Can a better power cable make a difference if NOT plugged directly into an outlet?

@hilde45, How are your DIY skills?  I may have some exciting news but requires DIY.

This link takes you to an interesting review of a bunch of great PCs :

https://audiobacon.net/2019/08/17/27-audiophile-power-cables-reviewed/

Perhaps look for some of those mentioned that are available used. Will be well run-in.

@lemonhaze I don’t have DIY skills but I know someone who does. Thank you for the link!

I will admit, though, that the first paragraph really raised some suspicions:

"Once I’ve realized how a single cable could make or break a HiFi system – I went down the rabbit hole. It made the difference between enjoying a system – and being annoyed with it."

Clearly, this claim must be hyperbole -- and in the first paragraph. I will suspend judgment as best I can, but you can appreciate how implausible it is.

Soon after, we see this claim:

"At this point, I’m sure we could all agree that different power cords sound different. Even among generic cords."

The author is "sure" of this as a general fact, not considering the dozens of variables involved? And not only that, this surety applies, too, to generic cords? Will still suspend judgment -- largely out of my respect for your posts, Lemonhaze, but this author is straining already strained credulity and we’re still just at the beginning of the article.

I'll just note that if there is a "fact" we can count on, it's that anyone who has gone down a "rabbit hole" investigating 1000 power cords will, given that time and money investment, have a severe case of cognitive dissonance if not outright regret if they do not come out of the experience with concrete and significant conclusions. We see this with all kinds of other belief systems. It's the "sunk costs" fallacy. It takes courage to admit that one has gone down a rabbit hole that was really just a waste of time. It's embarrassing to oneself and to admit to others. But sometimes, the truth hurts. That pain makes perhaps the crucial difference between science and confirmation bias.

Ok, needed to get that off my chest. Again -- just so I do not commit the fallacy of "lack of charity" I am suspending judgment and going back to the article.

@hilde45,  I find Jay's reviews to be accurate based on what he's said about some of the cables in his list that I've heard.

He's done similar with interconnects and same thing, accurate according to the few I've tried. The comments at the end of his reviews are a fun read with the usual deniers demanding measurements and proof.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/duelund-conversion-to-diy-helix-geometry-cabling

This link takes you to 17 pages of cable DIY with many of the members you will, I am sure, recognise. The man responsible for these DIY recipies is williewonka who has detailed instructions on how to build them. This is no just stick some plugs on some off the reel cable type of DIY. All info needed is in contained in the above and with much input from builders and their results.

OCC Copper and OCC silver is used which has a coiled (helix) which acts as a Faraday cage inhibiting EMI/RFI interference. I do not use a shield which I can hear has an effect on dynamics and imparts a trace of grayness to the sound. Squires says his cables cause noise because they are tangled together or some such. Well keep them tidy and you may not need screens and shields.

I have zero problems with cable crosstalk. The first cable I built, an interconnect, easily displaced my long time favourite, a Van den Hul Orchid. I was mightily impressed from plug in with no burn-in time. It excelled at everything with clarity, dynamics, bass and openness and clean clean clean. Guitar and piano WOW.

I encourage you to read the thread from the beginning. I would happily build for you but as I live in Ireland it would be expensive. Most components are from USA so postage becomes unmanageable. You will find info on this in the thread.

To be clear I've not yet built Power Cables but have what's needed and will when I find the time. This is serious performance.

The age old debate. The only way to find out is try it, if you can not tell the difference then send it back.