2. cables
  3. 1071276890

Power Cords Snake Oil ??

Having been a long time audiophile living with countless high end compnents I have to wonder about the theory and practicality of high end power cords.

I have yet to hear the difference a power cord makes. Ive owned, synergistic, Shunyata, BMI and cardas. I in no way can detect any sonic signature or change. Give me a pair of interconnects and I imeadiately notice a difference somewhere in the sonic spectrum. Not the PC though. I have accomplished 4 blind tests with my friends. 3 out of the 4 they did not know their cord was replaced. All 4 were using a stock factory supplied cord. Each of the 4 tests were done on different components. Amp, CDP, Preamp & dac.

My electrical backround tells me that provided you supply the component with its required voltage bet 110vac or 220/240vac its happy. Now, change the incoming frequency from 60hz to say 53hz and watch how quickly your soundstage collapses.! This is often the case during the summer months when home air conditioners are in use and the utility company power output is taxed to the max. A really good power conditioner should however take care of the frequency fluctuations. But 110vac is still 110vac regardless of the conductor it passes through as long as its remains 110vac when it reaches the intended circuit. Does your 8k amp or preamp know the difference of the path the voltage took to reach it ? Many an audiophile will use a dedicated 20amp circut for their equipment.That is a good idea as voltage & frequency fluctuations will occur in the home circuit to to other loads on the main breaker panel but again, A power cord simply is the means of transporting the voltage from the wall to the component. IF there is a clean 110vac @ 60hz at the wall socket, no matter what the medium is to go from the socket to the component, it will still be 110vac @60hz.

Could somebody expand on this a bit more. I just dont understand it. ??
jetmek
sean
6,231 posts
 
Corona: I wasn't trying to insult you or "lowball" the value of your product. The figure that i arrived at was based on having to purchase one of your products, not the amount of R&D and custom fabrication that went into it.

Having said that, sometimes just looking at a product and seeing the way that it is designed and the parts used can be a very worthwhile venture. Obviously, duplicating or improving any design takes identical or better parts with the know how to do such. Much of what i've learned has been done by using such an approach and then following through on those ideas where others seemed to stop short. It always amazes me how someone can come up with a very good circuit yet overlook some very simple yet advantageous changes they could have made, in effect, making the product / circuit even better for sometimes even less money.

While i have no first hand experience with your product or design, it sounds as if it would not be easy to duplicate due to all of the custom manufacturing involved. Then again, how hard can it be to design & build a power cord ??? : )

Audioengr: You are going to have to play with values and placement. Try either a 470 / 560 / 680 ohm with a .1 cap to start off with and go from there. This works best on center-tapped designs but is also applicable to "unbalanced" AC too. Sean
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sean
6,231 posts
 
Psychic: I think that "Corona" takes his name from the electrical term i.e. a high voltage discharge, not the yellow water & chemicals that someone is trying to pass off as "beer". As far as "beer" made in Mexico goes, Bohemia is far superior to Corona : )

Z: I've recently had the urge to pick up my bass and start playing again. With the holidays coming up, maybe i'll get the time to do so. I sold all of my PA gear and three of my bass cabinets, but i've still got the guitar, the preamp, power amp and two 18's and two 10's. As rusty as i am though, i probably couldn't even play a steady open "E" let alone "Five Bar Blues" : ) Sean
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zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Umm...shouldn't that be a twelve-bar blues? Yours sound about seven bars short of a blues... ;^)
sean
6,231 posts
 
Z: THAT should tell you something right there. It's been a LONG time : ) Sean
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zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Must be all those years of listening to nothing but goth and speed-metal... ;^)

I recommend NRBQ's song "12 Bar Blues" (from Grooves In Orbit) as an antidote. Terry, Joey, Tommy, and Big Al will step you right through it...just like riding a bicycle, it'll all come back to you in a rush. :-)
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