Another unconventional power cord test?

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.

Foster_9, I agree with much of what you say. I know other audiophiles who feel the same way, and I can't say that I blame them. At times it can be frustrating and overwhelming, there are just too many variables involved. I know one fellow who has very expensive cables who just went back to all stock power cords and tuned his system around them. I've played with enough combos to know that this could certainly be done, and would remove one more variable from the confusing mix.

That said, I still find power cords to be very alluring. Though I was late to the party, I have more money tied up in power cords than I do in cables. This certainly doesn't mean this is the right thing to do, I haven't heard my friends system with stock cords and much more expensive cables than mine. However, I've seen how I can use cords, interconnects and speaker cables to balance the sound to suit my tastes over the years, and I am sure that I could probably still get great sound by removing any of those three variables. Either going with stock cords, interconnects or speaker cables, and still get possibly just as good of an end result.

Many times simpler is better. I've heard integrated amps that have embarrassed much more expensive separates. So I would never suggest that someone keep playing the game until they find just the right combination. That game can be so frustrating, and to make it even worse is the fact that when I do hit the magic combination, I still can't stop. I have to keep on experimenting until I lose all of the magic. LOL! I'm getting very close now to the sound that I like again....and this time I want to jump off the merry-go-round for a while, as I'm starting to get burned out too.

Strangely enough. many of my cords today are not the latest and greatest, but mostly older classics, Elrod's, Nordost, etc. One's that I discovered years ago, moved on from, and now have come back home to. I think that may be a sign that there is hope for me....that I may be settling down. LOL!

Cheers,
John

"finding a pc to maximize the potential of the component and your speakers is rough. "

PCs/any general purpose home computer or laptop are good at storing and sending data, but are inherently noisy. Best to isolate them from gear that produces HiFi sound. USe ona separate circuit, physically isolated from hifi gear, and connect wirelessly using Wifi to a network player that IS designed to connect to a stereo and deliver high quality sound. This is the only safe bet! Mating computers and hifi gear is alsways risky business otherwise. You might get lucky, but why take the chance? Isolation from sources of noise is always a good thing with good hifi gear. No different here, just a lot of potential problems.

I know you're giving Robpriore good advice Mapman. I've also known I needed a dedicated line for digital for a long time. Just haven't made that move. I must get a separate circuit installed for my Macbook Pro and cdp's. But, I finally got a vintage turntable delivered today (Sansui SR-222). First turntable I've owned since 1979!