The Last Power Cable Question EVER (from me)
Not trying to be argumentative but I can never seem to get an acceptable answer to what I think is a straightforward question. Whenever the subject of clean power comes up, the “power cable” is suggested to be of prime importance in the quest for better sound. It’s a given we are not using lamp cord to power our amps but going past any quality piece of 3-foot copper cable raises questions for me.
The power cable is designed to transfer electricity from the wall outlet to your amp, or power conditioner if you are using one. In theory, the worlds best power cable will complete this task without allowing any outside “noise” to get into the line over that 3-foot span. To the best of my understanding of physics, copper wire does not have the capacity to act as a filter nor does it have any ability to impart tonal qualities. In fact, no sound signal passes through the power cable. Just electricity.
So using what many would consider to be the crème de la crème in power cables, the famed Nordost Odin Gold Reference Power Cable, yours for one easy payment of $34,000, and assuming it does exactly what it is intended to do, move electricity for wall to amp without allowing anything else to interfere, then you are still just getting the same power that’s in you wall line, delivered right into your amp? As dirty as that power may be, how is the $34000 cable NOT just transferring that exact same power from point A to point B? I would love to learn something new today, but my common sense keeps telling me there’s a lot of Kool-Aid in the whole power cable discussion. Someone given an explanation based in fact.
@jasonbourne52 "How about replacing the power cord on a microwave oven with a boutique cord and see if it bakes food faster?" I actually did this, measured the results, and it did boil water 10% faster. It also made better popcorn (which was my objective). Word of this trickled up to the designer of the cable who said it made sense to him. |
Lots of great posts and useful information here. I’m going to approach this more from the "what" perspective and not so much the "why" aspect. I’d like to point out that I come from the "reverse bias" perspective, whereby, the concept of premium cables pegged the needle on my "BS Meter". 60 hertz is 60 hertz. It doesn’t change. Electrons travel at the speed of light. And, plugging in something that pulls 3 amps into a (factory supplied) power cord rated at 10 amps is well within the current demands of the cable. I was insulted when our cable rep came around and offered to audition power cables with me. I, unapologetically, sent him and his high-priced cables packing. Until the day he asked me "as a personal favor" to take some home and listen to them. When the evening’s listening session was completed, I didn’t just drink the Kool-Aide. I chugged the whole pitcher. My take on power cords is summed up in one word: AGILITY. Quicker, faster, more energetic power delivery. This is the "what" I referenced earlier. When musical information is presented to the power supply, it reaches back to the wall outlet to get more juice. If the power delivery is slow and/or anemic, the musical elements are there and gone before the power supply says: "’Hey, I’ve got a job to do here!" Microdynamics are undefined ripples vs clear swings in energy that reveal vibrato, trailing voices and instruments, and subtleties. Demands for transients are met with fully defined elements providing rich dynamic contrast. Those "POWS" are "POWS" and not "smushes". Ah, then there’s the improvements in focus and detail. Those formerly hidden spacial queues tell our brains where things are positioned in space a lot more accurately. And, more agility reduces strain and glare. In, literally, hundreds of cases I have not heard a situation where power cord upgrades did not improve the sound of whatever they were plugged into. From price-driven mass merchant low-fi gear to "reference"systems it was unmistakably better. So, I struggle with those who have had negative results with premium cables. Admittedly, I only have experience with power systems in our region in a "typical" home with equipment we’ve had exposure to. So, I’m not saying that there are conditions where power cord upgrades don’t matter (source, low current, high current, integrated systems, separates, etc). I just haven’t experience one. Yet. |
"Preposterous. I make no comment other than if anyone believes this then the moon is made of pink cheese." I love the smell of burning hot rebuttals in the morning. They pair well with coffee. You sound just like me. That is before I actually listened to power cords, placed hundreds of them in customers homes, and "hot rodded" audio gear by replacing OEM power wiring with "audiophile grade" cabling. |
