If they both do nothing, then it is wiser to get the cheaper placebo.
If Power Cords Don't Matter...
First of all, I don’t own any high-end power cords, mostly because I can’t fit them behind my rack. Second, I am not trying to stir up controversy, as you will see from my question. I understand that the people who believe power cords make no difference argue that once the power gets into the component, the AC is converted to DC and the power supply of the component takes over completely. I think I have that right for the most part. So it that’s true, and it probably is from a traditional EE standpoint, why is it that I have not heard anyone say that power conditioners make no difference? I am not aware of anyone with a decent system ever saying that a Niagara or Triton or Audience teflon conditioner didn’t affect their sound, for good or for bad. So if the EE theory is true, wouldn’t power conditioners make no difference either? I have an Audience AR6T for almost 10 years and I think it made a big difference. BTW - I am not talking about Power Plants, which deal with voltage stabilization, which is a different topic. Obviously, if your AC voltage is way off, it's going to cause problems.
Showing 14 responses by holmz
How do they work is my question? If a shielding worked then what about the distance from Hoover dam to the outlet? But then the last 5’ I need to run a $1000 cable? And with internet over power lines, it is not like the noise needs to be shielded from getting in… It can already be in there. It cannot be much lower resistance Do the high $ ones have more indictable or capacitance?Or do they use something that has an immeasurable quality? |
That’s easily explained by Voodoo Science. @turnbowm Well let’s pretend that people actually DO hear a REAL difference. Then what is the causal mechanism that is happening? One would think that they could put a scope (or A2D) on the power coming out the end of that cord… and then actually see some things that are other than 60 Hz (or 50Hz) being removed. If I was able to see some high frequency noise on the bad cords, that was removed on the good cords, then it would be easier to imagine that that is a reason to believe in using a fancy power cable being worth having. But when I have to really on my ears alone, then it might be more cost effective for me to just go to a hypnotist… and then I could end up at the same level of happiness for a lot less $. (I still would not have nice looking cables, but then I would also not care.) If the manufactures are doing something good, then what is it?There most be some science driving their effort. Without some proof of it, then I am left to conclude that it must be voodoo or magic. Obviously I fall into the data group. That is not bad, it is just how it is. |
This post won the award for the most simpleton-minded. The awards even for just participating, have been in news for a while:. https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/participation-awards-good-or-bad/ And it looks like it is good to encourage the kids. |
I have tried this power cable with 22 gauge and 18 gauge wires as well. It seems at odds with how the power supply in the amp could be affected by it, but it is interesting that it was observed. |
Try and be a little more detached, and I think you will find the logic easier to process. ^“Detached” sometimes is followed by the phrase “with reality”.^ But I am happy to move from emotion to reason. Perhaps with the measurements of the noise spectrum at the end of a good and a bad cord? If the cord is really better, then one would suspect that all the untoward frequencies are sneaking into the device would vanish? And one would also suspect that the 50 or 60 Hz would be booming out of the device if its power supply was not removing it. But most of the power supplies are supplying DC. I guess we can blame Westinghouse power for not having DC to DC?. |
@millercarbon I know how power supplies work. That what you call this little outburst?It was not intended as an outburst. It is a question. The point is where is all the 50 Hz, or 60 Hz switching? And if there is high frequency ripple, then that should be riding on top of the 50/60 Hz, so it would be like periodic switching distortion that happens in time-gates that are spaced at 50/60 Hz. Or you can do what those of us in touch with reality do, and try it and hear for yourself. Then you will know what you are talking about and not be reduced to schoolyard taunts.I am not sure where you get the school yard taunts from? There are literally no shops within 1000 miles. So asking for some reasoning as to the theory, or some examples of what it is removing should not be viewed as an attack or a school yard taunt. I am not likely to spurge on cords when the system sounds pretty good as it is, unless/until I can better know what to expect. Caps are also often times called smoothing caps, because they smooth out whatever varying current is going through them.Sometimes there are diodes —> smoothing caps —> (choke) —> voltage regulator —> more capacitors at the rails. |
Thanks @thyname I am in fact awaiting an order to arrive, which was placed 6-8 weeks ago. I’ll probably get some Furutech ends for the wall and the inlet, and some RF chokes to put on the cord. I probably need to borrow an o-scope. If you fellows are hearing things, then if it is real I would be able to see something removed. However I could be in an area with less noise on the power. Or maybe my amp and preamp are more immune to it? Or maybe I am just lucky with how the system is grounded and wired? There has to be some reason why certain people find these things work, and others don’t. That seems pretty interesting. Maybe the incandescent lights and not using LED dimmers is helping me? What do you think? Could it be environmental differences? |
For what it’s worth, I was firmly in the “how can cables make a difference” camp before I started trying different versions 6 months ago. A friend of mine who has an amazing system talked me into giving it a try. He told me to look at all the cables as a single component in the system. Which one(s) did you put in? I have an appointment at a shop on Tuesday. |