Can POWER CORDS really make that big a difference?

Soldering. Very careful soldering is the key. That's why I like this cheapo Absolute Power Cord. Electrically soldered and then injection molded in place. Plain and simple...

Bmccormick - No, I certainly wasn't calling anyone who states that they can hear a difference between PCs a pathological idiot that wastes money!! The "pathologic" part of my comment only referred to what I would consider very out of the ordinary system conditions, say, trying to run a Krell Master Reference amp (demos of which were rumored to cause California's power crisis) with a 20 gauge PC, or living next to a broadcast tower to give a couple of extreme examples.

I would never deny that some people enjoy their systems more as a result of using aftermarket PCs, and more power (!) to them. I was definitely NOT referring to that preference as pathologic! We might debate exactly what causes that added enjoyment, and how we apportion our respective audio budgets, but we all have the same end goal in mind.

Yes, aftermarket power cords do make a difference. However, purchasing in-line power conditioners for each component will offer substantial improvements over any power cord (IMO) and costs perhaps no more than a good power cord. Not only does the in-line power conditioner do more than a power cord, it replaces the power cord so that you do not need both. I happen to be using Foundation Research LC-1's and an LC-2 in-line power conditioners. In my case, comparing the Cardas Reference power cord vs. the Foundation Research LC-2 connected to my amp, the LC-2 won hands done.

In addition, installing dedicated lines with no breaks from the service panel to a decent hospital/audio quality outlet make an even greater improvement which ever way you go.

-John

I use Sonoran Audio with Micro Bearing Shield Matrix.Maybe the best but not the most expensive.Super quiet oh so dynamic.Much more detail while having more black space and contrastSome ac cables seem to make the music brighter more jangily.They all seem to change something maybe not always for the best.

I have lots of good cables here from Shunyata BMI, Omega Mikro & others. The very best cable I have heard IMS is the Elrod Power Systems EPS-2. It is really a very good cable that has incredible dynamics and the most natural top end I have ever heard. Of course there is a money back trial period so nothing to lose.