Why do I need power management if I have a great power cord?

@raysmtb1 Thanks. So there's you, your friends plus I guess others with your conclusions. Then there are thousands who testify to a difference. Shall we call it a draw and agree that it's important for people to test it out for themselves? You did that and have reached a justified conclusion...for your ears, setup, etc.

@raysmtb1

Sorry, you are conflating issues. First of all, yes, you are right, one of the major improvements in components is how it address power. This is one of the keys to great sounding components… correct. But the more the more better. For instance, I added a $9,000 power supply to a $9,000 DAC (Sim Moon. 650D adding the 820 dedicated power supply)… big difference. This is why flagship components are frequently two box components, with one remote box dedicated to just the power supply. 

A really good power conditioner, and direct lines I have put in have significantly improved my sound quality above that.

A power amp has different requirements. It needs unconstricted current or it is going to loose dynamics. So, most of us with high end systems use a direct line to the amplifier with no power conditioner and use a power conditioner for our other components… lowering the noise floor… by the way, something you do not hear directly. It takes experience to understand what a noise floor “sounds like”… you don’t hear it. It is the blackness in the background.. the comforting silence that makes you relax and fall into the comfort of nothing.

You could throw dedicated circuits into the mix too. When I listen to my Mcintosh 611 mono blocks the meters usually say that they’re drawing around 6 W each which is plenty loud. I’m not a scientist but if you do the math for watts to amps that means that the amp is only drawing .5 amps each. Combined, those two giant looking amplifiers are only using around 1 amp out of the 20 A available on a dedicated circuit. Actually, you’re only supposed to use around 15 A out of the available 20. So that means that you have 14 A of electricity left to use before you even come close to using up the available power. Many of these amplifiers today are made to look mean and power-hungry because that’s what sells. 

Thank you for the explanation of the noise floor. I really didn’t sign on to audio Gon tonight looking for a beef. I guess some of you guys are hearing something, I tried to hear it and spent a bunch of money in the process and nothing.… I wish it did work for me because I’ve got the time and the money and I would go all in if I did.

 I’m not trying to change anyone I’m only trying to be a voice for the new people that stumble onto some of this craziness. Good night, enjoy the music.

@raysmtb1

There is an amazing amount to highend audio. I am a scientist, trained and worked for a living as one for over ten years, before graduate school. I quickly realized there were too many variables to account for what is any of what I heard as easily, explainable by easily with a few variables. In the last forty years of working with engineers constructing leading edge audio equipment and spending thousands of hours evaluating components and the nuances of the effect of components, interconnects, and tweaks I have learned a lot.

High end audio is a very complex endeavor… full of ambiguity and complexity. I am doing my best to coach those new to the endeavor to take the shortest path to what they are trying to achieve… assuming that is outstandingly satisfying sound quality. So, I try to educate folks on the nuances as best I can. Sources like The Absolute Sound, Stereophile can be really helpful… perhaps the best source as a starting point is Robert Harley’s The Compete Guide to the High End. This really lays out the basics of high end audio.

I appreciate your interest in sharing your observations and interest. It is a great and rewarding pursuit.