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Separate conductors for separate frequency ranges in cables

On this issue, I'm both skeptical and open minded. I'm approaching this in a good faith manner. I saw an ad on Agon for PS Audio power cables and the description reads, "Inside the AC12 are three hollow PCOCC conductors for the treble regions, one massive PCOCC rectangular conductor for the midrange and multiple gauges of PCOCC bundled together for the bass." I read that and just thought to myself, what does PS Audio mean? There is no crossover within the cable that literally separates frequencies and delivers them to separate inputs of a component. I can understand how different types of conductor materials/geometries can optimize different frequencies, but I don’t see how this would work in a single cable. Not too dissimilar are “Shotgun biwire” or “single biwire” speaker cables, but at least in that application you end up with two separate connections at the speaker – one to the bass woofer, and the other to tweeter and midwoofer. Is there anyone out there that can more fully explain what PS Audio is trying to accomplish with this cable construction? Honestly, I’m just seeking to understand, not cast aspersions. I really dig a lot of what PSA does.


128x128blang11
sfall
346 posts
 
"The $129 price is for the lowest level and shortest length, not an unusual lead in to the pricing structure."

No mystery there. They have to charge something. My point was, as high end products goes, its hard to find a PC for $130. Go to Cable Co's website and display all of their PC's. They always give the lowest cost first, just like the $130 PS Audio cable. The vast majority of PC's starting at the lowest point of entry cost far more than $130.

asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,266 posts
 
I'm sorry, but the skeptic in me calls this 'marketing BS'.  With the lack of a crossover at the 'upstream end', I can't see electrons self-sorting themselves to any appreciable degree.  Physics is physics at the end of the day.  Blind listen if you absolutely think this might be 'the ticket', but be critical about it....IMHO...
alkaloid
50 posts
 

Heres one for you, a mere $1700. https://store.wireworldcable.com/collections/power-conditioning-cords/products/platinum-electra-7-power-conditioning-cord-1?variant=957248655

 I would have to buy 2 of them for my Anthem P5 amp. I am going crazy right now worrying about what to put in the wall, since I'm remodeling the home down to the studs. Then there is the so called hospital grade plugs. And the wife wants all the speaker wire in the walls, and can't seem to find much high end choices for that. I agree with glennewdick, miles of crap from the power company to the pole, and then make it better with 3 ft of power cord????? BS to my ears.

raindance
56 posts
 
So included in the cable price is a certified electron trainer that they will send to your home to teach the electrons which path to take depending which frequency they are transporting at that time.

Holy moly, you have got to be gullible to believe this kind of drivel.

Skin effect has no significance at audio frequencies that can be heard by humans.
wlutke
709 posts
 
I'm not knocking power cables - I hear they really work, as do many things audio that make little logical sense for the magnitude of change they produce.  But I have to wonder how a power cord could sound better than removing the outlet completely and wire-nutting a Romex lead directly to the house wiring, with an IEC connector on it, in essence extending the house wiring directly to the amp.  If the cord and outlet sounded better, THAT would be mind boggling - unless the ability to contain stray EMF fields near the equipment is the primary source of improvement.  OTOH I've tried nickel plated and gold plated outlets and there is a definite sound to each.  So, are power cords a combination of connector plating and EMF control?  And in that light, varied conductor size?  Are they "letting the sound through" or actually sculpting the sound?  I suspect both.

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