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How may a simple "Power Cable" change, improve an audio system?

How? How can just a power cable change improve the sound of ANYTHING? 
  Damned if I know. I have my own theories. But as of right now they are very simply just that, "Theories".
And I am a skeptic on this, "At least to a point". 
  Yes, I believe that;
A new, shiny power cable, simply designed to spec. "According to the NEC". And with basic shielding, twist and good terminations along with appropriate insulation "should" in my mind sound better than the ratty old power cable that came with "whatever component". But that's not always the case in my experience. Sometimes the new power cable seems to make no difference at all. And beyond that? I simply know that it "can" be an improvement.
  I do understand that many here believe that anything to do with, "High-end Power Cabling" is just, "Snake Oil" for sale. I used to think the same. But things like this that I am about to report to you just keep happening to me....
  Last Saturday at 7:00pm I was at the "Capital Audiofest" in Washington D.C. And that evening there had been arranged a bit of music "Live", for those of us that were still there at 9:00pm (I "think", it had been a long day)..  I happened to walk in early as the band was just doodling around after just setting up for the gig. They sounded really good and I decided to just hang-out until they played. as the band was going through the set-up and about fifteen of us on-lookers were just talking amongst ourselves between practice songs. A fellow whom I do not know stuck his "head" in the room and yelled someone's name. The bands leader stopped and looked around. The "Head", said; "Plug your amp in with this and it will sound better"! The "Head", then disappeared as quickly at it had appeared, never to be seen again!, "By me at least".
 There were a few scoff's that I heard. A few chuckles about a power cable, "Making an amp sound better"!?
  Then the band leader shrugged his shoulders. He laughed a bit too as he remarked and joked, "Well ok then, A power cable that will make my amp sound better huh"!? He then bent and swapped out the old cable for the "New" one.
     The band leader then played what sounded like the beginning of a song for about 5 seconds. He stopped, "With a bewildered look on his face and looked around as if confused" and then began playing again. After another ten seconds or so he stopped playing again. He looked around the room "Again", with a questioning look on his face. In fact I noticed several people with odd looks. A  couple of them looked simply, "Dumbstruck". A few others had smiles. But honestly? The bandmates looked mainly confused! Then everyone seemed to chime in at once. "Sounds great!", "Sounds better", I heard among other comments but all seemed positive. 
And I have to admit, there was a difference. To me? Not a small or slight difference. A absolutely HUGE difference! Both more open and dynamic it had sounded. Larger and more alive, with more detail too! 
And I have to say, as I "was" sitting right there in the second row about twenty feet from his amp. NOTHING had been changed except for the cable, A two second cable change on the rear of the amp. That was all!
    The band seemed to be having difficulty with this. For about five seconds! Then someone tried to basically tell them that "Yes, The power cable can indeed make you sound better". 
Just as the, "Head", had said!
And the band played on!
 Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Even I was very surprised that the small, "Maybe a 10 watt amp with a ten inch driver". Could have such a major improvement with JUST a power cable change. I never did find out what the power cable make or model was but I will. I talked to the band leader dude and offered to send him a IEC inlet of good quality as he promised me he would swap that out on his amp and let me know of any differences there "If any".
            Thanks in advance for all whom respond!
128x128jollygreenaudiophile2
williewonka
3,082 posts
 
@ypingping - re:...

I ask you before why your favorite KLEI use Neutrik XLRs for new cable and these are brass based with nickel

To start with - they are NOT my favourite XLR’s
- since I have no components with XLR I have not had time to fully research them, but...
- I am aware of some great silver plated copper XLR connectors
- here’s one
https://www.takefiveaudio.com/products/602-xhadow-male-xlr-deep-cryo-treated/

FOR THE RECORD: as stated in responses to your previous "mis-informed posts" - I CAN confirm that the Neutrik XLR plugs made specifically for KLE Innovations are not simply brass base with nickel plating.
- But I have been asked not to divulge the materials - so it remains "a mystery" until such a time when KLE Innovations decides to disclose it.

So as usual - your are misinformed OR you simply like to "get your jollies" by continueing to spread FUD - i.e. Fear Uncertainty and Doubt, about KLE Innovations products as you have done in the past.

Signing off - Steve


jollygreenaudiophile2's avatar
jollygreenaudiophile2 OP
275 posts
 
Please excuse my absence from this thread. I kind of thought a bit of time to let it, "Percolate", (If you will), -would be nice. Of course this lets my own thoughts rattle around the in, Ye 'ole noggin, as well.. 
  By the way, 
These "Silver Net" connectors for XLR, in particular are my current favorite XLR connector. I fell in love with them a few years ago.
 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32986949864.html
 I experimented a bit using these for speaker cabling actually. From an active crossover network to amp. Then to speaker. This in a few speaker "System", designs. And with excellent results. The problem with XLR is always the "Means of termination". I am sick of "Solder" regardless of the materials used. It is always a substandard termination and always tests-out as such.
  
