Do powercords make a difference in sound?


Do they make a difference by upgrading stock power cords in amps, ect versus aftermarket power cords? If so, can anyone advise a good bang for the buck upgrade?
chad329
Should have resisted: They do make huge improvements. Open your ears.
May I tactfully suggest that if someone can't hear a considerable improvement between a good quality aftermarket power cord in their system utilized in place of the typical stock cable... that perhaps
OK
I've got to resist suggesting you might try "an additional" hobby besides audio...
I didn't say it..it was just such an automatic response to someone saying that they "couldn't tell" that an obviously better component in the audio chain was added and yet went completely un-noticed!!! Truly mind boggling!!!
I'm afraid saying that would potentially initiate so much hostility; I had better keep it to myself...
it's just that....The improvements are SOOOOOOO noticeable in any decently resolving system (which most people reading this thread probably have...)
that I'm stupefied by those that swear it can't be when it so IS!
Oh well guys.
Nothing personal aimed at anyone here...please...
just general comments...
About 10 years ago I did not believe that a power cord could make a difference. Did not make any sense to me at all.
I saw that a online audio store was having a sale on the older version of the PS Audio power cables. The price was hard to beat. For less than $75.00 I bought a cable to see what all the hype was about.
To my ears, on my system I could hear an improvement. I used the cable on my amps.
I would suggest that you buy a power cable, used or on sale, and try it in your system. You only need to buy one to try, you do not have to spend a lot of money.
If you hear or think you hear an improvement that will be the only test or opinion that you need. If you do not hear an improvement, then you know for sure what your ears are telling you.
If you were to have a pair of mono amps, just get one cable and put the cable on only one of the amps and give a listen.
For under a $100.00 you can find out for yourself if it is hype or a reality.
Respectfully,
Joe Nies
Wow lissnr, you read a lot into my comments. I was just having a little fun with the language that was in the original post.

I agree, power cords can make a difference, often a substantial one, and sometimes more so than interconnects or speaker cables. Anyone who has tried a power cord shoot out in their system and noticed no difference probably has tin ears or a not-very-resolving system. The differences can be obvious when moving from one cord to the next.
hi blazerfan:

i spoke to a cable designer and asked him which cable he thought had greater impact on the sound of a stereo system.

his answer, the intreface between source and preamp.

there are many ics and ac cords, so it is a bit presumptuous to make such a statement which includes the word "undeniable". obviously, it's your ears and your opinion.

however, another philosophical discussion could ensue which has no conclusion.

many of these discussions have as their subject a rhetorical question. in this case there is no definitive answer to the question : "which cable has greater impact on a stereo system ?".

one can discuss the merits of ics ve ac cords, but there is no way to remove reasonable doubt as to which cable is more critical in its effect upon a stereo system.