Cable Costs Relative to System

"09-16-06: Sksos
I'll throw-in my 2 cents worth (maybe it's already been said, I didn't read all 135 responses up to this point!). Power cords can make or break a system IMHO."

I've asked before and will again; how can changing the last few feet of power cable in a chain of many miles from the power company, via various substations, power lines and your house wiring, possibly change how your system sounds?
Uninteruptable power supplies and conditioners I can understand. But suggesting that 3 feet of "special" power cord can improve an audio setup seems absurd. It's like saying that if your water supply comes via 10 miles of dirty pipes, then replacing the last 3 feet with new pure copper piping will suddenly make the water pure again.
If anyone can give an explanation better than "I've tried several and I can hear the difference", then I'm happy to stand corrected.

Carl109...

If you consider a line cord as a type of circuit rather than wire, there lies the answer. What runs from the Utility Co. to a residence and then the house wiring is hardly a tuned or optimized circuit.

Kind Regards,
Robert
RSAD

I currently have two power cords for my pre-amp. When one is used it has a very big dynamic sound and when the other is used its recessive with a darker background and more texture. The difference is the shielding materials. Less shielding creates a big dynamic sound and more shielding blocks more EMI/RFI and softens the sound of my system. Therefore, I chose the power cord for my system for the sound I prefer.

I appreciate the replies, but they still don't explain the apparent affect on the sound of a system. Once plugged into a wall socket, the power cable acts simply as a continuation of the power path from generation to your component's power supply (transformer etc); it isn't a discrete separate circuit as you suggest, in the way a power conditioner or UPS would be. It can therefore at best cause no further degredation to the power supply, but even a decent inexpensive cable will impart little to those two or three last feet.
As for RF/EM interference... yes, they exist and are a problem for low level signals in interconnects. But shielding less than 1% of your power supply chain is a bit like putting sunscreen on one finger and expecting the rest of your body to not get sunburnt.
I'm not trying to cause trouble here; I really am after some genuine evidence. But everytime I read "I spent $1000 on a power cord and Wow!", it sounds like "I spent $1000 on a power cord and it sounds no different but I don't want to admit I got conned by the HiFi shop."

As for my opinion, I don’t need or have time for evidence. All I know, my system does sound different with different crafted power cords. I chose the PC’s that sound best to me no matter how much they cost and technology used. All my PC’s are custom made to my specs and to my liking. That is my preference and decision after testing many PC’s. Therefore, my conclusion is yes PC’s do change the sound of an audio system and each PC sounds different on different equipment. My suggestion is that everyone experiment and have fun and start listening to the art of music.