... abit confused: how does a power cord affect the presentation of sound...


Hello to all...

I was shifting around components in my system, trying to squeeze out better controlled bass, more definition within the soundstage, and better define the "voice/midrange" presentation...

I presently have a tube preamp (hardwired with a wall wart) into an HT Receiver; source is a Marantz SA-8001 CD Player

Swapped out a Yamaha HTR -5550 (hardwired) for a Parasound HCA-750A (which needs a power cord).

CD Player is powered with a PS Audio Statement SC power cord, so I went in my closet and pulled out another PS AUDIO Statement SC power cord, hooked it up and expect to give it at least 5 days continuous re-break-in before serious listening.

Took a minute to lookup reviews about this power cord - and I read some rather confusing reviews: some luved 'um, some liked 'um, but some thought them " ...slow... " (?), and giving a veiled presentation...

I'm gonna listen and decide myself - but I'm abit confused: how does a power cord affect the presentation of sound - I know that interconnects and speaker cables would/could/Do affect sound presentation - but how could a power cord?

Explanation/thoughts please...
insearchofprat

Showing 4 responses by b4icu

Power cords:

Some Audio components have a poor AC line filtering. It’s a shame that an expensive component is so, but it is what it is.
A good line filter would do most of the job, the components went short of doing.
The power cord is practically supplies power to a Power Supply (PS). this is a unit, that rectify the AC, filter it (by capacitance) and mostly regulates it too.
The internal circuitry, supplied by DC power and if the power supply is good, the DC is stable and clean.

It would be a waste of money to invest in an expensive power cable.

I’ll take it to the opposite direction:

If you take one of those extra expensive and recommended power cable and connect it to your kitchen’s cattle, boil some water, and make a cup of tea - would it taste any different from the original $ 1.50 power cable?


Let me understand:
The power cord is the last 1.5m of a power line way longer, as house power wiring, back to the power transformer etcw.
Those lines by nature are way longer than 1.5m (6ft.).
The thought that there is something wrong with the power cable, but the rest of the line is ok, or by having that last 1.5m would do, and the rest is of no importance, is naive.

Power. by nature, has a very low impedance, Audio is not a large consumer (A/C, oven or 3 phase power).
All the fuss is more of the sales guys wanting to sale, than us need the product.
There is really nothing in a power cord to justify spending the price asked.
A simple cable would do the same job.

Mr. dave_b
No answer, could be of more ignorance. 
How many cables do I need to try?
How many $ do I need to spend?
This is the lowest argument of audiophiles. 

Mr. madcow
How much filtering can a cord provide?
If a power filter is required (and it does!) buy a power filter.
It cost 1/5 of one of those fancy power cords, but filters much more than 5x a cable.
More than that. If you call the issue by it's name: Filtering, than plese be kind to provide some Spec.:
How many dB it filters and in what spectrum?
than we could all compare apples to apples and get a good apple.