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Ideal power cord lengths?

A quick Google search suggests there is consensus that the ideal power cord length is 2m.  1m cords sound “harsher” and 3m cords sound “smoother”, with 2m being the sweet spot.  The PS Audio dude suggests that the reason is that the reason is that all cords have an impact on the power, and the greater the length, the greater the impact, good or bad.

I know many will say there is no difference between a 1m cord and a 3m cord.  But my question is, who here has tried like model power cords of different lengths, and what were the differences?  
 

Second question:  How does length factor into the equation when you have a cord feeding a conditioner, then other cords feeding components?  If 2m cords are in fact the ideal, would 1m cords be ideal when using conditioners?

I tend to believe those that say that power cord lengths matter.  While I’ve not been able to do this test myself, I’ve had these two experiences:

  • Testing Audioquest Diamond and Nordost Valhalla 2 USB cables, the cables shorter than 1.5m sounded TERRIBLE by comparison.  Especially the .75m Audioquest Diamond vs the 1.5m version.  But the 1m Valhalla 2 also sounded awful in comparison to the 2m version.  In general this opened my eyes to how much cable length matters, and counterintuitively in the case of digital cables. 
  • I have a 2019 2m AudioQuest Hurricane Source cable from back when AQ braided their cables, and I also have the newer non-braided Hurricane Source, but 3m in length.  The new Hurricane sounds vastly superior to my old 2m Hurricane.  In comparison the older cord compresses the soundstage depth.  I don’t know if the differences are due to the differences in length, or if it’s due to a design change by Audioquest.

Very interested in learning of others experiences with power cord lengths.

 

 

nyev
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,785 posts
 

Soix:

That rings a bell (think it was <$40 new or used 20 years ago).

 

DeKay

nyev OP
1,031 posts
 

Well, the results were done with a blind test, so not so subjective actually!

You can try the test as well, if you are interested. You may very well not have the same results as me, given differences in systems. Had I started out upgrading cables before my amp and speaker upgrades, I highly doubt I’d notice the difference in power cables or USB cable lengths. Part of the journey when you realize it makes a difference, objectively through blind tests. Some will never get there and that’s okay.

There’s one thread on here where a dude was going on with all the usual arguments - what about all the wire leading up to your house, and the non-audiophile approved wire in your wall (actually I do have audiophile approved 10AWG twisted wire in my walls, lol)… Anyways everyone challenged him to try a demo at his local dealer going between power cords, and to his credit, he actually did, he said “I don’t know how it makes a difference, but it does.” And impressively, he said “I was wrong.” Again, not everyone will get there.

This subject is like religious fundamentalism, and it’s highly amusing how worked up people get.  

Apologies for giving you all a bad name, lol!!  

 

 

1971gto455ho's avatar
1971gto455ho
539 posts
 

Simple, pure heavy gauge copper at shorter distance equals less resistance, that’s a fact. As to changing the tones or Quality there of, A huge imagination coupled with a light wallet..you know you’re gonna hear perfection. Lol 

nyev OP
1,031 posts
 

I definitely hear perfection, mostly due to my 10AWG wire I am certain ;)

10AWG wire over 14AWG costs an extreme, totally outlandish premium of $150 extra, for my lower resistance and greater access to instantaneous peak current. Sounds fantastic!

ooh, poked the bear methinks…

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
5,289 posts
 

Sorry brother,

I have PC’s from 4 different companies and they are all 5’ or 6’.

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