A stupid question(s) about power cords


As the title indicates, I admit that this is probably a stupid question. But since I don’t know (for sure) the answer, I am asking it anyway.

The recent power cord thread got me interested in a power cord upgrade (from the stock cord) on my Maranzt SA10 (SACDP). The power cord receptacle on that particular component does not have a male equipment ground pin--only the neutral and hot pins. Therefore the cord supplied by Maranzt is a two pole (if that is the right terminology) cord. But because I have done it this way before, I do know that it will accept a power cord with an equipment ground as well as a neutral and hot.

Question 1: I went to musicdirect and looked at some power cords and I saw one (an open box Audioquest NRG Z2) that they were calling a two pole cord. The end that plugs in to the component only has a neutral and a hot, but the other end, the end that plugs into the outlet in the wall, does have an equipment ground blade (so that end has three blades). Why would that be?

Question 2: (and this is the stupid one) if a power cord has an equipment ground pin plugged into the wall, even if it is not plugged into an eqipment ground in the component itself, that cord is still connected to the neutral bus bar in the panel, right? So that being the case, since the equipment ground wire in the cord is right next to the hot wire, is there a way unwanted stuff (rf or whatever, my understanding of this is quite limited) can that dirty up the power that is traveling on the hot wire  in the power cord?

I think that the answer to the last question is probably going to be ’no’? And if the answer is ’no’, that means that I really don’t need to shop for only two pole cords, right? And I see this as sort of important because if I buy a two pole cord, the ONLY component I can use it on/try it out on will be my SACDP--there will be no playing around with a two pole cord on my preamp or my amp.

And ALSO, if I don’t feel constrained to shopping ONLY for two pole cords, I would probably have more options to consider.

TIA for legitimate insight to this, and to all others, feel free to ridicule me and my question--I don’t mind.

 

 

 

immatthewj

"I absolutely hate trying to A/B stuff (I don't have the ear for it, plus, the back of my components isn't the worst in the world, but it is not super-duper accessible either) so as opposed to going back and forth from components to power cords, at around $50 a pop, I ordered two more."

So, you don't have the ear for it and it is a hassle to change the cable, but you want to hear an improvement with a $50.00 power cable? 

@audphile1 Interesting that you got one to try. As I mentioned somewhere else, I could not build a cable as good as this for this silly amount of money. I have had power cables in my system retailing at $1K, and none of them blew me away, over these Preffairs. Different, yea, but better, not really. Not like a different amplifier, which is more substantial in differences. And of course, synergy. TY for letting us know. My best, MrD.

@dill  , yes, if an improvement, even one so small that I will not IMMEDIATELY hear, can be made for around $150, I'll give it a try.  And if not, que sara, sara.

So, you don't have the ear for it and it is a hassle to change the cable, but you want to hear an improvement with a $50.00 power cable? 

 

@dill , what are you implying ? Matt is going through a growth spurt with his system, if you have been paying attention to his threads. Unfortunately, making the power cable change and discussing any differences, will not be valid, since at a similar time Matt changed speakers. What he is hearing is a combination of the cables and the speakers, making it hard for him to distinguish any improvement between the supplied cables and the Chinese cables. I am glad he bought the 3 cables, because they are superior to the cables that come with the product and they will allow his gear to " open up " more, which is a real, positive characteristic we can all agree on. My best, MrD. 

I've been on the anti-rhodium bandwagon since the first time I saw it advertised.  

Using a 3 prong plug is good business as it makes a more solid connection (physical, not electrical) and it makes sure you are properly polarized.  

Most cords will have a ground anyway.  Don't bother shopping for one that doesn't.

Shielding isn't often discussed, and many of my power cords are not shielded, but I agree with Erik, it is a good idea.

Jerry