Another unconventional power cord test?


As I continue to experiment by recording noise in my system by placing a sensitive mic about an inch away from my right channel tweeter, I've stumbled upon an interesting finding: my computer, a simple windows laptop, when plugged into my PS Audio Duet filter, adds a tremendous amount of noise - relative of course. So I plugged the computer into a different circuit and wouldn't you know it the noise is gone. Very interesting, and I never would have guessed or heard this without this listening method that I've been toying with.

I've just bought a shunyata viper high current cable - $265 - and did some testing with it plugged from the amp to the wall, then into the Duet. I then did the same test with one of my PS Audio Lab cables. Again, my findings are interesting: hands down the ps audio lab cable is much quieter. And in all configurations there's less noise with the amp plugged directly into the wall.

I'm still breaking the shunyata in so I'll repeat the test soon. Anybody have any thoughts on this approach or the findings? Will the break in of the viper cord really make that much of a difference or am I sending that cord back to Musicdirect?
robpriore
That's a nice find. Computers are inherently noisy and are best always isolated from hifi gear.
If your end game is to find the lowest noise floor, then it sounds as if you will be sending the Shunyata cord back.

Personally, for me, a lower noise floor is nice, but it is not really what I listen to an audio system for. I prefer tubes to solid state, and while in most cases solid state are quieter, they don't sound as musical to me as tubes. I also prefer vinyl over digital, though digital is quieter. I listen to music the same way through cables/cords. I'm trying to find the one that sounds best to me with music playing, not simply which one is the quietest.
Whatever floats your boat though.

Cheers,
John
John, I've read your posts over the years and you seem to have been through more pc's than most anyone here. I've been through what I call the "PC Jungle" too over the years, but not as extensively and expensively as you, and I've just about had it with this area of audio. Just went through some trials in the past 3 months. At this time, I've lost patience, but I've dabbled for years with various pc's, so it's not like I haven't given them a serious time. They make a difference, but finding a pc to maximize the potential of the component and your speakers is rough.