AudiogoN Forums: Power Cords Snake Oil ??

Power Cords Snake Oil ??

Having been a long time audiophile living with countless high end compnents I have to wonder about the theory and practicality of high end power cords.

I have yet to hear the difference a power cord makes. Ive owned, synergistic, Shunyata, BMI and cardas. I in no way can detect any sonic signature or change. Give me a pair of interconnects and I imeadiately notice a difference somewhere in the sonic spectrum. Not the PC though. I have accomplished 4 blind tests with my friends. 3 out of the 4 they did not know their cord was replaced. All 4 were using a stock factory supplied cord. Each of the 4 tests were done on different components. Amp, CDP, Preamp & dac.

My electrical backround tells me that provided you supply the component with its required voltage bet 110vac or 220/240vac its happy. Now, change the incoming frequency from 60hz to say 53hz and watch how quickly your soundstage collapses.! This is often the case during the summer months when home air conditioners are in use and the utility company power output is taxed to the max. A really good power conditioner should however take care of the frequency fluctuations. But 110vac is still 110vac regardless of the conductor it passes through as long as its remains 110vac when it reaches the intended circuit. Does your 8k amp or preamp know the difference of the path the voltage took to reach it ? Many an audiophile will use a dedicated 20amp circut for their equipment.That is a good idea as voltage & frequency fluctuations will occur in the home circuit to to other loads on the main breaker panel but again, A power cord simply is the means of transporting the voltage from the wall to the component. IF there is a clean 110vac @ 60hz at the wall socket, no matter what the medium is to go from the socket to the component, it will still be 110vac @60hz.

Could somebody expand on this a bit more. I just dont understand it. ??

Jetmek (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-12-03

Responses (201-227 of 227)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

06-07-11 Jive big time hello!!!! Ebm

06-07-11 The way i understand power is that it does not start at the ... Stringreen

07-12-11 Stringreen, respectfully, you are not even close. there is c ... Liguy

07-19-11 So if its snake oil dont buy any!! Ebm

07-19-11 Why resurrect a seven year old thread? r.i.p Don_s

07-19-11 Reasons why you might think cables are snake oil. 1. liste ... Bjesien

07-20-11 Bjeisen, i suspect that most happily married men with a lov ... Shadorne

07-23-11 Solution to #7... i wear cotton in my ears and also my nose. ... Isochronism

07-23-11 The input terminals on the back of all powered audio equipme ... Danomcroo

07-23-11 Is that a fact? well now, we can retire this thread and mov ... Abucktwoeighty

07-24-11 In another thread, danomcroo wrote: not looking for that her ... Metralla

07-24-11 He has, by now, learned it all and has become the audio pope ... Rodman99999

07-24-11 I am a relative noobie when it comes to high end audio speak ... Danomcroo

07-24-11 I am by no means attempting to besmirch any product. if a pe ... Danomcroo

07-25-11 yes you are. but, $1200 worth of acoustic wall panels and ... Johnnyb53

07-26-11 Let's look at the term "snake oil". its an old te ... Lacee

07-26-11 Buy fm acoustics, they don't provide any option of pc but oe ... Quanmer

08-24-11 I wonder how many people that have said "sanke oil" ... Jp1208

01-09-12 No snake oil - good ones make a difference - here's why... ... Williewonka

01-16-12: Lacee
I wonder if the people who can't hear improvements, be it power cords, fuses, wires etc,really take the effort to really listen and evaluate the sound of their systems?

I'll bet they are passive listeners, sometimes called music lovers, but aren't we all in this hobby because of the music?

Ah yes, but some folks are content to just plug it in to the wall with whatever came in the box and listen to music as sonic wallpaper while they pay attention to other things.

If that is the type of music lover that you are, then yes of course none of this aftermarket stuff is relevant to you.
I can see why you would rather spend your hard earned money on more music, which of course you will only be listening to in the background.

Some of us, for whatever reasons, tend to push the envelope.
Some folks like to modify their cars and tweak up performance , while others are content to just get to work and get back home safe and sound.

I think the group who are after upgraded performance get where the other side is coming from, they've been there.

The other side ,however, hasn't been anywhere different than where they've been since day one.

I'm certain that this is the group that will never be swayed or converted.

It's just not in their genes.
Lacee (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-16-12 "i wonder if the people who can't hear improvements, be ... Rok2id

01-16-12 Lacee - don't forget that the differences they may fail to d ... Williewonka

01-19-12 The armonico power cord from fono acustica is changing the v ... Pierre620

01-19-12 Hmmm...first post by pierre620. i suspect a shill. Drubin

01-19-12 At $7300 - i would hope it would change peoples minds - at l ... Williewonka

03-28-13 Ok, so since my last posting i've had a chance to revamp a f ... Williewonka

03-29-13 If power cords can't make a difference, then nothing else in ... Lacee

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