How can power cords make a difference?

702, ewe say:

"I've heard many, many audio systems of exceptional quality that had nary a designer PC, and couldn't possibly be improved by adding any..."

this blatant disregard for scientific method is pitiful. i can't believe we are still arguing w/someone who purports to believe in scientific method, yet completely ignores it, & who won't even trust using the most sensitive aural measuring device known - his own ears!?! 702, WHAT ARE EWE AFRAID OF??? are ewe afraid ewe mite be wrong? afraid of discovering science HASN'T yet discovered all the answers? afraid that yule have to spend more money on wire?

jadem6, 702's horn tooting is outta tune - whether it's live, on a boombox, or thru albert porter's stereo - w/or without designer cords... ;~)

doug s.

Guys, haven't you figured it out yet? 702 is getting exactly what he wants. It's not insight, education or sharing as with most of the participants here. It's your collective goats.

Fpeel, we have three choices. First, engage with 702, arguably letting him get our goats, but possibly driving the debate to some conclusion (eg. Jostler). Second, ignore him completely, thereby causing new (and other)posters here to be intimidated from posting any of their opinions, in fear of unchallenged attacks from the likes of 702. Third, not reply to 702's posts but vote against him.

I agree that there are problems with the first alternative. But I am more concerned about the second alternative as I have seen this outcome eventuate elsewhere and this forum therefore degenerate into the closed-minded talking to the closed-minded, getting solace from being right. The third option may be preferred by some, but I see it as the weasle's way out. If I disagree or disapprove, then I do not intend to hide behind the voting system.

Therefore, regardless of 702's motives, I feel the necessity to react to his contradictory position. If he, as you suggest, continues to post asinine comments here purely to feed his immature need to get a reaction then I reckon he will get a reaction until he grows up or goes away. If this feeds his need for attention, he is one very sick puppy, and most certainly not one that should be left to intimidate posters here.

All good points, Redkiwi. Personally, talking to the collective brickwall grew old quickly and feeling it was a waste of energy choose simply not to do so. Circular arguments tend to have that effect on me. There are far too many other interesting threads available to feel any sense of loss. In any case, it certainly wasn't my intention to encourage anyone to alter their approach.

Anyway, whatever happened to "RHUBARB!"?

I have completed my newest power cord "experiment". I have taken three nights and three different audio friends. I invited them independently over to here the new power cords I just received. I told them they are the latest cord that received all the press at the New York show and that I bought the show set. I set them down to first listen to my existing system with the existing cords in place. We listened to a few tracks of their choice before switching to the "new" cords. I plugged them in, the whole time talking of my excitement and how much I hoped they liked them too. After listening to the same tracks, all three had basically the same comment. They were disappointed with the presentation. Comments included grainy, tighter sound stage, glare, harsh, lack of detail.... I was visibly upset and asked them to try again. Same result, the second time with full conviction rather than guarded concern.

As our session closed, they seemed sheepish as I thanked them for coming. I also thanked them for their honesty and told them that I played a trick on them. I tried to see if the psychological issues talked about here on Audiogon would pan out in the reality of my system. The trick was rather than switching to the "new" fictitious cords I switched to the stock cords that I received with the equipment.

Now we have Redkiwi and myself going back to "test" our stock cords, and for me using the psychology against myself. Both of our findings are the same. So Steve and 702, how do you want to handle these new experiment results? Where is you agreement now? I'm sure you'll find a new tact rather than trying to apply these contradictions to your theories and begin to work on the reality that you don't know enough about this topic to argue your lost case. I'm sure 702 that you'll again tell me you don't understand, that must be a real problem for you, your inability to understand people. IMO your both to stubborn to accept the fact that your dead wrong. Time to wake up, maybe you can disprove my results but until you figure out a way to disprove fact, I'll just accept your weaknesses in science and value your opinion for what it's worth. ZIP