As a mature engineer, vintage component lover, and a recent member of Audiogon - I am very skeptical about the actual benefits of the host of fancy, expensive power and speaker cords out there. The first thing I notice about the ads and write ups for these devices is the lack of any hard technical performance data - such as improvements in distortion, frequency response, damping factor and noise levels.
I realize that technical performance specs do not tell the "whole story" in evaluating great, natural sound - but a technical explanation of how a particular power or speaker cable actually works to produce better sound over a "stock" unshielded cable is almost always lacking. Instead, there are elaborate descriptions and diagrams of cable construction and materials - purely subjective evaluations of the resulting sonic improvement - and glowing praise for the expertise of the cable "designer".
As an example, I am the proud owner of a highly coveted Marantz Model 7 tube preamplifier, which was originally fitted by Marantz with a heavy, but otherwise standard power cable. I cannot imagine how the impeccable performance of this unit could possibly be degraded by the absence of a "high end" power cord.
The "Instruction Manual" for my Model 7, written by Marantz engineers Sid Smith and Dick Sequerra, states the following: "Ordinary 18 gauge lamp cord may be used for connection between an amplifier and loudspeaker if the distance is short. If more than 25 or 30 feet is required, it would be advisable to use a heavier gauge to reduce power loss and damping factor deterioration".
So my question to you all is simply this: If some of the best audio designers in history were completely satisfied with using "ordinary" power and speaker cables with their superlative equipment - why are we now becoming obsessed with all these "bells and whistles" cables - and spending many thousands of dollars for them? Don't we need more hard "scientific" data explaining what actually makes these "fancy" cables sound "better"? I personally, will stick by the recommendations of Mr. Smith and Mr. Sequerra!
I realize that technical performance specs do not tell the "whole story" in evaluating great, natural sound - but a technical explanation of how a particular power or speaker cable actually works to produce better sound over a "stock" unshielded cable is almost always lacking. Instead, there are elaborate descriptions and diagrams of cable construction and materials - purely subjective evaluations of the resulting sonic improvement - and glowing praise for the expertise of the cable "designer".
As an example, I am the proud owner of a highly coveted Marantz Model 7 tube preamplifier, which was originally fitted by Marantz with a heavy, but otherwise standard power cable. I cannot imagine how the impeccable performance of this unit could possibly be degraded by the absence of a "high end" power cord.
The "Instruction Manual" for my Model 7, written by Marantz engineers Sid Smith and Dick Sequerra, states the following: "Ordinary 18 gauge lamp cord may be used for connection between an amplifier and loudspeaker if the distance is short. If more than 25 or 30 feet is required, it would be advisable to use a heavier gauge to reduce power loss and damping factor deterioration".
So my question to you all is simply this: If some of the best audio designers in history were completely satisfied with using "ordinary" power and speaker cables with their superlative equipment - why are we now becoming obsessed with all these "bells and whistles" cables - and spending many thousands of dollars for them? Don't we need more hard "scientific" data explaining what actually makes these "fancy" cables sound "better"? I personally, will stick by the recommendations of Mr. Smith and Mr. Sequerra!
