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Blind Power Cord Test & results

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity teamed up with the Bay Area Audiophile Society (BAAS) to conduct a blind AC power cord test. Here is the url:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/feature-article-blind-test-power-cords-12-2004.html

I suppose you can interpret these results to your follow your own point of view, but to me they reinforce my thoughts that aftermarket AC cords are "audiophile snakeoil"
maximum_analog
dragon1952
181 posts
 
QUOTESorry for my rant here, but you guys kill me with the lack of links. The directions on how to post a link is found directly under the data input area and is labeled blah, blah, blaQUOTE

I know.....cut and paste is just soooo hard and soooo beneath us audio snobs!
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Albertporter...I don't want to get mixed up with the power cord thing, but perhaps you could explain why you think (pronounce actually) that, in general, a long term listening comparison is better than a quick A/B. In my experience long term comparisons become very subjective, so that it is easy to "hear" differences that don't really exist.

I agree that long term listening is the best way to determine if you really like the sound, but, to detect changes, I think that the quick A/B is best.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
For my ears there is a very audible difference in power cords. At least from the ones I've heard for long periods of time. I do not understand the data Sean grooves on, but I know it is significant to him as well as other audiophools. For me, it always comes down to my tympanics. I trust them and they never steer me wrong. I also agreee with Albert. Short listening experiences (at least for me, depending of course on what I'm listening to) are poor justification to come to a sound conclusion. Longer listening periods are the deal. What sounds wonderful to me at first, over the longer audio haul, does not always hold up, especially after listening to oodles of music. I heard the differences immediately when I upgraded my ICs and power cords, but those differences may not have held up after longer listening. In this case, they did. It is hard not to be influenced by ads, other audiophools, and the stereo rags. Over time, however, the ole ears will hear the truth. peace, warren
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Albertporter...I don't want to get mixed up with the power cord thing, but perhaps you could explain why you think (pronounce actually) that, in general, a long term listening comparison is better than a quick A or B. In my experience long term comparisons become very subjective, so that it is easy to "hear" differences that don't really exist.

I agree that long term listening is the best way to determine if you really like the sound, but, to detect changes, I think that the quick A or B is best.

I think people are under too much pressure to make a decision when confronted with A or B. Why should a change in your audio system be based on a decision made in 10 seconds or less?

Have you not ever made a decision too quickly and later regretted it?

If you are truly able to tell what makes you happy in that quick a comparison, I wish I had hung out with you in college. You could have helped keep me out of decisions I made, particularly with women.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I think we are confusing CHANGE with QUALITY. Change is quickly detected although it may take a while to decide if the change is an improvement or a degradation. I agree that it takes years to properly evaluate a woman, but I can usually tell in a few seconds which one I want to approach.
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