2. cables
  3. 158719-134614

... 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
vk_onfilter
22 posts
 
To add to discussion on power cables: no comments on audio quality - it is in the "ear of beholder," but just to point out how the cables heat up.  We burn in 100% of our AC EMI filters and we take FLIR images in near-infrared spectrum - if you are interested, here are couple of them that I put on our web site:  https://www.onfilter.com/cable-temperature  They get pretty toasty.  Whether this heating affects audio quality is a subject to a separate discussion.  The objective notes are that whenever you see higher-than-desirable temperature, there is an insertion resistance affecting output impedance of power line and, perhaps, some fluctuation of supply voltage with the load current on the receptacle.  The cables we use are industrial grade; if you are using thinner cables and/or consumer-grade plugs/outlets, the thermal effect is likely to be much higher.

If you are interested to repeat these experiments, we use FLIR'  One Pro (https://www.flir.com/products/flir-one-pro-lt?model=435-0013-03) - no endorsements, this is just what we use.  Fluke also offers similar products.
madcow
42 posts
 
It’s the quality of the juice entering the amp that counts and not the quantity. A right gauge cable can take care of the quantity.  But material purity, metallurgical structural and shield from external interferences define the sound. When I used the stock cable that came with the amp the sound was good except the highs were a little edgy. I switched it with Perfect Wave AC 10 and the edgy sound was gone but it took away too much high, so much so that the sound became dull and unlistenable. I got the same dull sound when I used the AC 10 with the streamer and power conditioner. But it worked just fine when I used it with the dac. So synergy between cables and equipment does matter.
Again my 2 cents.
b4icu's avatar
b4icu
558 posts
 
Let me understand:
The power cord is the last 1.5m of a power line way longer, as house power wiring, back to the power transformer etcw.
Those lines by nature are way longer than 1.5m (6ft.).
The thought that there is something wrong with the power cable, but the rest of the line is ok, or by having that last 1.5m would do, and the rest is of no importance, is naive.

Power. by nature, has a very low impedance, Audio is not a large consumer (A/C, oven or 3 phase power).
All the fuss is more of the sales guys wanting to sale, than us need the product.
There is really nothing in a power cord to justify spending the price asked.
A simple cable would do the same job.

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Ah yes, the voice of ignorance. Clearly a man who knows not of which he speaks. 

All the fuss is more of the sales guys wanting to sale, than us need the product.

That is just plain embarrassing. Too late enow to edit. Your only choice is remove it, or leave it there for the world to see. 
madcow
42 posts
 
It does not matter how filthy the river is for as long as the water is cleaned before entering our bodies. Similarly, it does not matter how noisy the signal is upstream of the wall outlets for as long as the signal is cleaned before entering the amp. This is where the power conditioner and better quality PC come in.
More to discover