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the magic of power cords

We need a bit of magic in our lives. It might be the reason why audiophilia has such traction among people from all walks of life.

The neophyte's skepticism is likely proportional to the level of technical training - the more you think you know, the stronger the conviction that, for example, the power cable business is a sham: "electrons are electrons" and "if the house cabling is bad, why would the last 3 feet matter?". The stronger the conviction, the more humbling the experience of hearing the power cord magic in action.

A few years back a Sophia Electric amp came into my hands with what looked like a generic power cord. The few non-generic cords I tried (Audioquest AC15, Audio Magic XSteam, Shunyata Research Diamondback) made a significant difference for the worse. The thin, black, generic-looking original cable allowed for a clarity and definition of voice and instruments that got totally washed out with the aftermarket cables. A night-and-day difference. No doubt - the power cord made a huge difference - but not in the expected direction. The Audioquest AC15 was particularly bad.

For awhile, I kept trying them around on all incoming equipment (be it DACs, preamps or amps). The AC15 sounded so bad every time that after awhile I wasn't even trying it out.

Many years and few amps later - something seemed not quite right with the presentation of my KAV-300i: slightly dull upper bass. Power cord: Zu Birth. Finally (after multiple interconnects and few speaker cable swaps) I pull out the power cord stash (same as above). This time around the AC15 was the great surprise: it allowed for clarity and macro dynamics well above the others.

What do I learn? Nothing, really. When is shielding important? When is gauge? How about the conductor or the insulation? How come there isn't one "best" design?

The magic continues.
cbozdog
ptss
1,964 posts
 
You r right.. Power cords r magic--thank goodness ..
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
When you use the best brands on the market and you use it right. Cables are very convincing. The problem is that far over 95% what is on the market is average or even poor. There is more shit on the market and that is what it makes it less convincing. That is the reason I only sell the best in every single price tag. It is that simple! So keep it simple and clear!
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
04-15-14: Bo1972
That is the reason I only sell the best in every single price tag.

Wow, how rare is that? A dealer who sells only the best at every single price point.....hmmmmmm. ;^)
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
I sell a 3 dimensional sound. My way of roomacoustic measurement is a very important part in the succes.

Onkyo is the most cheap brand who can give a deep and wide stage in the lower price tag. I sold brands like: Marantz, Denon, Cambridge, NAD, Arcam for many years. Those ar what I call 2 dimensional brands. When you use these with speakers who can give a deep and wide stage there is almost no depth compared to Onkyo ( Integra)

I only work with Onkyo, Primare and Pass Labs.

cables: only Audioquest, Kimber and Purist Audio

Same story for Monitor Audio. Compare these speakers with Kef, Dynaudio, B&W, Focal etc in the lower price range and you will hear the same difference in depth and wide when you use a 3 Dimensional amp. Stage is also superior in sharpness for individual focus.

Same story about cables.

In the last 6 months I sold about 70% of all the stock of the distributer for Olive in my country. They had very low prices. So I did win every single battle against other streamers of other shops.

Always create a higher level in endresult compared to my competitors. That is how I work. I always want to win. Hearing is believing. That is why sound counts at the end. It is that simple!

I have to admit that the knowledge and insight of other people who work in this business is a lot lower compared to mine. This makes it a lot easier. I am Always testing and improving my knowledge and insight in sound. I test new systems etc. Most people are very lazy in my country, they do nothing to improve there knowledge anymore.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
If component sounds already good with stock powercord, it will be very hard to hear differences. With aftermarket one it will also sound good.
That is why sound counts at the end. It is that simple!
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