Power cords and soundstage

Douglas, I think you misunderstand my post and what I was trying to accomplish, and read far to much into my statement about a personal experience in component/system adjustments. Different sources make a profound difference in systems as do different pre-amps, amps, and speakers, and in my case tube selection as well. The sonic possibilities of the many different combinations seem infinite. Sometimes it is sort of like a mule standing equal distance between multiple haystacks.

FWIW I have multiple sources (listed in my systems), including 3 digital sources, none of which have changed. I also have multiple amps that I combine with different sources for different sonic resons dependent on the musical experience I want to enjoy. What did change was my FM tuner, I replaced it with a different Tuner and an FM signal amplifier, and removed a CD Transport/Dac not listed in systems, along with a selector 'box' connecting the two to my system's preamp. In order to do this I had to move about other components which required some IC disconnections and subsequent reconnections (same IC's to thesame components. Same PC's to the same components. No changes. When I was done I 'thought' I detected a sonic change in my system that bridged all sources, so I must assume it was sourced to my amp or pre amp, and consisted of some increase in upper bass energy. And I assumed that it could have been due to IC/Cable/PC dressing. If there was in fact an increase or if it was just my imagination at work was not an issue for me as I found the change agreeable. It was a subtle, not a night and day, or live or die, experience.

BTW, I don't think I struggle much with the idea that wiring and its implementation CAN make a difference. However, when I decide to dedicate time changing my basic system's performance, I find I enjoy fine tuning and finding synergy thru tube rolling. You want to tune thru cables, PC's, and IC's that is fine with me. I've long ago investigated wiring and decided on IC's, PC's and Speaker cables appropriate to my my needs.

The original poster's observations of the differences in his system, before and after the insertion of a new PC, were IMHO, classically, the description of a system with phase 'issues' going to one without phase issues. My comments were meant to invite knowledgable audiophiles to comment about PC's and how the delivery of current to a component can alter phase relationships. That's all it amounts to. So far a couple have signed in on this issue.

Do you have any imput on THIS issue? Or do you just like to take pot shots at those you feel are putting down the effect of something you find important?

Newbee, No pot shot intended at all. I was just incredulous over your post. You began with a put down of those who suggest there's large difference to be had via different PCs, and you ended with a nebulous description of changing a source, and then commenting on a possible perceived difference. Your more recent reply clarifies things nicely. I have no agenda against you. :)

I do not know if this link is directly applicable to audiophile power cords, but I did a search for "power cable invert phase" and found this:

http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/balanced/cable-balanced.html

It seems to suggest that polarity is often confused with phase.

It does not seem logical to me that phase can be inverted/influenced by a properly made standard power cable, and this article seems to support it. I am open to being educated on this by those more knowledgeable.

In all cordiality, I think you are wrong with the theory that power cords are influencing the phase, and that is causing the audible differences when different PC's are used. I would suggest the conductors, geometry and total gauge would be the primary causes to changes in performance.

When I conduct interviews with cable manufacturers, they never speak of phase in relation to their products. They discuss importance of the things I have mentioned.

Douglas, Contrary to your impression, I also do not think PC's can alter phase and I was inviting observations from others. Sometimes my statements are more figurative, more open to interpertation, than to be taken literally. Sometimes intentionally so, for no purpose other than to stir up the gray matter a tad.

What I did was accept the validity of the posters observations AND the correctness in my associating the observations by him of differences in the before PC/after PC to phase (or even polarity as your post reminds me to say) issues.

I was, by my apparently inept analogy, trying to suggest that his experince might have origins in other things, albeit it to him it seemed like it was just the result of a PC change. And, I did not assume that his experience was caused by anything specific, especially wire dressing, but was merely tring to open the subject of cause and effect to him.

An interesting aside, no one yet has disagreed with my assumption that the issues involved were related to underlying phase/polarity issues?

FWIW, one of the things about audio consumerism that I dislike, and have to restrain myself from commenting on, is the profit based recommendations from some, who make 'grand' statements (IMO) about the effect of some products and tweaks often in totally inapplicable circumstances, and in disproportion to the needs of the user. (A 'Bose' system user will not benefit from 5K speaker cable, when some zip cord will do about as much as he could reasonably expect.) The power of suggestion is a not to be underrated as powerfully sales tool.

Newbee, what evidence do you have that phase IS a potential answer to the sonic changes when the man says he replaced/moved two power cords and heard a difference?

What cables are you using in your system? You have excellent gear. I don't see any cables listed for your rig. Just curious.

Jylee, you are not crazy at all. You're quite sane. The distinctions you observe are quite achievable with good PCs. Congratulations! It appears you and your wife have good ears (and a lovely audio system!).

Douglas, I have no evidence. I'm only going from my knowledge of audio set up and recordings and Jylee's description.

Now since you have implied, if not said directly, that the major sonic changes heard by Jylee were actually caused by a PC change, perhaps you would like to describe the mechanics of it all. Your perception of the pre-PC change sound, the post PC sound, and how a different PC brought about the effect. The mechanic's please. Not just a testimonial. BTW, once again, I'm NOT arguing about the efficacy of different PC designs. This is more about what thay can v can not do, and if known, why. So tell us what you know. I'm all ears.

By the way, since you are also well informed about phasing/polarity issues, take a moment to inform us about what their effect might be as heard by a listener in a good triagulated 2 channel set up. Does anything that Jylee said in his before and after description of the sonics NOT remind you of phase/polarity issues. If not, what other than PC's do you think might be responsible for the original sonics as well as the changes.

I'm really curious because I was never totally in touch with Jylee's discription, and could not offer a ready explaination of why he experienced such a change. You seem not to have had any problem with diagnosing the problem and realizing that changing a PC was the solution. Or so it seems.