Upgrading power cord.. proven upgrade? or crap?

My first experience with aftermarket PCs was a PS Audio Lab II cable that came free when I purchased their HCA-2 power amp. It lowered noise, increased detail, and (most notably) improved bass weight, detail, and slam. I wouldn’t have said the cord was worth the $600 MSRP at the time, but it made a difference with no apparent negatives (other than cost). I used the cord on other amps, the Musical Fidelity A3cr, the Krell KAV-300iL, and noticed similar improvements. But it was not night-and-day. I eventually sold the cord for the cash, and didn’t miss it too much.

My system has come along since then. I’ve had most components for many years, and I’m highly attuned to its sound. Once I got to the $400-$500 (per meter) price range for ALL the interconnects in my system, and $1200-$1500 (per 2-2.5 meters) range for speaker cable, the difference that power cables made became about the same order of magnitude as changing interconnects. Every power cable swap at every position made a notable difference (phonostage, CD player, preamp, and power amp). I’m sure, if I could revisit the Lab II cable now, I’d think more highly of its performance.

The bad news is that power cables make a difference. But that is also the good news. They become part of the toolbox to tune your system to a fair-thee-well. For instance, using upper level AudioQuest cables in your solid-state system, and loving the detail, but finding it a bit mechanical? Add some Cardas or Audience power cables to inject more naturalness. Using (pre-Clear) Cardas cables, but finding the sound too soft? The right power cables can add more crispness and sparkle.

These are just examples - some systems work best with all cables from one manufacturer - but, however you define "high performance" (according to individual taste and listening priorities), PCs can make a meaningful contribution in high performance systems once the system reaches a sufficient level of clarity.

I see a few posters here recommending plugging your amp directly into the wall socket. Isn't that risky? How do you protect your equipment from power surges if you forego any kind of surge protection?

Completely agree with stringreen. Powercords are more noticeable than interconnect or speaker cable. They make profound differences too, but the powercords are HUGE. Try one of the dozen from Purist Audio Design. Extremely effective.

Absolute crap but if you want to waste your money go ahead. Google expectation bias before you do. 
And yes I have tried a few. 

"I see a few posters here recommending plugging your amp directly into the wall socket. Isn’t that risky? How do you protect your equipment from power surges if you forego any kind of surge protection?"

Hi arafiq,

In almost 50 years of audio, I never had any audio equipment damaged by electrical surge, only a TV that was hit through the cable line. YMMV.

Most "surge protectors" use cheap sacrificial MOVs and the rest of the parts are not audio quality either. They act as chokes to the virgin AC flow. Over time, the MOVs, being sacrificial, degrade to the point that they do not function anymore. The "equipment replacement warranty" associated with those products will give you some idea of the statistical life of the MOVs. After that, the surge protector is simply a placebo.

I am NOT saying that several of the best power conditioners do not help improve the sound of a resolving system (they most certainly do IME and it is not subtle), only that "surge protectors" can seriously degrade the sound of a good system. Results vary by system, the product used, etc.

Why not try plugging the PC to your amplifier directly into the wall, play some cuts that you are intimately familiar with, and see if you can detect any difference in the sound? Just don’t let your components get cold (quick changeover) between transfer of the cords.

Let us know what you find.

Best to you arafiq,
Dave