2. cables
  3. 988470429

How can power cords make a difference?

I am trying to understand why power cords can make a difference.

It makes sense to me that interconnects and speaker cables make a difference. They are dealing with a complex signal that contains numerous frequencies at various phases and amplitudes. Any change in these parameters should affect the sound.

A power cord is ideally dealing with only a single frequency. If the explanation is RF rejection, then an AC regeneration device like PS Audio’s should make these cords unnecessary. I suppose it could be the capacitance of these cables offering some power factor correction since the transformer is an inductive load.

The purpose of my post is not to start a war between the “I hear what I hear so it must be so” camp and the “you’re crazy and wasting your money,” advocates. I am looking for reasons. I am hoping that someone can offer some valid scientific explanations or point me toward sources of this information. Thanks.
bruce1483
frap
213 posts
 
Redkiwi, I do not think that "stonewalling" of any member including 702, Steve etc., is good for the overall A-gon climate. Suppose a topic arose that 702 had expertise in, technical or otherwise?
Now 702, I know that there are alot of thinkers on these controversial subjects that are in your camp, but you have not demonsrated any testing that you have done regarding the subject, where many others (including a great gottcha test by Jadem6 above) have.
Are you truly interested in the pursuit of better music? This is the question you need ask yourself.
I know a great many "Audio" people, and a whole lot of "Music" people. Sometimes the technical gurus cant hear what the music oriented hear(I have seen this many times).
And to quote the Warden in "Cool Hand Luke", "Some people you just can't reach"
I think your "Mr Spock" personality here has left many cold towards you, but I am sure you are loving this, eh 702?.....Frank
redkiwi
1,092 posts
 
Frap, I did not mean to imply I would react negatively if 702 surprised me by posting something of positive value, nor did I mean to imply I want to see him go the way of Jostler.

702 is what I call "on it". When people are "on it" they bang away repeating the same point ad nauseum and don't leave room for conversation and transfer of knowledge. I want 702 to get "off it" and contribute to conversations in a way that allows for others' views and new discoveries. I have no problem with 702 posting his thoughts, experiences, opinions or beliefs. But his style and derision for others here are "on it" to an extent that is highly detrimental to enlightened discussion.

Fpeel, I reserve RHUBARB for when I am too exasperated to continue to fight the good fight. I feel a RHUBARB phase approaching.
jaykapur
70 posts
 
Jadem6 - Very interesting experiement. First, you learned that your friends are honest. Second, you showed that people don't buy into the placebo effect all the time. Maybe there IS something to this and we're not just nuts for trying out wacky tweaks.
jhunter
45 posts
 
Jadem6 -

I agree that your results are interesting indeed. Not a blind experiment so from a purely audible sense the results aren't valid (you might possibly have unintentionally given some clue as to what was happening, maybe not), but the tests do give some meaningful information. Could you tell us (and I apologize if you've given this info before) what your aftermarket cables are?

Also, it would be extremely interesting for you to try this test again - this time without switching the cables, even though you say you are?

JHunter
jhunter
45 posts
 
Albert, Jcbtubes -

My system, while not ultra-high end, is quite enjoyable and pretty revealing:

Pioneer 525 DVD/Marantz CD63 mkII feeding an MSB Link DAC III;
Plinius 8150 integrated amp (w/apologies to Redkiwi's countrymen, this might be the weak link in the system);
Dunlavy SM-1.

Pretty nice sounding, but if anybody wants to send me a really good subwoofer I'd certainly not object! By the way, there's no lack of aftermarket PCs in the area. Within 15 miles of home, there are 6 bona-fide high end stores and a couple of mid-fi stores with a smattering of better stuff. At one store, you could listen to the $85k Dynaudio Evidence with a Krell Master Reference sub. They also had the Krell Master Reference amps; I think this is what led to the power crisis in California!

Cheers,
Jhunter
More to discover