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... abit confused: how does a power cord affect the presentation of sound...

Hello to all...

I was shifting around components in my system, trying to squeeze out better controlled bass, more definition within the soundstage, and better define the "voice/midrange" presentation...

I presently have a tube preamp (hardwired with a wall wart) into an HT Receiver; source is a Marantz SA-8001 CD Player

Swapped out a Yamaha HTR -5550 (hardwired) for a Parasound HCA-750A (which needs a power cord).

CD Player is powered with a PS Audio Statement SC power cord, so I went in my closet and pulled out another PS AUDIO Statement SC power cord, hooked it up and expect to give it at least 5 days continuous re-break-in before serious listening.

Took a minute to lookup reviews about this power cord - and I read some rather confusing reviews: some luved 'um, some liked 'um, but some thought them " ...slow... " (?), and giving a veiled presentation...

I'm gonna listen and decide myself - but I'm abit confused: how does a power cord affect the presentation of sound - I know that interconnects and speaker cables would/could/Do affect sound presentation - but how could a power cord?

Explanation/thoughts please...
insearchofprat
firedrums
84 posts
 
Hello
i didn’t read everyone’s post but I would agree with starting with clean power : independent power aka home runs if possible with good quality wall outlets ( I use the porter ports )

CABLES make a difference BUT that doesn’t automatically mean that the sound will be better or and more importantly that you will enjoy the sound better.  Some experimentation is needed !
 I approach a cable from the perspective of not wanting it... So in it goes and then I’ll listen with music that I’m very familiar with and usually I can tell immediately if it’s something I might want.  I will give it a chance and let my ears adjust but again I hoping I won’t like and then won’t need to buy it...
If you are struggling to hear a difference then effectively there’s no difference. And sometimes a cable will effect the sound that makes somethings better and some things worse - like more detail at the expense of some musicality etc.  It always boils down to what YOU Like. 
BUT Then every once in a while you try something and your jaw drops...Those OMG Moments when the improvement is so significant that you won’t want to take the cable out.

Having said all that 

I wouldn’t expect cabling to be as significant as a component change.  You mentioned using a HT Receiver as a power amp with a separate pre
Receiver’s are amazing in all they accomplish in one box BUT there not really designed to be used that way.  And it’s very difficult to get a HT system to be as good as a separate 2 channel system for music.

But that is a different discussion...

Bottom line
Cables make a difference / Trust your ears and your taste !!  Don’t fall into the trap of using cables to correct a mismatch or something like that.  Experiment !! And hopefully get to a place where you won’t feel the need to experiment...............    at least for a while lol



rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
271 posts
 
It seems crazy that after spending a few thousand on a component that comes with a stock power cord that spending another thousand on 5 or 6 feet of power cord can make the component that much better but it does.  Unfortunately my experience is that the more you spend on power cords the more you get back.  I have been using Wywires Platinum cords and am amazed at how much better the music sounds.  I have their digital cords for my DAC and Music Server and they make a difference over their regular power cords for those components.  They have 40 % off sales several times a year at CableCo or direct online.  
If you are going to start with one component start with a source or at least the pre-amp.  The amplifier can't sound any better than the signal it is getting.
phd
1,314 posts
 
Andy2, my deepest apologies, I got it wrong and I was in error, I feel bad! I now see that your not trolling any one, you never did!  You are one of the good guys and an asset to this community This is what I have to say:
djones51, it is you that is trolling!, there is nothing in my original post that suggest that I've deliberately provoked any one. but you have in your last post!
decathlon1991
220 posts
 

A lot of what is said is mostly true about not needing a 6k power cord with an exception of a couple of things. This is my take from competing in Car Audio Competition and from speaking to my best friend who works for Entergy as an engineer. The longer the cable run, the better the gauge needs to be. The only issue related to that is that our power lines every 50' or 100' utilize amplifiers to boost the power. This is why we have a major in-flux of power and AC noise. Hence why people utilize some type of power conditioners. Unfortunately when you use a longer standard cable with your amplifiers, you're asking the power supply in the amplifier to work harder and create more heat which is typically the enemy of sound quality. Shorter cable from the wall is better to reduce that. I'm my Roush Mustang, I use 2 gauge for my power cable to my fuse block  to 4 gauge to my amplifier and for the ground, I use two gauge but only a foot of cable for my McIntosh car audio sound system. In a perfect world a lot of what he said makes sense but unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world. I'd rather support the system in my home VS having to send them off to a repair shop due to power loss which hurts the power supply. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good power cord to help protect your system. It all depends on the length you will need. In another words, how fare your amplifier is from the socket. Most standard power cords are 6 feet long.


jderimig
28 posts
 
^But in your home you probably have 15’ to 40’ of 14 gauge from your electrical box to your outlet. 2’ of 2 gauge from the wall to your amp is doesn’t make up for that 14 ga run.  Its ridiculous actually.
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