How can power cords make a difference?

Jadem6 -

I agree that your results are interesting indeed. Not a blind experiment so from a purely audible sense the results aren't valid (you might possibly have unintentionally given some clue as to what was happening, maybe not), but the tests do give some meaningful information. Could you tell us (and I apologize if you've given this info before) what your aftermarket cables are?

Also, it would be extremely interesting for you to try this test again - this time without switching the cables, even though you say you are?

JHunter

Albert, Jcbtubes -

My system, while not ultra-high end, is quite enjoyable and pretty revealing:

Pioneer 525 DVD/Marantz CD63 mkII feeding an MSB Link DAC III;
Plinius 8150 integrated amp (w/apologies to Redkiwi's countrymen, this might be the weak link in the system);
Dunlavy SM-1.

Pretty nice sounding, but if anybody wants to send me a really good subwoofer I'd certainly not object! By the way, there's no lack of aftermarket PCs in the area. Within 15 miles of home, there are 6 bona-fide high end stores and a couple of mid-fi stores with a smattering of better stuff. At one store, you could listen to the $85k Dynaudio Evidence with a Krell Master Reference sub. They also had the Krell Master Reference amps; I think this is what led to the power crisis in California!

Cheers,
Jhunter

Jhunter, your system may not be the absolute ultimate in audio, but it is certainly high quality and capable of resolving the differences between power cables. I would love for you to audition a couple of cables that are very different from stock and from each other.

Perhaps Purist Audio Dominus and maybe something like a Siltech. I would not tell you in advance that the performance in your particular system would be worth the investment. I am certain though that the test I outlined, employing long term listening with one of these, then returning to the original power cord will provide an easily discernible performance change.

I would love it if you tried this and then posted your comments as to what you heard. You don't have to agree with anyone, much less me, but finding a new tool to make your music better would be exciting. If you do this test, and tell me in advance what you like and dislike about your system with the stock cords, I think I can almost guess which of these two aftermarket cords will make you happy. It could be a fun experiment. I will not be unhappy if I fail to guess right, and should you find something that works better, you are the winner in the end.

Last, I could possibly supply you with an Acrotech and a pair of old Tiffany TPC 60's. These would be fairly easy to tell from stock. This offer is in case you cannot borrow the suggested ones from a store. I could possibly loan you a Purist Dominus if I can find a spare. They are expensive, so I don't have much in the way of extras laying around, but I am willing to look.

NEW CHALLENGE is afoot! Count me in. I would be willing to "lend" a power cable to Jhunter as well. I have a pretty good Synergistic Research not in use. I would be happy to send it along to Jhunter for a few weeks. Same test conditions as Albert Porter suggested. Plug it into a component, let it settle in for two weeks, then replace with stock power cord. If you can honestly tell yourself that you do not hear a difference, send it back to me and I'll cover shipping costs back. If you do hear a difference, send it back to me anyway, or maybe we'll make a nice deal because you can't bear to part with it ;)

I'm game, how about you?

Hi JHunter,

I now have three NBS Statement power cords, two on my bi-amps (Aloia) and one on my SACD
(SCD-1) player. I have BMI Whales on the pre-amp and suppling my PS300 conditioner.

I have actually done a lot of testing with power cords with these same guys over the years. We have had sessions where they or I are blindfolded and we will try two, maybe three cords. The trick of not switching is a good one to see them squirm, but I've found it meaningless. My experience is it's almost 50/50 as weather they heard anything. I've tried to inject the no switch test a few times in one night and all that happens is confusion from the listener, and then they begin to doubt everything they hear. I'd say my experience with that trick is it may actually be counter productive and invalidates earlier findings.
This blind testing has become a game for us, it's fun to see how well we pick up on subtle changes.
It's not ABX, but I insist the results are as good or better. I have two amps, exactly the same model. We've played with switching between amps with exactly the same interconnect model, of exactly the same age. We have found one of the amps to be a bit better in it's high range than the other (guess which amp is wired to the bass and which to the midrange tweeters). I suppose it could be burn in because they were bought at different times, of it could be shelf placement, or one having cleaner terminals, I happen to believe nothing man made is exact, and two identical pieces are never identical. This is why I believe my testing methods as described many times here on these threads provide more valid results than the clinical approach demanded by some here. It's funny that the demands keep coming for tests, but there are no attempts at real tests by these guys, and a flat un-acceptance of the results reported by so many here on Audiogon. I guess again I'm proven too stupid to understand there higher life form. Happy testing, oh ah listening, no enjoying the music, wasn't that the purpose?
J.D.