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  3. 169085-1635

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
thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
@holmz dude: breaking news to you: plenty of online shopping sites. Including the Cable Co. to try some cables. Do you have Internet? Obviously since you are WINNING the forums here. Credit card then?

There are literally no shops within 1000 miles.
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
Thanks @thyname I am in fact awaiting an order to arrive, which was placed 6-8 weeks ago.
I’ll probably get some Furutech ends for the wall and the inlet, and some RF chokes to put on the cord.

I probably need to borrow an o-scope. If you fellows are hearing things, then if it is real I would be able to see something removed.
However I could be in an area with less noise on the power. Or maybe my amp and preamp are more immune to it? Or maybe I am just lucky with how the system is grounded and wired? 
There has to be some reason why certain people find these things work, and others don’t. That seems pretty interesting.
Maybe the incandescent lights and not using LED dimmers is helping me?

What do you think? Could it be environmental differences?
jerryg123's avatar
jerryg123
3,429 posts
 
@arcticdeth I am with you.

Take your hard earned money and buy more music, or speakers, cartridges, new CD player, or dac.
don’t waste your money on a 2 foot shielded cable.

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 
I don’t know my man. Sherlock Holmes. I just use plain old fashion ears. Put it on. Listen. Repeat.

While you are at it, buy a $25,000 audio Precission equipment. Or a Null Tester from Ethan. Whatever turns you on. Or read stuff people with AP post in the Internet. Whatever makes you happy
femoore12's avatar
femoore12
683 posts
 
For what it’s worth, I was firmly in the “how can cables make a difference” camp before I started trying different versions 6 months ago. A friend of mine who has an amazing system talked me into giving it a try. He told me to look at all the cables as a single component in the system.

Now the changes are not earth shattering, but it really has improved what is coming out of my speakers. My wife and my son both asked if I did something different with my system after making the changes. Are these changes measurable on a spectrum analyzer or an oscilloscope? I have no idea. Is it confirmation bias on my part? I thought that was a possibility until I had two people who knew nothing about these changes asked if something was different with the system.

If you have the flexibility to try different cables with your system I would do it. What do you have to loose?
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