How can power cords make a difference?


I am trying to understand why power cords can make a difference.

It makes sense to me that interconnects and speaker cables make a difference. They are dealing with a complex signal that contains numerous frequencies at various phases and amplitudes. Any change in these parameters should affect the sound.

A power cord is ideally dealing with only a single frequency. If the explanation is RF rejection, then an AC regeneration device like PS Audio’s should make these cords unnecessary. I suppose it could be the capacitance of these cables offering some power factor correction since the transformer is an inductive load.

The purpose of my post is not to start a war between the “I hear what I hear so it must be so” camp and the “you’re crazy and wasting your money,” advocates. I am looking for reasons. I am hoping that someone can offer some valid scientific explanations or point me toward sources of this information. Thanks.
bruce1483
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.
Just want to say thanks for all the negative votes for my last post, since it matched my expectation that only the voiceless weasels would respond. 702, you are right this expectation thing works!
Albert, I was hoping you were going to set up the blindfold kissing thing. You must know some women that could take part. The cloths pin and gloves seems a bit kinky though. I'd rather take my chances with all my senses thanks.

As much as I want to hear your system I will pass on the big group, I already know the outcome so if you don't mind, I'll hold off until I'm in Dallas and hopefully hook up with you for a solo performance. Thanks for the offer, I hope Steve, 702, Jostler and now I guess Fpeel will join you. (if they don't, well it only shows there intent again!)I would love to see there faces!

Anyway keep working on that blind woman thing and thank-you for the gracious offer. J.D.

P.S. I expect the free dinner offer is a standing offer?