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Power Cord Challenge

I've got a couple of weeks off before starting a new job. As I clearly fall into the camp of those who suspect no purely audible differences exist (except in pathologic cases of too-small cords or RFI interference), here's a challenge:

If you live in the San Jose, CA area, let's get together and put this to the test. Your system, your choice of music, I supply a stock power cord to test against your exotic. We play both cords blind (identified as A and B) for a reasonable amout of time; I then play one of the two (randomly chosen through a coin flip) for a reasonable amount of time and you identify it as either A or B. We'll do 10 trials for some statistical significance.

Given that some claim drastic and easily heard differences ("blacker background", "music is more alive", etc., etc., etc.), it should be trivial to get right and shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes per trial. The kicker: you get 9 or 10 right and I'll give you $500! The downside: 8 or less correct and you donate $250 to the Red Cross. Hey, I'm even giving you 2 for 1 odds!

Regardless of the outcome, we post the results to this site. Any takers?

Cheers,
JHunter
jhunter
brulee
564 posts
 
Tsquared, I live in Camarillo (Ventura County) and you are certainly welcome to visit. As you say it would be fun and a learning experience as well. Maybe we can get a few Audiogon members together for a day such as Dekay, Jcbtubes, Jhunter and myself. It would have to be at the end of June or a sometime after. Could be a lot of fun. 702, I don't know where you live but you especially are invited. I do not believe anyone will need a blindfold but if ya gotta ya gotta.
jhunter OP
45 posts
 
Drubin -

This is definitely a "win-win" proposition. If people find out that they can reliably HEAR the differences in power cords, they pocket at least $500 and can shop for an even better cord. If they cannot hear the difference, then the give the Red Cross $250 (a good idea for us all, regardless of the amount) but should save much more than that in PC expenses and possibly recoup the donation by selling their current PCs.

That being said, education is a higher incentive. I just thought that it was a good way to entice folks to do some serious testing, regardless of which way the test comes out.

I'd be happy to do some informal testing if we can find a mutually agreeable time.

Cheers,
JHunter
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,699 posts
 
Yes, Late June sounds like a good time for me and by then I will have additional PC's which we may use in the tests. I should also have my system (which will include new goodies such as the Neuance shelving and hopefully the 47 Labs cabling) up and running by that time and would like to have a few people over that are interested in these products as well as PC's. PC's will include the BMI Whale, a new silver PC by Vantage Audio, the Stealth HAC and Absolute cords for lower price comparisons and in addition I will ask Bruce to supply one of his FIM PC's. This will be kind of a duplication of the first shootout (as these PC's will be available for it as well) but will also include other interesting and reasonably priced (I think) products.
jhunter OP
45 posts
 
Tsquared -

Your comments re: fast switching are right on. This is the only proven way to hear subtle differences. Hard to do with power cords, though it might be possible to rig up a rapid switch box.

Cheers,
JHunter
jhunter OP
45 posts
 
Looks like no takers for now, and I'm back at work next week. Tomorrow is golf, with no audio except for the "woosh" as I wiff. The offer stands for those in the San Jose area, though we may need to do some work setting up a time.

Brulee and others in SoCal - let's try to figure a date in late June/early July for some listening, as formal or informal as we like. It'll be fun in any case.

Cheers,
JHunter
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