Power Cords - Shielding or No Shielding


I have been researching power cords (PC) this past week and I must say, I find this far more frustrating than researching any other part of the audio system.

It may be a false hope, but I desire to purchase a "generic", if you will, PC that works well everywhere, I can't say now what piece of gear it will be on and even if I did, that piece may change at some point. I suspect some will say that just like other gear plan on changing as necessary; I am hoping not to do so. Anyway, I am getting off topic.

Most PC's I read about have shielding, but Audience claims on their Web site that they do not use any on their PowerChord stating, "The powerChord by audience is not shielded. We have found that shielding power cords can be sonically detrimental." More can be read here.

What is the collective thought on this?

As if the cost of interconnects and speaker cables weren't out of control (IMO), PC's are right there with them. I have already doubled the price I started out to spend and it's going up!
brianmgrarcom

Just received a response back from McIntosh that the MA6900 power cable is unshielded. In their words, "A well designed power supply will not get noise induced into the power cord..."

 In their words, "A well designed power supply will not get noise induced into the power cord..."

 

Shielding is only one aspect of a power cable.  There are improvement that has nothing to do with noise shielding.

 

 

@brianmgrarcom  Hi Brian, We all understand how confusing it all is.

Look just go out and buy a used Cardas cable, it'll get you started and you'll be able to sell it and upgrade without much trouble.

Cardas are widely compatible and will give you great SQ until you really know what you want.

Cables don't wear out nothing wrong with buying used from a reliable source.

Shielding doesn’t destroy EM radiation, it reflects it.  Same thing happens inside, a shield is going to reflect internal EM in the cable back on itself.  So like everything else in audio, you have to balance the +/- of each solution.