Do powercords make a difference in sound?

09-08-11: Drubin

the fact that audio equipment makers are not shipping product using these "upmarket" power cords tell me that the people who actually make audio equipment aren't buying into these assertions.
All you'd have to do is visit a high-end audio show for a few minutes to see that your assertion is patently untrue. They don't ship their products with upmarket cords because of what it will do the price of the products, but many many of them chose to use those cords when they demonstrate their products.

surely you don't believe what you wrote: "because of what it (upmarket power cords) will do (sic) the price of the products"?!? i mean, if you're a "value" purchaser, you probably aren't buying high end audio. when a company claims that their "reference" products incorporate "price not object" design choices, do you *really* believe that they would cut corners on the power cords because of what it would to the price of the "cost no object" product?

Allow me to dispense with diplomacy, Paperw8, long enough to note that you came on this thread proclaiming that:

"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."

But when challenged to respond to evidence of actual audiophile behavior not fitting these assertions, you retreated to:

"you're effectively asking me to tell you what is going on in your head, and i can't do that."

Does this contradiction just represent carelessness on your part, or does it show disingenuousness? Because your posts are rapidly becoming more purely argumentative as you go on here. I'm forced to conclude that I was mistaken to take you at face value in this debate: I think you're basically trolling. Little wonder that Agon has withheld some of your forum input in the past.

I stand by what I wrote, paperw8, but do acknowledge that it's a bit more complicated. Manufacturers know these days that their products need to come with detachable power cords because audiophiles are accustomed to having that choice. If they bundle a specific cord with the amp because they think it sounds best with their product, some customers will insist on using a different cord and will balk at having to pay extra for the bundled cord. This isn't about "value buyers." If you were building a $6,000 amp but it would have to sell for $8,000 with your power cord of choice, would you do it? I think it would be a poor business decision. Oh, and what if the customer needs a longer length?

09-09-11: Drubin
I stand by what I wrote, paperw8, but do acknowledge that it's a bit more complicated. Manufacturers know these days that their products need to come with detachable power cords because audiophiles are accustomed to having that choice. If they bundle a specific cord with the amp because they think it sounds best with their product, some customers will insist on using a different cord and will balk at having to pay extra for the bundled cord. This isn't about "value buyers." If you were building a $6,000 amp but it would have to sell for $8,000 with your power cord of choice, would you do it? I think it would be a poor business decision.

a person spending $6,000 on an amplifier will probably not want to spend $2,000 on an "upmarket" power cord; but a person spending $20,000 probably would be willing to do so, and a person spending $100,000 (or more) would probably not think twice about it. that was my point in an earlier posting: the target market for "tweaks" is people who are spending big money on their systems such that the additional cost of the "tweaks" does not seem large in comparison to the overall cash outlay.

but feel free to sand by your comments. but as i previously stated, if you shell out large sums of money to buy "reference"/"cost no object" equipment, don't you think that you have a right to expect to get for your money a product that actually was "cost no object"? but if you insist on the right to pay extra for upmarket "tweaks", you can take comfort in the fact that there is a segment of the audio industry that is happy to accommodate you.

09-09-11: Drubin
Oh, and what if the customer needs a longer length?

get a power strip that has it's own cord. voila! you have an extension.

Hmmm...I don't think you understand audiophiles, paperw8. A power strip? Are you nuts? And some people do spend $2K for a PC for a $6K amp even if it may seem irrational.