Blind Power Cord Test & results

I have not experimented with power cords myself, however, what the conclusions determined is that "We simply failed to prove that differences can be detected to a statistically significant degree using a blind ABX protocol"
I have always been skeptical that audible differences could be distinguished between power cords. There's simply too many other variables when it comes to the delivery of power to the component. However, having heard the same results regarding ABX tests involving amps and interconnects, and, having myself been able to distinguish differences between these components in my own experimentation, I would certainly not rule anything out until I performed some actual experiments myself. I think that the logic in ABX testing is seriously flawed and would tend to reject any results from such tests.

Sorry for my rant here, but you guys kill me with the lack of links. The directions on how to post a link is found directly under the data input area and is labeled "No html, but you may use markup tags". Clicking on that will show you exactly how to post different types of links.

If you are in the middle of a post and forget how to post a link, you can even click on the directions below you post, see how it is done and then click your web browser's "back" button to return to your post as it was. You can do this as many times as it takes with no fear of losing the data that you've already entered.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/feature-article-blind-test-power-cords-12-2004.html

Other than that, i've done testing where the differences in power cabling was both highly audible and measurable. The fact that the differences were so audibly noticeable was what caused me to take test measurements. The only thing altered during the test was one power cord as fed to a digital source component. The frequency response showed measurable deviations both in the warmth region and in the extreme treble region. Other than that, i'm quite certain that spectral analysis would show differences in the noise floor of a component when comparing "optimized" power cords vs more conventional designs. Sean
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Two seniors have already said it better than I, but I simply would like to add that different results will ocur with different gear.

A number of years back I had "stock" Meridian power cord from some Meridian gear that I owned and I had this power cord connected to a Moscode amp; I replaced it with a LAT Intl. power cord, the difference was immediate and without doubt. I later used the same power cord on a Mark Levinson No.383 and heard no difference when compared to its stock power cord.

Hello,

I have to believe that Albert's long-term-listening procedure is what is needed because I went back and forth last week between NBS Statement and PS Audio Statement Extreme power cords on a pair of CAT JL-3 Signature amps. There is a HUGE difference in retail cost of these two products.

Each time I thought there was a little more resolution with the NBS in the decay of cymbols, but switching back to the PS Audio and the decay was so natural as well. There was no discernible tonal differences and no other attributes caught my attention as have sonic differences.

Either the CAT amps don't benefit from this due to their design or I just need to listen with one set of cords for a week and try another in a week or so. And then I will try this whole process again with the power cords on a pair of recently acquired Soundlab A1s against the stock power cords.

Often we want "better" products to bring on improvements but if we can not hear such differences for whatever reason, then Albert said it best, "forget about it".

John

We love debating many topics here:

- power cords
- interconnects
- vinyl vs digital
- tube vs solid state

If interested, one can simply conduct an experiment and observe the results for themselves. I speculate that some will hear benefits and others won't. If you do not hear any difference, sleep well with the knowledge that you have first hand experience and saved some money. If you hear a difference, sleep well knowing that when you purchase a new power cord, you have first hand knowledge of the benefits. In either case, why care about what someone else says? You have your own experience to move beyond the bickering.

Personally, I have difficulty when I do not understand why something works. I did my own experiment with a power cord and observed substantial benefits in dynamics and LF response. But darn it, I don't understand why the cord makes a difference!

Here is a link to my write-up:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1092099698&read&keyw&zzdominus