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. ??
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Showing 5 responses by psychicanimal

Tonight I went to a formal salsa dance. I was wearing a suit that was ten years old, since I've lost 25 lbs. Like the Men's Wearhouse TV commercial says, "You're going to like the way you look". Wool jacket and spiffy pants, deerskin shoes w/ leather soles. The first band was more jazzy/mambo; softer in sound. I thought my system could do a good job at conveying the illusion of what was being played. Then Sammy De León's band went on stage--Ouch! the entire horn section is composed of young Anglo guys who are incredible jazz performers (sax, trombone, two trumpets). Sammy is THE best modern timbales player--period. There is NO way any system can convey THAT. By the end I was dancing with a HOT mami in her early twenties, with native American indian features, golden brown skin and a good set of hooters. I am 41 years old and let me tell you, audiophools...THE WORLD CHANGED.

Albert, I've taken your advice to heart.

With psychic power and primal intensity,