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Why does an audiophile grade power cord matter?

probably another beaten horse topic but I cannot find answers to quell my question.

Basically, most of us have homebuilder standard supply solid core copper wire with nylon, plastic or rubber sheathing that runs the length of our homes from some cheapo metal utility company supplied junction box to a 5 dollar leviton outlet Joe General Contractor buys at Home Depot. So the current at that 5 dollar outlet is what it is until we hook it up to our system.

So why does plugging in a 1.5 meter or what ever length of audiophile grade xxx hundred dollar power cord matter to go that last couple of feet to our components???
photonman
photonman OP
96 posts
 
Thanks Jea48 for the link. That info helps make some sense why the last few feet of current are impactful.

the current at my $5 Leviton may be "dirty" but once it enters the power cord, its a new ball game and at its most pivotal point of transmission. that is my take on it.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
The way I've handled this is to think of PC's like I do spices in cooking, what ever works with your equipment for your hearing works!!! Price can mean nothing but with "better" equipment more expensive/exotic cords have consistently provided "better" results.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
If you think it does not matter don't buy one!!
sonic_genius
528 posts
 
No doubt in my mind that a PC makes a difference. You must have good plugs too AND replace that cheap contractor grade outlet.
onemug
784 posts
 
For your Memorial Day enjoyment.....

One day there will be a measurement that will explain why power cords "can" change the sound (theories have sprouted). It will come as a surprise and there will still be disbelievers.

Similar to the distortion spec race back in the 70's.....

Amps, back when, had 1% distortion. Now that's High Fidelity!!!!!
Better amps came along that had half that, then a tenth of a % and life was good. Of course an amp with 10 times less distortion is going to sound better. Right??? :-)

Then, with gobs of "negative feedback" (the circuit, not the reputation, smile), we now have amps with .005%. They are the best of course because they have a thousand times less distortion. :-)

But then life got confusing when tube amps made a comeback and sounded better (some think) yet had 100 times "more" distortion. WTF??? Then a Civil War broke out (well, not so civil) between the "spec" believers and the "ear" believers.

"But" (the pause, not the pa-donka-donk one) then a new measurement came along that showed us amounts of odd and even ordered distortion and, as it turns out, the dreaded "higher order" distortion.

It didn't end the war but a lot of middle ground was formed. We still have polar opposite extremists, I suppose to keep the force in balance (you don't mess with the force!). Like the icecaps, they seem to be shrinking in size though.

Open mind = nice.
Fertile mind = not so much.
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