How can power cords make a difference?

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

Redkiwi, I do not think that "stonewalling" of any member including 702, Steve etc., is good for the overall A-gon climate. Suppose a topic arose that 702 had expertise in, technical or otherwise?
Now 702, I know that there are alot of thinkers on these controversial subjects that are in your camp, but you have not demonsrated any testing that you have done regarding the subject, where many others (including a great gottcha test by Jadem6 above) have.
Are you truly interested in the pursuit of better music? This is the question you need ask yourself.
I know a great many "Audio" people, and a whole lot of "Music" people. Sometimes the technical gurus cant hear what the music oriented hear(I have seen this many times).
And to quote the Warden in "Cool Hand Luke", "Some people you just can't reach"
I think your "Mr Spock" personality here has left many cold towards you, but I am sure you are loving this, eh 702?.....Frank

Frap, I did not mean to imply I would react negatively if 702 surprised me by posting something of positive value, nor did I mean to imply I want to see him go the way of Jostler.

702 is what I call "on it". When people are "on it" they bang away repeating the same point ad nauseum and don't leave room for conversation and transfer of knowledge. I want 702 to get "off it" and contribute to conversations in a way that allows for others' views and new discoveries. I have no problem with 702 posting his thoughts, experiences, opinions or beliefs. But his style and derision for others here are "on it" to an extent that is highly detrimental to enlightened discussion.

Fpeel, I reserve RHUBARB for when I am too exasperated to continue to fight the good fight. I feel a RHUBARB phase approaching.

Jadem6 - Very interesting experiement. First, you learned that your friends are honest. Second, you showed that people don't buy into the placebo effect all the time. Maybe there IS something to this and we're not just nuts for trying out wacky tweaks.