Everyone seems to have a story to tell on this subject, as I am sure you are aware. Over the next 12 hours, if this thread runs true to form, we are going to hear them all over again for the umpteenth time. The responses will include at least one who smugly replies that he or she is not about to spend money on this foolishness, since PCs can't possibly make a difference. Then someone else will point out that if you haven't heard you don't have an opinion.
Overall, I am in agreement with your take. One cannot predict when and if a particular PC, regardless of cost or pedigree, will impart an audible difference to a particular component. Trying to get the "best" PC for a particular component in a particular environment, is nearly impossible. One has to know when to say, "Hey, this is probably good enough." Further adding to this complication, Is that adding PCs has an additive effect. If you have some significant RFI/EMI problems, you may not be able to discern a significant difference adding one PC at a time. Its a pretty expensive experiment to replace 6 at a time.
As for me, I was a sceptic until a friend leant me a half dozen of his VH audio AirSines. They completely transformed my system, and over the next few months I put about 4K into new and used AirSines. I've added a couple VooDoos and an Audience since then to components that didn't seem to like the AirSines. I'm pretty satisfied with what I have now.
So what did the PC's do? Stated simply, they took the last vestiges of some high frequency noise out of the system that was apparently contributing to some listener fatigue. In one case, there was a substantial improvement in dynamics. Well worth the cost.
Overall, I am in agreement with your take. One cannot predict when and if a particular PC, regardless of cost or pedigree, will impart an audible difference to a particular component. Trying to get the "best" PC for a particular component in a particular environment, is nearly impossible. One has to know when to say, "Hey, this is probably good enough." Further adding to this complication, Is that adding PCs has an additive effect. If you have some significant RFI/EMI problems, you may not be able to discern a significant difference adding one PC at a time. Its a pretty expensive experiment to replace 6 at a time.
As for me, I was a sceptic until a friend leant me a half dozen of his VH audio AirSines. They completely transformed my system, and over the next few months I put about 4K into new and used AirSines. I've added a couple VooDoos and an Audience since then to components that didn't seem to like the AirSines. I'm pretty satisfied with what I have now.
So what did the PC's do? Stated simply, they took the last vestiges of some high frequency noise out of the system that was apparently contributing to some listener fatigue. In one case, there was a substantial improvement in dynamics. Well worth the cost.