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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
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
The belief that my cheap cabling was just as good
soothed the envy of not being able/willing to spend the money on it.

Now you are laying down the gauntlet! We are worse than simply misinformed
or tin eared but are actually envious "cheapos" who believe and
propagate the pretense of no PC benefits simply because we can't afford
them and wish there was no difference.

LOL. FWIW I can afford expensive power cables if I thought it would make a
difference or I could technically justify them and I can turn your statement on
its head - like this:

The belief that my expensive cabling was superior
justified having to spend so much money on it.

FWIW1: if a power cable has active components or filters in it then I can
understand how it could indeed make a difference and agree with you on
those types of PC cables.

FWIW2: if a power cables (ordinary wires) made a difference I would be very
worried about mains AC power quality and or the quality of the power supply
and circuitry shielding RF/EM ground loop immunity in the said audio
component combination. (Like with speaker cables or interconnects: large
differences reflect more upon the equipment and combination than on the
cable and, for example, a device with excellent jitter rejection will care much
less about what cable length or type cable brings in the signal)

FWIW3: Ground loops might be the most likely "technical"
explanation for the cause of many of the observations that an ordinary power
cord (no active components) makes a difference - it is surprising how a tiny
current on a shield can induce noise in low level signal wires (interconnects).
Component Power supply leakage to ground and resultant ground loops are
unfortunately all too common in components, IMHO. XLR helps but even XLR
gear often has problems with slight imbalances with respect to ground.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Shadorne, I'm not intending on starting a war. :)

You said, "We are worse than simply misinformed or tin eared but are actually envious "cheapos" who believe and propagate the pretense of no PC benefits simply because we can't afford them and wish there was no difference."

I don't believe I said all those who dismiss the efficacy of cables are chintzy; many are.

You are absolutely correct in your "reverse logic" in that if a person spent a ton without ever comparing cables then they likely would feel so justified.

However, that is not the case universally, as there are audiophiles who make comparisons and upgrade cables because they hear a difference which they deem important. For some that leads to very high end cabling, and it is a decision driven by performance.
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
However, that is not the case universally, as there are audiophiles who make comparisons and upgrade cables because they hear a difference which they deem important

Agreed - no war - I was just trying to show that it is a difference of philosophy more than anything else.

I guess I view the ability of equipment to perform perfectly under a variety of reasonable conditions as a key part of the manufacturer's responsibility and not something that a user should be lumped with (which cable, IC and power cord do I use?). I am certainly not denying that differences can and do occur but when they do my response would be to change gear to get stuff that was more compatible or reliable rather than tweak it until it worked a bit better.
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stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,531 posts
 
TVAD...As I said in my above posts...the ends make more of a difference than does the cord itself. I suspect the Gold/Bronze/Gold is a good combination...I have the 046 which uses Palladium. Give it a couple of weeks. I have remarkably wide and deep soundstage, and I truly can hear instrumental parts I never knew existed on my records that I have heard for 15 years.
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