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Power Cord Challenge

I've got a couple of weeks off before starting a new job. As I clearly fall into the camp of those who suspect no purely audible differences exist (except in pathologic cases of too-small cords or RFI interference), here's a challenge:

If you live in the San Jose, CA area, let's get together and put this to the test. Your system, your choice of music, I supply a stock power cord to test against your exotic. We play both cords blind (identified as A and B) for a reasonable amout of time; I then play one of the two (randomly chosen through a coin flip) for a reasonable amount of time and you identify it as either A or B. We'll do 10 trials for some statistical significance.

Given that some claim drastic and easily heard differences ("blacker background", "music is more alive", etc., etc., etc.), it should be trivial to get right and shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes per trial. The kicker: you get 9 or 10 right and I'll give you $500! The downside: 8 or less correct and you donate $250 to the Red Cross. Hey, I'm even giving you 2 for 1 odds!

Regardless of the outcome, we post the results to this site. Any takers?

Cheers,
JHunter
jhunter

Showing 6 responses by dekay

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,346 posts
 
I could probably make it to Brulee's for a day trip (I am an hour South). If not I can lend a BMI Whale for the audition if it is held at Bruce's. If you get takers in your area though you could call it "The Grapes of Wrath Shootout".
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,346 posts
 
Yes, Late June sounds like a good time for me and by then I will have additional PC's which we may use in the tests. I should also have my system (which will include new goodies such as the Neuance shelving and hopefully the 47 Labs cabling) up and running by that time and would like to have a few people over that are interested in these products as well as PC's. PC's will include the BMI Whale, a new silver PC by Vantage Audio, the Stealth HAC and Absolute cords for lower price comparisons and in addition I will ask Bruce to supply one of his FIM PC's. This will be kind of a duplication of the first shootout (as these PC's will be available for it as well) but will also include other interesting and reasonably priced (I think) products.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,346 posts
 
OOps: Forgot that Bruce is also using the Neuance and may be using the 47 Labs cable as well. Anyway, we have a lot of art and old plastic souviner snowdomes to look at.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,346 posts
 
I have used rapid switching in audio shops with good results but since I do not have this feature at home (nor would I want it) I just use "key" notes and pieces of music. When I went to Kublakan's AR/BAT audition in late April we used the finger snaps on a cut that I brought along ("Duke of Earl" by Last Forever) which clearly sounded different on the various preamps auditioned. The rest of the music did as well, but this was a small thing that we could all focus and communicate effectively on. Since the testing requested for the PC shootout is based on simple yes/no information, something such as this should work fine. If we have a get together at my place the cords can be tested as they normally would in regard to how they effect the music on a whole. After all this is the main objective of most of us here. I promise not to play Johnny Rivers.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,346 posts
 
Hi Kevin: Thanks for the offer and I will definately take you up on it if either of these sessions come together. If you have a personal cord that is already broken in that would be great, and I will burn it an additional 100+ hours after it arrives, just to get rid of the travel blues. Best regards, David.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,346 posts
 
Kevin: I have been having good luck running extra PC's in on the computer for 2-3 weeks. They sound smooth enough to listen to anyway and then I use them on the systems.
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