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Power cords and soundstage

So I made a couple of changes in my system yesterday. I've acquired new power cords, and replaced/rearranged the power cords for two of the amps.

By the way I consider myself as semi-skeptic and semi-believer of good cables. I've heard subtle difference and improvement on some of the cables. But in most cases either I can't reliably tell which is which, or if I can tell the difference it is very small. I don't own exotic cables. Some of the brands I own include Audioquest, Kimber, Analysis Plus, and a few home-brewed, but well received power cords.

When I changed the power cords yesterday I heard immediate, and distinct difference. I can't say whether I like or dislike the changes yet, but the change is unmistakable.

Even my wife, who is music enthusiast but indifferent when it comes to the system change, commented today and said she thought the center speaker is "too strong". I've then explained that there is no sound coming out from the center speaker with the CD that she was listening.

Some of the differences that I've heard with the new power cords are the following:

Bass: Immediately I heard and felt that the amount of bass from the main speakers were smaller. It is definitely less boomy, and became tighter. I'm afraid the bass doesn't extend as low as before. So I've gained some and lost some.

Focus: focus, soundstage, whatever you call it, has tightened up as well. The bright side of it is now the speakers have completely disappeared. However it doesn't sound as extended from left to right as before. And as my wife noticed the sound is seemingly coming out from the center speaker, although the center speaker is off. No, I didn't hit dolby pro logic button by mistake. The only speakers that are producing any SPL are left and right speakers. The instrument location is still clearly defined, but overall left right soundstage is now much smaller. Here again, I've gained some and lost some.

Depth: This is one area that clearly was improved. It may sound like a cliche, but the noise floor seemed to have decreased, there is more micro dynamics, and it sounds deeper.

Now I'm more confused than ever, and I'm questioning my sanity..
jylee
Post removed 
lapierre
547 posts
 
Did you AB the power cords to isolate which cord made the most difference on a component?
jylee OP
306 posts
 
It is jungle indeed, Tvad. Please show me the way out. :)

Pierre, I haven't done any AB testing yet. One thing I might want to add is the only other time I was able to hear the difference in the power cords was on the digital front end, and that power cord was from the same vendor.
Post removed 
newbee
4,752 posts
 
Jylee, FWIW, I share your lack of enthusiasm for wandering around in a jungle, especially after dark. A couple of things to consider, apart from the underlying question about whether or not PC's really make a substantial (as opposed to nominal) difference. I won't go there. But, if they do, I would argue that either you are a super anal audiophile with highly resolving equipment or you might just have yielded to the power of suggestion. :-)

Just for fun, analize what 'might' cause the changes you are hearing in your system and whether they can be related to what a different PC might do. For example: 1) You feel that your system now has a more focused center image, that the speakers have 'disappeared'; 2) Bass was less boomy; 3) there is less bass (but tighter); and 4) the apparent stage width has lessened, but the depth of image has increased.

When I look at 1) thru 4) I find a common denominator, i.e. going from a 'sound' with a lot of added (out of phase) information not inherrent in recordings, to a system without, for lack of a better description, a lot of added out of phase information. Your description of your present sonics is a description I personally feel is the more correct one.

Faced with that possibility, I really don't understand how the difference in PC's ability to deliver current would affect phase issues created by electronics or component set up. But sudio systems are a mystery some times.

For example, this weekend I made a change in my system which amounted to only removing/changing a source, but it was involved and required a lot of shifting and moving of things. I did not change amps, pre-amps, PC's, IC's, or speaker cables. But, I am confident that what ever I did, perhaps only in relocating/routing equipment and wires, that the repositioning of the IC's and PC's made a difference. A fuller upper bass/low mid range.

Go figure. But don't be self judgmental. :-)
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