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. ??
128x128jetmek
killerpiglet
374 posts
 
Well, you missed the Pebbles post, which explained it all.

It had some... disturbing images presented to the mind's eye.

(To clarify, there was much tongue in cheek humor involved, and it has carried over to other posts. Whose tongue and whose cheek is yet to be determined, pending DNA samples.)

VVrinc, Marco, they were all there, I swear. They were. And a little fluffy dog.

KP

PS:I also share the view that Viggen is one of the sharper fellows around here; he's also a very good sport.

KP
viggen
838 posts
 
Yo Larry, thanks for covering my behind. Lord knows I need it since KP can't stop looking at it = X.

I remember when I first hopped onto Audiogon, I discovered lots of tidbits that improved my system immensely. And, one of these tweaks got me dance on my table with joy. Unfortunately, Sherod was there to wintess this, and he has not let me forget it since = P.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
You're a great guy,Viggen.Because of you, I have many times put a cloth on my head and danced a jig on the table. What better way to get excited about this hobby!Power cords snake oil? No way! Now if Gunbei,Viggen and Marco could do a dance on the table routine and provide photos, then we fellow audiophiles can see who "real" audiophiles are.And remember,you're never too old to express your elations about this hobby by "dancin' a jig on the table".
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
LT: I agree with everything you said in your last post, but this is your prior statement I was mainly responding to:

"Absolute snake oil...The notion that you can 'hear' an AC cable flys in the face of common sense. There have been too many failed 'blind' tests, convincing test data (please don't tell me your hearing is more acute than electronic test equipment!) and not to mention the laws of physics."

This part I must have misinterpreted: "I don't completely discount the possibility that cabling in the signal chain, or even an AC supply cable can make a sonic difference, whether for better or worse. The caveat is: there MUST be a measurable difference in electrical parameters to explain it..." I took that to mean that you doubted such measureable differences really existed. (Not to mention maybe even a few we don't know to measure for...)

Also 'for the record': I've personally never spent what I consider to be unreasonable prices for PC's (used, natch), but even so, some of those I was eagerly hoping for an improvement with I turned out not to like the sound of. I'll have my worms fried, whether canned or fresh, on the theory that you can eat just about anything if it's fried (...and some might say you can also *hear* just about anything if *you're* fried ;^)
vvrinc
323 posts
 
Hey, real men don't dance jigs!
Everyone knows that.
Real men grunt and fart...only...or maybe grow up to become Attorney General.

Disclaimer:
My wife will, under oath, swear that I was nowhere near the “peebles” thread and was peacefully sitting by her side watching an episode of the “The Iron Chef” while all the shenanigans were taking place. From what she read in the recent Enquirer, a certain, Sir K. Piglet, was the ringleader of the proceedings and is now being sought by Count Viggen's seconds for some good ol’ Brooklyn-bone-breaking. Word is that a duel is imminent.
I fervently pray that the two gentlemen in question will embrace in the spirit of prudence and pulchritude, and settle their differences where “real men” solve their problems...the YMCA.

Pace, pace, mio Dio.
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