What are 6 feet going to do for me?

Using a power conditioner does not relegate the need for a low-inductance cord to the component. The issue here is inductance. Cheaper cords have higher inductance. Here is why inductance is important:

Amplifiers demand current from the power-line when the capacitors in their power-supplies become momentarily discharged due to high-current transients in the music signal. This discharge condition must be quickly recharged from the power-source, through the power-supply transformer, or a voltage sag will occur. Such voltage sags can cause audible distortion at the loudspeakers. If the power-source has significant series inductance in series, this can prevent the capacitor bank from recharging in time to prevent a voltage sag from occurring at the amplifier output transistors. With a low-inductance cable, the voltage drop across the cable will be insignificant during high-current transients, minimizing the voltage sag. This allows all of the current needed by the output transistors to be supplied when they need it, resulting in fast, dynamic response to transient signals.

Now spending $6K for a 6 foot power cord is a bit much. I would think that you can get to the point of diminishing returns for under $1K.

Audioengr, nice explanation. Two quick questions: 1) Would larger/more capacitors negate the need for a low inductance cord (i.e., is there a substitution effect?) and 2) Are shorter cords better than longer cords since the inductance would decrease? Thanks.

Speaking of inductance: This is to you Audioengr. Since you say that cheaper cords have higher inductance then the more expensive ones: Is it possible, however, to find a $200 cord with the same inductance as one for $1000. Is there a way to know what the exact inductance rating, (if there is such a thing), is? If so, is there, then, any other reason to get the $1,000 over the $200 one given identical inductance stats? OR, do we just assume the inductance level is low because they are expensive? And, how low is low? Do we get to a point of inaudible differences? Enough questions for ya? Thanks in advance.

Interesting hypothesis regarding inductance. If this is true (certainly it could be) then how in the world does *adding* inductance (via the PS Audio Power Port) reportedly improve some rigs to a significant degree? Just seems contradictory to me; BTW I do not have a PS Audio.
My own exeriences have demonstrated that every one of these tweaks adds an improvement & they all work better when combined. I have a low inductance dedicated AC line, Wattgate 381 outlet, Chang Lightspeed line conditioners, some very expensive upgrade AC cords.
Twl advises well above; all systems work differently & we all hear differently. The only way to know what's actually going to happen at your own house is to experiment extensively. Wish that there were an easier & cheaper way, but half the fun is getting there.

Ozfly wrote:

1) Would larger/more capacitors negate the need for a low inductance cord (i.e., is there a substitution effect?)

To some extent, this is true, although there are effects from the inductance of the traces and wires in the power supply as well that are not improved by adding more caps. There is also the added inductance due to the size of these caps and the surface area that they consume on the circuit-board etc... Adding more caps does not necessarily improve the transient response either, since caps, particularly large ones, tend to have large internal resistance. Adding smaller low "ESR" caps can sometimes be more effective and they consume very little space. Power supplies that respond well to high-power transients at all frequencies usually have a mix of different cap sizes and types.

2) Are shorter cords better than longer cords since the inductance would decrease?

Absolutely. Like all cables in audio, shorter is always better, unless of course you are using the cable as a tone control, whihc I do not recommend.