If Power Cords Don't Matter...

When I got back into this hobby I addressed the power cord and cable issue myself with a trial of Shunyata Venom to stock power cables. The Venom series is Shunyata’s entry level, but contains their core technology. The difference was not subtle. The clarify and black background were very apparent. I don’t think it was placebo. Now, having said that does one need to spend a fortune optimizing their power cables and conditioners. No. There are in my opinion diminishing returns that depend on your gears, room and your hearing. So do you need to go up to Shunyata’s Sigma or Omega levels. For me, no. For someone else, their hearing, their gear and their room, possibly. However for most folks I think benefits will become unnoticeable in the mid range somewhere and that will require an in home trial. Additionally, having tried a bunch of cables from different companies, I think that one can follow some basic guidelines and get good performing power cables for less money. Try and get good oxygen free conductors. Get the largest gauge you can. Good connectors and shielding around the conductors. I recently tried the top line power cable from Pangea and I think it faired no worse than the AQ Tornados and Shunyata Deltas I normally use. The Pangeas are a fraction of the cost. So I think one can get improvements over stock cables without breaking the bank. But I do think in my experience that good power cables perform better than stock. 

Totally 🥜 Nuts , I  owned a Audio store until 09
and without question a quality power cords  improves the audio in several areas ,we have done blind comparisons with bunches of different power cords.
.I have  dedicated 20 amp lines awg10 with 4 wire 2-Dual grounds ,one common ground, the other a insulated isolated ground which makes a very noticeable 
improvement ,copper gold AC outlets , vs the garbage $3 brass zinc outlets in most house and the oxide they produce as well as any cheap power cord ,try taking Isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel ,see how much oxide comes off ,which is detail robbing for sure . a very respectable power cord still improves several areas ,even different brand power cords have their own Sonic characteristics.
if this were not the case ,then why don’t everyone just stick with the crappy 
stock power cord it comes with ? That’s my point !!

+1 for cheap power cords from Amazon. For $50 per power cord, even if it won’t satisfy you, you only lose $50 which is miniscule when it comes to HiFi.  They are made in China but most of them are very decent in quality.

I got some myself and they definitely improve the sound.

Get the largest gauge you can.

Can anyone care to explain why that would be?  Imagine the tiny little fuse between power cable and your equipment.  Wouldn't it be a bottleneck?  Then why would a power cable make any difference that whatever current has to pass through the tiny little fuse?

I am not an Electrical Engineer, but I know enough to respect electricity.
That being said, as my components within my systems were upgraded/improved, the differences and appreciation of power cords/conditioners etc. also greatly improved.

However, if your audio rig is low fi it would be similar to putting high performance tires on a Yugo. (Are they still made?) It won’t matter.

Sorry guys, all you need to do is experience what a quality power cord can provide in a quality system. Please leave out the $50 Amazon waste of money power cord versions and the long drawn tired comments about power cords don’t matter.

Those comments are better stated on other websites.

ozzy