Power Cord Question


My system is more on the budget end but some of the components have detachable power cords with two prong connectors/terminals on the rear. I notice that most upgraded power cords have connectors that plug into equipment having three prongs. Can these 3-prong power cords be used to plug into the rear of components having only 2-prong connectors in the rear without hurting anything or degrading the sound? Thanks for your input.
darkkeys
Perhaps the adaptor you require is shown here> http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/214 I picked a few up at one of the stereo shows some time ago for $30 each. Have seen them for sale here on the 'Gon as well. I use one on my DVR and one on my DVD player. Good luck in your search.
The third prong provides a ground path from the chassis of your equipment to earth. The purpose of the third wire is safety - so that if the chassis inadvertantly becomes hot a breaker trips, or at minimum the ground wire provides an easier path for the ac current than from your right hand through your torso and out your left hand resting on a grounded item (i.e. resulting in death, which will subjectively degrade the sound quality of your system). Obviously if you plug the female end of a detachable three prong power cord into a male receptacle on your equipment you won't be connecting the third wire to anything, so it is no different with regard to the third prong than if you simply laid the power cord on the ground next to your equipment. In short, no it will not degrade the sound or damage your audio equipment.
I appreciate your responses. Very informative. I won an auction for power cords here on Audiogon but thought it may be a waste of money to upgrade two prong power cords with the three prong type. My NAD C372 integrated amp has a two prong receptacle on the rear panel but the new power cords use a three prong female ends, thus my question. I find it strange that my audio components use detachable power cords with two prong receptacles: NAD C372 intagrated-amp, Marantz CC4001 CD changer and OPPO DV980H, but my LG LCD TV uses a three prong receptacle for its detachable power cord. I guess that shows how little I know about the electronics end of this hobby.