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The Truth About Power Cords and there "Real" Price to Performance

This is a journey through real life experiences from you to everyone that cares to educate themselves. I must admit that I was not a believer in power cords and how they affect sound in your system. I from the camp that believed that the speaker provided 75% of the sound signature then your source then components but never the power cord. Until that magic day I along with another highly acclaimed AudioGoner who I will keep anatomist ran through a few cables in quite a few different systems and was "WOWED" at what I heard. That being said cable I know that I am not the only believer and that is why there are so many power cord/cable companies out there that range from $50 to 20-30 thousand dollars and above. So I like most of you have to scratch my head and ask where do I begin what brand and product and what should i really pay for it?

The purpose of this discussion to get some honest feed back on Price to Performance from you the end user to us here in the community.

Please fire away!


 


128x128blumartini
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
About all I can say is beliefs can oft be very strong and hard to change.
winoguy17
1,088 posts
 
anatomist ?
blumartini's avatar
blumartini OP
224 posts
 
Ok so let me kick this off since we are off to a interesting start!

This is less than a 2-minute read, and I promise you it's worth it.

 

A power cord has two jobs – get electrical current from your outlet to your gear (using conductors and plugs), and keep the signal as clean as possible (using shielding). You could distill it further and simply say, despite what some companies may tell you in their marketing, a power cord conducts electricity. And when it comes to conducting electricity, there are two simple and steadfast rules:

 

1. Larger Gauge = Lower Voltage Drop and Resistance

(more/better current flow – the garden hose vs. fire hose analogy)

&

2. More Insulation/Shielding = Less Interference

(a cleaner signal)


 I believe that a well designed cable simply maintains more of the original signal, allowing the sound of your gear to come through better. Now the real question is what company do you believe really gives the best value to performance?

I believe in Math and Science and what I hear not marketing!


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