2. amps-preamps
  3. 189778-171531

A stupid question(s) about power cords

As the title indicates, I admit that this is probably a stupid question. But since I don’t know (for sure) the answer, I am asking it anyway.

The recent power cord thread got me interested in a power cord upgrade (from the stock cord) on my Maranzt SA10 (SACDP). The power cord receptacle on that particular component does not have a male equipment ground pin--only the neutral and hot pins. Therefore the cord supplied by Maranzt is a two pole (if that is the right terminology) cord. But because I have done it this way before, I do know that it will accept a power cord with an equipment ground as well as a neutral and hot.

Question 1: I went to musicdirect and looked at some power cords and I saw one (an open box Audioquest NRG Z2) that they were calling a two pole cord. The end that plugs in to the component only has a neutral and a hot, but the other end, the end that plugs into the outlet in the wall, does have an equipment ground blade (so that end has three blades). Why would that be?

Question 2: (and this is the stupid one) if a power cord has an equipment ground pin plugged into the wall, even if it is not plugged into an eqipment ground in the component itself, that cord is still connected to the neutral bus bar in the panel, right? So that being the case, since the equipment ground wire in the cord is right next to the hot wire, is there a way unwanted stuff (rf or whatever, my understanding of this is quite limited) can that dirty up the power that is traveling on the hot wire  in the power cord?

I think that the answer to the last question is probably going to be ’no’? And if the answer is ’no’, that means that I really don’t need to shop for only two pole cords, right? And I see this as sort of important because if I buy a two pole cord, the ONLY component I can use it on/try it out on will be my SACDP--there will be no playing around with a two pole cord on my preamp or my amp.

And ALSO, if I don’t feel constrained to shopping ONLY for two pole cords, I would probably have more options to consider.

TIA for legitimate insight to this, and to all others, feel free to ridicule me and my question--I don’t mind.

 

 

 

immatthewj
immatthewj OP
2,107 posts
 

Sorry, @mrdecibel , I feel that on Slow Hand, Clapton’s vocal work is often a bit rough and scratchy sounding, and I am personally thinking that this is probably due to the excesses of that period of time. On a quick edit: now that we have been talking about it, I am going to pull that CD out for my session tonight or for tomorrow and see how it strikes me. Aural memories are tough, but I do remember thinking that it was the voice of guy who had probably been smoking cigarettes heavily, and that may have been the least of the abuses that was happening at the time. I think I may have thought it was a bit nasally sounding, but as I typed, I will give it a listen soon as I break my new stuff in.

@jea48 , no, that adapter was never mentioned until now (in this thread). That sounds like a great idea. As it stands, I am coming up on 50 hours on one of the cords (CDP) and coming up on 40 hours on the cords for the amp and preamp.

Post removed 
classicrockfan
170 posts
 

@immatthewj 

power cord upgrade (from the stock cord) on my Maranzt SA10 (SACDP). The power cord receptacle on that particular component does not have a male equipment ground pin--only the neutral and hot pins. Therefore the cord supplied by Maranzt is a two pole (if that is the right terminology) cord.

The only power cord you ever need for your CDP is the stock cord that came with the unit. I'm an electrical engineer who knows a thing or two about cable electronics. If you want some thick substantial power cable go buy a 10 awg cable on Amazon for $30 will certainly please your eyes and make you feel good. These cable resellers aka major brands sell those cables adding 10x or even 50x profit and the price tag has absolutely nothing to do with improving the s.q. of an audio equipment. And do not pay attention to the trolls on this forum they are here to mislead you to spend thousands of dollars on so called major brand cables. Hoping you're not one of them.

mrdecibel
3,064 posts
 

@classicrockfan , Matt is breaking in some Amazon 10 gauge power cables I had recommended to him (x3, for cd player, preamp and amp). I generally respect engineers, but not when they say power cables do not make a difference, over the cheap included cords. Have you tried a $50 2meter cable off Amazon and used your ears? Why do they sound different? Why do fuses sound different? Why does copper sound different than rhodium? Equipment break in? Don't believe in that either? With many of us here (I feel comfortable grouping us golden eared listeners together) who actually listen and have systems capable of us hearing differences/improvements, I am truly sorry you feel the way you do. Enjoy your factory cables. Always, MrD.

classicrockfan
170 posts
 

@mrdecibel 

Yes i have. Probably the same 10awg power cables I bought off Amazon priced between 30 and 50 depending on the length. I like them a lot because they make me feel very good looking at these beautiful power cables not that they make an audible difference 

Why do fuses sound different? Why does copper sound different than rhodium? Equipment break in?

Why do some people believe 1+1=3?

Later

More to discover