Ever hear a power cable make a huge difference?

Riwainwright,
Just to clarify, what you heard is not what Brutusab heard. Am I correct?

LM

PS. I just posted this to the Tesla thread but here is a video of a pair of cables being Quantum Tunneled. I assume this is what Brutusab experienced (though not directly I hope : )

Brutusab did you actually witness a pair of cables being Quantum Tunneled and if so was a big improvement before verses after?

http://synergisticresearch.com/index.php?PageID=191

LM

Dpac996,
I do not assume they are NOT charging both the positive and negative wires with the same potential.

Back on topic, I purchased my Accelerators in January before Quantum Tunneling was perfected (I've since upgraded to Apex and Precision Reference). I sent my speaker cables and interconnects to the factory for a free treatment and the improvements were just as Brutusab described- incredible. I wonder why SR does not offer this service for non-SR cables? (For a fee of course) This way more people can appreciate the work Synergistic is doing.

LM

Do cables have a break in period? In other words do cables sound different before and after they have had a signal passed through them? Does cable burn-in accumulate over time?

If your answer is "no" then you reveal yourself as prejudiced to the point of not being able to hear what is so clearly audible to those of us who care to listen.

If your answer is "yes" then it stands to reason that an extreme signal such as the one recorded in Synergistic’s video could have an impact on the sound of a cable. That they open their doors to tours as was the case with Brutusab and that his findings should illicit ridicule from people who were not there or cannot hear what is plain to others (power cords, cable burn-in, etc) places their opinions in perspective.

I for one am delighted by my Tesla cables and am glad for companies who dare to innovate. Is it really so strange that power cords can improve a system or that cable burn-in could effect the sound of a cable? I’ve been improving the sound of my system with power cords for years and I’ve never heard a new cable that did not improve with use.

Flame suite and flame thrower at the ready.

LM

I find many of the posts in this thread “interesting” and thought I’d see what some of the more interesting posters had to say on other topics- enjoy!

11-27-05: Thezipper
“As far as speaker cables go, you'll do just fine with a decent 12-16 gauge zip cord.”
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1132940913&openusid&zzThezipper&4&5#Thezipper

11-21-05: Thezipper
“Do you really think that the wire is "broken in" or perhaps that you've become accustomed to what you're hearing?”
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1131509484&openusid&zzThezipper&4&5#Thezipper

08-05-07: Thezipper
“As long as the PC for that is 12 or 14 gauge then it should be fine. Your PC has one job...........get the electricity to the component, nothing more, nothing less. AC is AC.......a PC won't, nor should it, change that.”

06-07-06: Rwwear
“I held an 8' and 5' power cord up to my ear and I thought they both sounded the same. I guess I'm not an audiophile.”
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1149694664&openusid&zzRwwear&4&5#Rwwear

01-23-07: Heyitsmedusty
“I do love the rich language that people use to describe the vague sonic minutiae that they hear from switching components, and I also love when people hear those differences when it may be physically impossible to do so!
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1139558775&openusid&zzHeyitsmedusty&4&5#Heyitsmedusty

03-10-07: Rel
“So Apple maniacs confess! How many of you secretly hate authority, all big business, and Republicans?”

“I'd say around 99%....thanks for asking!”
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?icomp&1173483403&openflup&9&4#9

09-28-05: Audiofeil
“Disclosure: I am a Stealth Audio distributor.
There exists cables which should not be "cooked". For example, we warn all purchasers of Stealth Indra, up front, that under no circumstances should these interconnects be used with any break in device other than normal use in their system. No exceptions. The warranty is void when the purchaser uses such devices.”
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1127693186&openusid&zzAudiofeil&4&5#Audiofeil

Alun,
Why don't manufacturers provide the best power cord for their electronics? Perhaps it would add to the cost of their final products or perhaps the best cable does not exist and is therefore subjective. In either case it is prudent that manufacturers only provide utility cables and allow the end user to pick and choose the cable that delivers the sound they are looking for.

