How can power cords make a difference?

Thanks for the advice guys. But Dekay, since it would invalidate the warranty if I fixed the incompetently designed power supplies in my components (no doubt mr702 could send me instructions, but not being of his stature I would no doubt fail to implement them competently anyhow), I intend to follow Fpeel's advice and have booked a session with a hypnotist. I am hoping said hypnotist can reinforce my deluded expectation that my system will improve every time I play a new disc (I shall call it the theory of infinite burn-in), but to also reinforce my expection that the system will sound worse whenever I try any piece of new equipment (which will of course be due to my expectation that it will never catch up with the burnt-in state of my existing components). If mr702's theories are correct then I should be enjoying musical and fiscal bliss very shortly.

R-kiwi, to follow up. I too have experienced numerous occasions of third parties commenting on audible difference --so, what can I say? I am suggestible, granted. What about the other persons?

Which brings me to the title question in this thread which, I think, hasn't been fully answered. I know of only one public acceptance of "differences" in conductors, both analogue & digital -- and explanation. This was made by the French PPC (I posted about that in another thread, a while back).

Gregm -

We're all suggestable to a very great degree. It's important to understand what purely AUDIBLE differences in components exist, and I really don't understand why people are so very reluctant to examine components in a sound-only context.

I proposed a listening challenge for power cords that was pretty much a win-only proposition for those willing to participate. So far, for whatever reason there are no takers although that likely is due to geographic constraints (I'm in the San Jose, CA area; some Southern CA folks indicated an interest and we're trying to set something up). Or it could be that people don't want to find out that the Emporer has no clothes.

That being said, if people enjoy their system better knowing that they have broken-in 4 gauge PCs, more power (!) to them, I guess.

Cheers,
JHunter

4 gage PC's? Drool.

Jhunter, if you are married and I blindfold you, are you certain you can identify a kiss from your life long partner? It would make the experience even more difficult with a room full of people waiting on the outcome while you sat in darkness.

Maybe to make things even more difficult, you could put a clothes pin on your nose, and wear latex gloves. That way, you are so involved in the test and thinking about all the accoutrements, that you prove only that you are unaccustomed to this new experience in your failure. If you prefer testing the test, or enjoy proving that multiple confusing situations can make humans error, your method is great.

Judging your responses, you must not have auditioned any quality aftermarket cords in your own system. If you had, you would not be discussing tests, but rather contributing to this forum with your experiences and what worked for you.

I do not understand those who visit this site, primarily based on discussion of the tools needed to improve a stereo, then proceed to argue that the tools do not matter. Perhaps you cannot hear the difference in your system, and therefore find comfort in dismissing the experiences of others.

Therefore, I also issue a challenge. I would be pleased to host a session at my home, and I am willing for as many members of Audiogon to be included as will comfortably fit into my listening room. I can assure at least three members from the manufacturing side of the audio community to be here, as well as last years Grammy award winner for classical music.

Our test will be simply to first listen to my system with all Purist Audio Dominus cables for a few hours and acclimate everyone to the sound and become comfortable with the environment. Next, I remove all of the Purist Cables, and replace them with the factory supplied cords. If you can honestly say that the sound is the same in both situations, you will find yourself the only one in the room that comes to that conclusion.

No blindfold is needed, no switching back and forth required. It is a very simple test. Perhaps the money you put up for your test in CA could be used to purchase an economy ticket to Dallas via Southwest Airlines. I will gladly pick you up at the airport and buy dinner.