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If Power Cords Don't Matter...

First of all, I don’t own any high-end power cords, mostly because I can’t fit them behind my rack. Second, I am not trying to stir up controversy, as you will see from my question. I understand that the people who believe power cords make no difference argue that once the power gets into the component, the AC is converted to DC and the power supply of the component takes over completely. I think I have that right for the most part. So it that’s true, and it probably is from a traditional EE standpoint, why is it that I have not heard anyone say that power conditioners make no difference? I am not aware of anyone with a decent system ever saying that a Niagara or Triton or Audience teflon conditioner didn’t affect their sound, for good or for bad. So if the EE theory is true, wouldn’t power conditioners make no difference either? I have an Audience AR6T for almost 10 years and I think it made a big difference. BTW - I am not talking about Power Plants, which deal with voltage stabilization, which is a different topic.  Obviously, if your AC voltage is way off, it's going to cause problems.  
chayro
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
I just let my dealer talk me into $3,500 of Synergistic Research speaker cables and power cords, so you believers better be right!

Report please.
yuviarora's avatar
yuviarora
537 posts
 
You can build your own power cords for pretty cheap. 
Get some 20 gauge soft copper  wire, and use 6 lengths, 6x20gauge per conductor. 
6  wires for hot, 6 for neutral, and 6 for ground...all braided, 18  wires total. And you have a fantastic Litz style construction, that  will sound about as good as anything else out there. 
DIY is the best  way to try different styles. 
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
And you have a fantastic Litz style construction

Does one even want Linz construction?

I thought for 50 or 60 Hz, and suppressing high frequencies, that more/more capacitance and inductance would be helpful?

(For speaker cables I can see it.)
yuviarora's avatar
yuviarora
537 posts
 
I have tried this power cable with 22 gauge and 18 gauge wires as well.
22 gauge sounds etched, treble is piercing and bass is affected. (At least on my system)
18 gauge sounds too thick, treble is attenuated.

I don’t know exactly why this is the case, but 20 gauge is the best, and is the goldilocks zone.
I found it to be very neutral, and has fantastic resolution.
The Litz construction, say over a simple stranded wire, has audibly less distortion.
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
I have tried this power cable with 22 gauge and 18 gauge wires as well.
22 gauge sounds etched, treble is piercing and bass is affected. (At least on my system)
18 gauge sounds too thick, treble is attenuated.

I don’t know exactly why this is the case, but 20 gauge is the best, and is the goldilocks zone.
I found it to be very neutral, and has fantastic resolution.
The Litz construction, say over a simple stranded wire, has audibly less distortion

It seems at odds with how the power supply in the amp could be affected by it, but it is interesting that it was observed.
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