The best Neutral Power cord ?

Nice post Brulee. And I really liked your comment "the performance sure sounded neutral tonight"-- that's a great perspective. I've had excellent results with Syn. Res. Master Couplers on all components-- availabe used for $160 to 180. I also like the Cardas Golden which is a little darker, richer. Based on Brulee's brief description, I'd like to try the Shunyata Black Mamba as I prefer music with a dark and sweet bias (if we admit there is always a bias?). Cheers. Craig.

I too wonder whether neutral is really the best term. To me the issue is that power cords do something to reduce the grain structure that mains-borne noise imposes on our music, and also alter the grain structure. When the grain structure finds harmonics with the music it accentuates that part of the spectrum - which in turn causes a sense of brightness, darkness, harshness or sweetness. I have played around with power cable design and construction a bit and suspect that this is what is happening. First issue is to reduce the grain, second issue is to get a grain structure that interferes with the music least. I respectfully disagree with Brulee - I regularly go to our local concert hall and lament how it destroys the vibrancy of violin and brass tone, and go to my local jazz haunt and have a very slight cringe at the relatively bright acoustics, yet welcome the fact that it contributes to capturing the energy of the performers.

There is a DIY Bob Crump power cord for sale at the Audio Asylum Auction. Looks like the current bid is .05 so that should be in your budget :)

Yeah Brulee I also LOL at *the performance sure sounded neutral tonight*. I have seen the word neutral used so often in trying to describe components that it can really lead to confusion in knowing where it lays. And yes I agree for whatever reason power cords do *sound* different. That is the ones that are good enough that I can discern a difference. I can't note too much difference at the lower end of the spectrum but as you move up it sure is evident. Lower noise floor and improved detail. I am of the opinion of Tom Nice, that more of the signal is coming through on the better cords and the RFI and nasties are filtered out by various means (dark matter?). End result, a quieter background leading to improved dynamics of the music and more inner detail is revealed, lifting another veil and getting closer to the recording. Are we at neutral yet?