Can You Expalin Why Power Cables Do This?

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.

Thanks Blindjim. Almarg, good man, how about it?

Almarg, good man, how about it?

I haven't the foggiest idea :)

Some people, most likely non-EE's, would claim that during the period of time the power cords were unused they lost their breakin, whatever that may mean technically, and that the change you noted during the first days of re-use reflected re-breakin. Which with your particular system happened to work in the wrong direction sonically.

A rationale that is commonly offered for the breakin phenomenon, again usually by non-EE's, is something called dielectric absorption. As you'll see in the linked writeup, that is a phenomenon that occurs with capacitors, and since any cable or power cord has some small amount of capacitance, some audiophiles have concluded that it is applicable to cables and power cords as well.

However, I have never seen any explanation that plausibly establishes in a QUANTITATIVE manner how dielectric absorption may be significant in the context of audio system cables or power cords. Nor for that matter have I ever seen what I consider to be a plausible quantitative rationale for any other hypothesized cable or power cord breakin explanation.

Best regards,
-- Al

Break in usually has a positive effect when noted.

Its true that any change in sound is often most noticeable at first. Then your ears adjust and the nature of the change becomes less noticeable.

I'm also convinced that the listener plays a major role in what one hears day in day out, especially in the case of critical listeners. Why assume that we are constant from day to day and its only our gadgets that vary?

That's a good question.
Why is break in ALWAYS for the better? Why doesn't it get worse?
Or do you only post when something gets better?