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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
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
analogluvr,
" The nerve of him!  He probably doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about!  And neither do all the science based individuals who study confirmation bias."

I disagree & suspect they are all very smart people, just ignorant in this regard. 

"Just trust your ears 🙄"

Will do / Thanks!
erik_squires
16,300 posts
 
If you visit the Cable Asylum forum you can read where many members build their own DIY power cords. You don't have to spend a fortune for a good power cord.


@jea45
I think if you care, this is a great idea! :)

I move stuff around far too often. I can't see myself making the perfect power cord that I would use for long, but DIY is the smartest approach I think.
erik_squires
16,300 posts
 
I remember reading an article where John Curl said he would spec a certain grade of components, for a piece of Parasound audio equipment he designed, only to be overruled the owners of the company saying it would make the price of the piece of equipment to high and price it out of the market competition.

I have read this before, and I feel it is unnecessary sour grapes.

I mean, sure, we all dream of cost is no object for all the gear we buy, or might envision, but the reality is that all engineers face cost / performance challenges. How they solve them is the mark of the very best engineers.

I like Paraound, I think the Halo line provides excellent value for money. Would I buy an A21 or A23 if it was 2x the cost? Probably not.
What would be interesting to me is to hear the difference. That is, what would a JC spec A21 sound like vs. what was produced. Would we hear it? Would we be willing to pay the price for the differences? That would absolutely be interesting.

Best,
E

Post removed 
mrdecibel
3,065 posts
 
Not that anyone cares, but I will no longer be responding to any naysayer comments. It is obvious to me, that I, and others here, have a greater degree / ability to hear certain things, and it is a waste of my time and energy to indulge in any more of this nonsense and immaturity. I wish everyone here, and yes everyone, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Healthy New Year. And again, those that have not  "tried " to listen, do not, imo, belong on a high end audio forum, such as Audiogon, as it is still all about the " listening ". Always, and Enjoy ! MrD.
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