Why don't speaker manufacturers provide the best speaker cables with their speakers? Alternatively, why don't electronics manufacturers provide the best interconnects with their electronics? Some manufacturers do provide cables but these are Mid-Fi components that hardly represent High End performance. Is it that far off before this debate turns to all Amplifiers, CD Players, Pre-Amps, etc. sound the same? If so then reports of Stereo Review’s demise were premature.

Perhaps the abundance of electronics, speaker, and cable manufacturers exist because electronics, speakers, and cables do all sound different and perhaps it is these differences that people are attracted to.

LM

Do power cords make a difference? I visited the Synergistic factory last week and I concur with Brutusab. The Synergistic Research reference system is amazing and the power cord demonstration compelling- just don't stand too close to the Tesla Coil. It's going to be interesting to compare these new power cords when they come out to the best of best.

PS. They were working on something completely different that will give cable lovers and doubters something to think, rave, and rant about- I can't wait!

>>> The answer of " products are designed to a price point" doesn't hold true in high end game. I don't think many manufacturers were considering price when building much of the product seen on the hi-end market. <<<

Alun,
Seriously? Then why don't high-end manufacturers only sell their "best" component in each category? Whether or not an electronics manufacture wants to admit power cords make a difference is not the point. They have many reasons, not least of which are consumers who "want" to believe all power cords sound alike, to claim power cords make a difference. Think about it, the minute a manufacturer admits power cords make a difference they will be shunned by people who like to believe all cables sound alike. Conversely, people who take the time to make comparisons discover cables sound very different from one brand to the next. Now if your electronics manufacturer of choice admits power cords do make a difference they will then be asked "which brand sounds best on your components." I doubt very many amp manufacturers want to answer that question as not all of their dealers sell the same brand they endorse or heaven forbid they recommend a power cord that costs thousands of dollars. Should they do this some people will conclude that their electronics only sound good if they spend a bundle on power cords. Manufacturers endorsing power cords or a specific brand is a standard Catch 22 if you ask me.

I revert back to my original response to your proposition that if power cords made a difference then manufacturers would include the best power cord for their products- it's the same reason speaker manufacturers don't include speaker cables and why electronics manufacturers don't include interconnects- price point and the fact no one cable will make everyone happy. I would rather purchase a product that did not include the cost of cables and get that product for the absolute lowest price then to be stuck paying for a cable of inferior sound quality and then have to pay for it's replacement.

LM

Heads up- I saw the new Synergistic Research power cords on their website last night. Given my positive experience with Tesla cables thus far I am interested to try these cables in my system.

LM

I just had to share this. I went to synergistic research the other day to get some cables re-terminated. I saw some power cords on the floor and decided to ask about them. Ted, said they were all prototypes, would I like to listen. He brought me into the demo room and played some great music. He switched out the preamp power cord for one of the prototypes and man was it noticeably better. Then, he left and came back into the room with a big smile on his face. He pulled a cable from the back that I swear was just recently built. He confirmed that no one had listened to it yet. He put the new power cable on the preamp and...................NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!! It was unbelieveable what a difference I heard. I could not believe how much bigger the sound stage grew, better focus, detail, and faster tighter bass. I had him switch the PC in and out because I just could not believe what I heard. Then he said "lets make it better." He brought it to his Tesla machine and gave it a quantum tunneling. He put it back in the system and to my surprise it was un believably better then what I had just heard. It now made the whole system easily sound 3 times as good. I just could not believe my ears. Then I had to know, how much could I get this cable for. I would think at least $2000 if not $3000. Nope, this will probably go for $500. Well Ted, sign me up for a few of those bad boys.

The OP hit the nail on the head in his original post- followed by some who had never heard these cables but felt compelled to argue the impossibility of it all. The moral of the story? You have to listen to cables- in your system- before you can come to a conclusion. As it turns out I agree with the OP's observations but this is in my system, with my equipment, and with all other cables being Tesla.

Your music may vary.