2. cables
  3. 141153-122613

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. 
mkgus
Post removed 
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@elizabeth

I would like any possible explanation on how a power cord can extend treble response.

Indeed, if it sounds better to you, go for it. Just keep in mind it’s all placebo.

Here’s a recent news article on that even if knowing something is a placebo, it still works, which covers the bases for those people saying they never believed in it before, but now do. If sugar pills can legit cure illnesses, you can bet it can make you think the bass is better.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,226 posts
 
I can't believe you're bringing up placebo. That dog won't hunt. Anyone who falls for placebo won't, in the long run. Patients will eventually take a turn for the worse, and/or die. 

Anyone who's tricked into hearing something will shortly right their hearing after the "test" is over. It's not permanent. That's why it's a cheap parlor trick. That, and it goes both ways: those who refuse to believe they won't hear something won't. They'll just fall back on their math, manual, and cite others, sometimes because they simply can't hear all that well, or they have an agenda.

All the best,
Nonoise
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
@nonoise

We are talking electrical differences by using a “better” power cord, if such a thing worked, the output of the device would be different. I won’t even argue audible differences, if anyone can show measured differences between power cords, I’d like to see it.

Here’s some measurements of USB cables, note that after the DAC their performances can be treated as identical, but it clearly shows that you can have lower or higher jitter before the DAC. Although, the differences are with length and not generic vs audiophile-grade.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,226 posts
 
@mzkmxcv,

I think mrdecibel is right, you're simply trolling, or proselytizing (which is as bad), trying your best to convert those who know better. We can hear the difference and don't need saving.

That, and it's funny how you end a lot of your proclamations with "I'd like to see it" and not, I'd like to hear it. What's up with that?

All the best,
Nonoise
More to discover