PC on a PC

Do you mean that if you burn 2 cds, each using a different power cord from the wall to the power supply, you notice a difference in sound between the two discs?

Yes, there is a difference in sound quality between burned discs. I only have 2 power cords to compare. The stock cable makes everything sound congested. The other cable I tried came with a piece of pro video equipment (though I wouldn't really call it a high-end cable since it still has molded plugs). It's a bit thicker, and the sound improves by spreading out the instruments in the recording to some degree and simply adding more details not heard before. So now I'm hooked and want a really good cable to try.

Assuming you don't go for the Elrod you might try an Absolute Power Cord. They are about $60.

Since computers use a switching power supply, the power cord should not be critical.

Just pick up a sheilded Belden to keep rfi from leaving the box and the cord acting as an antenna.

Is the computer turned off when you compare the disks?

steve

I am very interested in this subject because I burn a LOT of audio cds on my computer. Naturally I want the best possible sound. It makes me wonder, though. What exactly is going on when powercords are switched?

I bet that any scientific proof will be very difficult to find, though. I say this because when a cd is burned, digital information is recorded. In the case of a cdr, a small section of dye is "burned" or darkened with each pulse of the laser. This creates an opaque section on the dye. The laser light of the cd reader is able to pass through the unburned dye, reflected off the reflective layer, and therefore read by the lens. No light can be passed through the burned dye, so the light is not reflected back to the lens. The darkened areas represent 0s and the non darkened areas represent 1s.

Now, lets assume you have a properly working cd burner. It should be capable of burning a digital file that is a clone of what's on your hard drive (I'm not talking about doing disc to disc burns, as they do not crate perfect clones).

I have owned two different burners, three different power supplies, and two totally different computers (and all combinations of this hardware) since I have been burning cdrs. I have always been able to produce exact clones of the source material with the different combinations of this hardware.

I can explain how it's possible to prove wheather or not an exact clone is burned, but I won't do it here as its kind of off topic.

So if it's true that someone can hear a difference between cdrs burned with different power cords, we have to assume that it's not the 1s and 0s that are different, but the way in which the 1s and 0s are recorded. Maybe the definition between the 1s and 0s is more clearly defined or maybe the quality of the burn which creates the 0 is is better with a different power cord.

I'm not sold, though, because it SEEMS like any reader or player should be perfectly capable of reading 1s and 0s despite the "quality" of the 1s and 0s... that is, if there even is a difference in quality. 1s are 1s and 0s are 0s. I do not see any way that there can be a difference. I would be very grateful if someone can shed a little light, as I do not claim to be an expert.