Above all, that we look closely at the connector type before anything leaves the warehouse. C5, C7, and C13 look confusingly similar in product photos. We'll clarify that with you quickly — from Wädenswil, at 044 680 22 00 · WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) · shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Pairs well with

Cloverleaf connectors are found mainly on compact sources — browse the Streamers and DACs. Matching power supplies are under Power Supplies, other power cables under Power Cables, and the rest of the brand in the AudioQuest world.