Do powercords make a difference in sound?

Mrtennis, my sincere apologies if I offended you before.

I was able to find and thought of lifting quotes from this site where you describe the sound characteristics of particular components, something you suggest cannot be done. But, frankly, it would not be done in kindness, and perhaps you would take umbrage.

I find little value in continuing the argument. It's time to refocus on writing.

Blessings to you. :)

i've tended to stay away from this forum because i didn't like the way that the moderator blocked some of my posts, but we'll see if this one gets past the censor...

my advice is that you be vary skeptical of people who assert that there are discernible "sonic" differences between power cords, yet they can't give any explanation as to why that is the case. it's, like, all subjective, so the comments are subject to exogenous influences that have nothing to do with electronics.

you are dealing with expectations: a person who is willing to go out and get a power cord is someone who is seeking a better audio experience; so they are starting out *hoping* that the power cord will make their system sound better. this is aided by visually appealing packaging: expensive-looking packaging, impressive-looking cord thicknesses/end connectors and aesthetically appealing cord sheathing.

you are dealing with personal biases: a person who has already spend a few hundred (if not thousand) dollars on a power cord has a need to feel that he hasn't wasted his money. so, of course such a person will tell you that the power cord made an "immense" difference in his system, even if he can't tell you why.

one of the things that hurts the credibility of high end audio is all the bs and pseudo-science that is promoted to justify $30,000 speaker cables (that you can buy at radio shack for $0.40/foot) and various other "tweaks", which purported make your system sound better. add to this the role of "audiophile" reviewers who often has conflicts of interest in the products that they review (which are not disclosed to the readers).

until i hear one of these reviewers conduct their reviews in blind testing, where they have to comment on the "sonic" qualities of the system without knowing which cords are being used (or even if the cords have been switched from one test to the next), i will not give much credence to the assertions (offered without explanation) of how various cords improve the "sonic" quality of a given component or system.

Paperw8, science is to explain observations. People hear a difference, the question for science is why? I strongly suggest that the easy rules of EE fail to account for all that is important.

But in audio reproduction the quest is realism. If a component or cable improves it that is enough for me. I have participated in the invalid 30 sec. same/different tests and cannot be certain of my answers but with a longer exposure, I have no difficulty. Frankly, I have no interest in double blind which to make an analogy is like assessing what cables sound like under different air pressures.

Frankly, I care little whether you give much credence to non-blind reviews or efforts to grasp how the better cable is better.

I missed this thread. You could add me to the third camp. Almarg provided excellent reasoning as to what it's about.

As far as the OP of this thread, if you want too see if you get any benefit, try one on a returnable basis. While comparing, have a friend change them without your knowledge of what cord is being used, IOW a true blind test (out of sight). I don't think a blind test done on a strange system, and strange in a strange environment is accurate. That way you'll actually know if it sounds better without having any influence as to someone telling you it will, or will not sound better. Being that this is in your own system, and home, it will be the most fair.

Original Question: "Do powercords make a difference in sound?"
True answer (as I have repeatedly stated and already proven scientifically in 100% of my extensive listening tests)
YES they do make consistent and often very obvious differences.
If YOU can't tell then the likely cause is either a very "Low-fi" poorly resolving system or "Low-fi" poorly resolving ears.
Next question?/Thread?