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Why Power Cables Affect Sound

I just bought a new CD player and was underwhelmed with it compared to my cheaper, lower quality CD player. That’s when it hit me that my cheaper CD player is using an upgraded power cable. When I put an upgraded power cable on my new CD player, the sound was instantly transformed: the treble was tamed, the music was more dynamic and lifelike, and overall more musical. 

This got me thinking as to how in the world a power cable can affect sound. I want to hear all of your ideas. Here’s one of my ideas:

I have heard from many sources that a good power cable is made of multiple gauge conductors from large gauge to small gauge. The electrons in a power cable are like a train with each electron acting as a train car. When a treble note is played, for example, the small gauge wires can react quickly because that “train” has much less mass than a large gauge conductor. If you only had one large gauge conductor, you would need to accelerate a very large train for a small, quick treble note, and this leads to poor dynamics. A similar analogy might be water in a pipe. A small pipe can react much quicker to higher frequencies than a large pipe due to the decreased mass/momentum of the water in the pipe. 

That’s one of my ideas. Now I want to hear your thoughts and have a general discussion of why power cables matter. 

If you don’t think power cables matter at all, please refrain from derailing the conversation with antagonism. There a time and place for that but not in this thread please. 
128x128mkgus
prof
3,474 posts
 
mrdecibel

and the requirements CJ needs to " get the job done "


Which would be: that their products sound great.

And somehow they've managed that over the years without adding boutique AC cables.


Note that CJ products have garnered great reviews through the many years where reviewers were simply using them with the supplied AC cables.

Most Conrad J. products have had hard-wired AC cables.  They aren't going to seriously hobble their own expensive equipment by choosing the wrong AC cable.  (I seem to remember an interview with one of the CJ guys saying they felt all told hard wiring the cord in was the better route to go, even though audiophiles like to play with cables, but it appears they conceded to the cable crowd in *some* of their later designs).
It's your money if you want to give it to the expensive AC cable market.But, sorry, the "I'm sure I heard  a difference" anecdotes fall well short of that SHOULD be able to be provided as evidence for these products, if they were really altering the signal.



miketheguy
1 posts
 
This thread is quite interesting and has many posts with a variety of opinion, theories, pseudo science regarding electrons, and marketing material regurgitation. Also some good advice, reflection, and reputable electrical science.

I believe cables do make some difference.

They cannot compensate for or correct most electrical utility problems - how can the composition of 6 feet of wire reconstruct perfect 120 volt 60 Hz electricity after its being distorted and affected over hundreds of miles from the generating facility, utility switchgear, local industry and transformers, neighbors with unusual electrical loads, possible poor grounding bonds in the home service panel, and the cheap 14 gauge wire and 25 cent receptacles in typical modern homes.

A power cable with good conductors and contact, sufficient wire gauge, and excellent shielding can however maintain voltage level and keep the power from being corrupted by EMI/RFI at its most vulnerable - the lowest voltage end of the line state.

It is a question of not allowing it to get any worse from the wall to the component. If you are also using a good conditioner or regenerator, then the PC from there to your component is many multiples more important as you are removing many other potential effects and keeping the AC pure is far more possible.

Good conductors of sufficient gauge, good contact surfaces, excellent shielding. That will make a difference.






analogluvr
859 posts
 
I think people would be further ahead to get rid of the stupid IEC and hardwire a decent gauge cord in instead of spending big bucks on some silly overpriced well marketed crap. 
mrdecibel
3,065 posts
 
Again, after the last post from prof and analogluvr, they are simply missing out on the fact that " after market power cables " make a difference, and generally, improvements. So, while I am enjoying these improvements in sq in my listening, they are still battling it. I have no problem with it. It is the loss of the naysayers. I did mention somewhere to prof, that I changed out, via hardwire, from the cords that were on a pair of the exact CJ amps he owns, with that of a heavier gauge, and supposedly, better quality cable. Even if it was simply the gauge of the wire, the audible improvements in sq were immediately obvious, to not just myself, or even the owner of the amps, but other listeners who were at that particular get together. Enjoy ! MrD.
prof
3,474 posts
 

So, while I am enjoying these improvements in sq in my listening, they are still battling it. 

Or, an alternative possibility is that you have wasted money on a product whose performance was oversold to you. 

And we are getting just as great results without wasting money.(Remember: I've tried well regarded power cables).

It is the loss of the naysayers.


The people who chase better AC cables never consider that, if they are wrong, they are throwing away time and money fretting about and buying expensive AC cables.


I know: that's a possibility you refuse to consider.   ;-)

(Reminds me of the audiophile version of that old fallacy, Pascal's Wager...)
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