2. cables
  3. 1280089959

Can You Expalin Why Power Cables Do This?

It has to do with handling and connecting a power cable that's been "broken in" before but has been laying around out of use, and what happens once you reconnect the power cable and it "settles in." (It can be a power cord on an amplifier or cd player, etc.)

Why, when you first plug in many power cables in the situation above, do they start out adding more bass weight and clarity to the presentation (often, not always). Then the power cable goes through a (stabilization, "settling in") or whatever you call it. With this stabilizing or settling in, the original bass and weight dissipates. The original clarity dissipates. Within a day or two (or 3) after "settling in," when you listen to the system, the presentation has changed. Now the presentation has lost some of that clarity and bass weight from before (I guess audiophiles call this a "tightening" of the bass, and the dissipation of clarity is called what? (the highs getting smoother?)

What's happening? Any EE's out there with a not too technical explanation in laymen's terms that average folks can relate to about this "re-settling?" I wish "broken in" power cables, continued adding the good attributes to the system before and after "settling in." (you know, bass weight, clarity etc.) I'd like to keep those sonic qualities not lose them. What's happening?
Thanks
foster_9
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macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
because power cables are magic!!
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
To the best of my knowledge and experiences, I’ve found nearly every pc changes the electrical characteristics of that portion of the device…. And as the result, the sound of the system changes.

As I know it to be, some PCs are different in inductance resistance, capacitance, or impedance values. True too the metallurgy (materials) alter the voice of the device to some degree, more or less.

Their coverings too play a part in the overall affectation of the sonic result. The Dialectic adds to the filling in or running in mix. Connectors too will slightly alter the sound and again, from the sorts of metals being used.

Regardless what people say as to wether or not cables play a part in changing the sound of a system, especially power cords, almost always, folks will agree that there is a decided difference in the sound from the use of copper, to that of silver. Based on that single note, it then stands to reason varying blends of just those two metals offer a change to the sound as they can change imperical measurements too as mentioned previously. Throw in the way the conductors are braided, skinned, and blended, and it’s no wonder why so many power cords alter the sound to more or less degrees.

Some pc’s address ambient radiation of high freq energies and some do not. Some better shielded cables take far longer to run in as I suspect their coverings being adhesively stuck to the insulator affect the dialectic more severely. Less shielded cords seem to me to run in quicker yet the concerns for EMI and HF being introduced can be a real bother. I find this more an issue when there’s a bunch of wires racing here and there closely set together more so than local appliances, TV & Radio stations influence.

I’ve found more problems surrounding dirty power than did HF or EMI. Location or locales vary with regard to these items. Spurrious radiation might not be a problem in one area, but may be in another.

Naturally length of the conductors too plays a part in things.

Others will say differently perhaps, and maybe some great insights to the why’s will come along later on.
foster_9 OP
1,638 posts
 
Thanks Blindjim. Almarg, good man, how about it?
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