Which Cable Makes the Biggest Impact?

In my experiences with two separate systems (one analog-one digital HT), I found that power cords had the most sonic characteristics from cord to cord. In an effort to get close to neutrality, dedicated circuits & quality outlets made the most substantial improvement where I no longer use exotic P/C's as tone controls. Given this, I then give the nod of importance to I/C's and speaker. My belief is that the quality of the wire itself and the end connections are far more important than exotic cable geometries. YMMV as mine has.

My house and associated electrical wiring are new and I have a dedicated line for the equipment with a separate dedicated line for the amp. I use a Running Springs Jaco conditioner.

Guess what?

The power cords still have the greatest impact on the sound.

I use all Virtual Dynamics Nite cords 'n cables with great success and the order that makes the biggest gains in performance are:

1) Power Cords
2) Interconnects
3) Speaker Cables

Interesting. Re power cords, how is it that after that electricity is generated at the plant it goes through numerous wires, transformers, taps, circuit breakers, cables, wires, meters, protections devices, etc. before it gets to your house and then somehow a power cord cleans all this up and upgrades the sound?

I'm not denying a power cord makes a difference just trying to understand the rationale. I would believe a power conditioner of some sort would have an effect but a power cord, I just don't see the logic.

regards, David

I don't know why so many people think that there is bad electricity in some areas. It's all AC and it's ALL dirty and noisy. It's the nature of the AC beast. Yes, it may be a tad worse in some areas but it's BAD everywhere.

Sorry Pawlowski, I don't mean to single you out because it seems the vast majority think the same way.

Since my line conditioners have built-in power cables I cannot respond with the exact same experience as the others.

Between ics and scs, the ics make far more impact in my experience.

But the big question is, which run of ics make the biggest impact? Between the source and pre or the pre and amp?

Again, in my experience the run between the source and pre is far more significant than the ics running between the pre and amp. I know a few others who have had the same experience.

-IMO

I've only been in this hobby for about 4 years but in reading Jmcgrogan2's earlier thread today on "Am I Wrong To Be Satisfied", I tend to believe he knows the answer about cable priority. He's been in the hobby for 30 years and has built the "ultimately satisfying system." He said, "I fought the power cord concept for years, but after 5 years of experimenting, this is now the conclusion that I hold." He even says it irritates him to conclude that power cords are dominant. With 30 years in the hobby, spending 5 years experimenting with power cords, resisting the idea of their dominance of the sonics, that says it for me. That was my conclusion too. Power cords top the list in cable priority in my opinion.