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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
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
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.
newbee
4,752 posts
 
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.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
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!).
newbee
4,752 posts
 
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.
rodman99999
6,035 posts
 
A properly designed power cord(ie: Teflon dielectric, counter-rotating geometry, etc) will reduce or eliminate intra-conductor interactions that add noise and distortion to audio signals. The right geometry will cancel unwanted magnetic interaction. The same technology is used in many interconnects, but is even more important in a PC, given the much higher currents and stronger fields dealt with there. Most high-end cords will have an EMI/RFI trap built in also. The bottom line is the same as the benefit of a good power conditioner: cleaner, quieter power to your system, which lets you here more of the info on your source material(more apparent detail/better focus/greater ambiance retrieval).
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