Steve-"Willie"- Abrupt transients in a waveform.  "And I almost, Plagiarized,a bit here", But this is a part from a "DSP.com" paper with an edit by myself.
     A reliable transient detector is needed. This can raise deep questions regarding what a transient really is; for example, not everyone will notice every transient as a transient, and so perceptual modeling gets involved. 
 "Both intellectually defined after physically experiencing it. AND by utilizing instrumentation to seek, find and analyze as well. But when using mechanical means only? Missing a transient, e.g., in a ride-cymbal analysis, can create highly audible artifacts and you "may", miss the point entirely. But it's hard to adapt to using both ways with the transients at once. 
   I add this because this seems to be one of the "Holy Grail" for cabling to define first and then to fully address as "Part" of a cabling solution.
 The,  "Abrupt Transient Detector", I need one. But not just coding.
    Any Idea's?
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
@jollygreenaudiophile2
Did you ever manage to discover the brand and model of the power cable the "Head" appearing in the room gave the band?

@williewonka so I guess it's you I have to thank for the helix shaped connections I put inside my amplifier? I just used cat 5 solid cable to jumper from the back of my XLR inputs to the solder joints in my DB25 output, to pass signal to the outside of my power amp. Then two resistors and a 1:1 tranformer to the RCA output to my sub. I'd love to discuss rewiring my input stage to the internal PCBs in my amplifier, if you don't mind?

Oh, and williewonka, I use a multimeter regularly at work, and I do find a bit of clamping force of the terminals to the conductors give me a better reading, the meter isn't changing values, it becomes stable. This tends to make me believe that clamping of the conductor, as in mechanical connections absolutely make a difference.
b4icu's avatar
b4icu
558 posts
 
It can make a change in your feelings...
Let's say you was kind enough to pay for a power cable US $ 1,000.-
That's a lot of money for a power cable. US $ 5,000.- is even more.
Let's stay with the $ 1,000.- cable.
So you paid for it, connected it and: Nothing changed.
The sales guy will claim that it needs a burn in of 500 hours min.
You might claim, to avoid the cognitive dissonance that after some time it sounds better (as if you would remember a sound you have hurd 4 weeks ago and tell the minutes of variation (if any).
But if you really would like to gave only the feeling, without the burn in BS, you can take US $ 1,000.- drop it in the toilet and splash it down the drain.
The feeling will be identical.
Don't flash the cable, it may club your toilet!

jollygreenaudiophile2's avatar
jollygreenaudiophile2 OP
275 posts
 
Unfortunately the "head" has never replied to the email he provided to me for further correspondence. I did go ahead and purchase two different models from "Pangea" but neither cable impressed me much. I will say after getting a bit frustrated one evening..... I ordered several from different companies. Far and away the best I have currently found wasn't that expensive as far as these things go at $165 from an Amazon vendor.
 That cable was the "Shunyata Research" ,"Venom" power cable.
 Most of the power cabling I purchased is now used around the home for my printers, computers and what-not as I heard either no difference or the change it brought too miniscule to really matter. "Change is not always good"!
I will say that I did also try a Shunyata Venom USB, ($90, Amazon), and liked that over the Pangea USB cable I had been using for my DAC. "The one which separates the power and signal at about $150".
Wireworld......I had high expectations. But all of their offerings? Left me simply wondering how they have gotten good reviews from anyone, "I feel this way about "Audioquest" cabling as well. I ordered several power, USB and RCA interconnects from Wireworld. I ordered at first their "Second Tier" products. Then their "Flagship" line. Not impressed at all.
I have some older "Moon Audio" power cables which I do like also. I believe the fellow there whom developed them worked for a time with an old "Cabling Legend" or so I have heard and builds an interesting mix of cabling with varied properties.
Of course everything I buy is going up against what I design and build. But at this time I really am only happy with my speaker cabling and RCA interconnects. Some I don't work with like USB or haven't had much luck with like XLR. "And I have spent a ton of time and money on those XLR's"!!  Someday...........
Hopefully AXPONA and other audio shows will be up and running again soon and I'll find that elusive, disembodied "Head"......And find that damned cable!
And too bad also that I made a "kit" up to send him for free. He plays the "Strat". I have a kit for those. Including a gold plated RCA angled inlet,  made specifically for the Strat with 12Awg silver wiring harness plus 1/4 RCA cable and patch cords.
Just in case anyone knows of the "Anacostia Blues band" and their lead singer/guitar player. "I think that was their name". They said they had "Disbanded" a few years ago but got together again just for this show.
Great band!
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