If Power Cords Don't Matter...


First of all, I don’t own any high-end power cords, mostly because I can’t fit them behind my rack. Second, I am not trying to stir up controversy, as you will see from my question. I understand that the people who believe power cords make no difference argue that once the power gets into the component, the AC is converted to DC and the power supply of the component takes over completely. I think I have that right for the most part. So it that’s true, and it probably is from a traditional EE standpoint, why is it that I have not heard anyone say that power conditioners make no difference? I am not aware of anyone with a decent system ever saying that a Niagara or Triton or Audience teflon conditioner didn’t affect their sound, for good or for bad. So if the EE theory is true, wouldn’t power conditioners make no difference either? I have an Audience AR6T for almost 10 years and I think it made a big difference. BTW - I am not talking about Power Plants, which deal with voltage stabilization, which is a different topic.  Obviously, if your AC voltage is way off, it's going to cause problems.  
chayro
Try and be a little more detached, and I think you will find the logic easier to process.

^“Detached” sometimes is followed by the phrase “with reality”.^
But I am happy to move from emotion to reason.
Perhaps with the measurements of the noise spectrum at the end of a good and a bad cord?
If the cord is really better, then one would suspect that all the untoward frequencies are sneaking into the device would vanish?
And one would also suspect that the 50 or 60 Hz would be booming out of the device if its power supply was not removing it.

But most of the power supplies are supplying DC.

I guess we can blame Westinghouse power for not having DC to DC?.
On a positive note:  if you really think you hear a big difference, awesome, enjoy your new 1000$ pair of power cables. 
   Heck, I DO HEAR a difference in rca cables, copper, solid core, and silver….does make a difference.

  If I had 1000$ dollars to burn, would hit several used audio shops, used record shops, and splurge on a non meat glue pair of 8 oz. Filet mignons’ and a couple Paulaner hefe-Weiss, before heading out to shop more.

  If you can hear a difference, and it is for the better, sweeet!
sometimes these small but expensive tweaks do have benefits. 
 Enjoy. 
Sorry was so negative in previous email, cousin is a diehard tweaker with his gear, fuses, tube brands, constantly soldering new capacitors in his amps, to try to get ,….to where, I don’t know.
his stereo is bada$$, yet he goes music less for a weekend replacing caps, swapping the speaker connectors, rca jacks.

  He wants to do my old Sunfire, to do a power cord upgrade, no not that upgrade, he would essentially remove the cord, screw in a male socket, so the cord is removable. 
  Thinking about it, but once inside, he will want to do all kinds of stuff. 
Damn, rambled again.
If the cord is really better, then one would suspect that all the untoward frequencies are sneaking into the device would vanish?

Yeah, by magic, I guess. Remind me, weren’t you the one making such a big deal about taking alternative views seriously? That what you call this little outburst?
And one would also suspect that the 50 or 60 Hz would be booming out of the device if its power supply was not removing it.

Another one.
But most of the power supplies are supplying DC.

No, all of the power supplies are supplying DC. So?

What happens is, incoming AC is converted to DC via diode rectifiers. These devices allow current to pass one way only. AC being alternating this means the diodes must constantly switch on and off. This never happens perfectly smoothly. You want measurements, you can find measurements of exactly how fast and smooth diodes do this.

Their DC output then gets stored in the power supply caps. Because all components draw power in very fast transient surges, but we want them to get the same power no matter the surge, so we store it in caps. Caps are also often times called smoothing caps, because they smooth out whatever varying current is going through them.

Remember the diode switching smoothness? Turns out even a lot of capacitance cannot ever completely eliminate this. There is always ripple on the DC output. Another one you can measure.

Or you can do what those of us in touch with reality do, and try it and hear for yourself. Then you will know what you are talking about and not be reduced to schoolyard taunts.

“Detached” sometimes is followed by the phrase “with reality”

You said it. The one thing you got right. Never too late to try and get in touch with it.

@millercarbon I know how power supplies work.
That what you call this little outburst?
It was not intended as an outburst. It is a question.

The point is where is all the 50 Hz, or 60 Hz switching?
And if there is high frequency ripple, then that should be riding on top of the 50/60 Hz, so it would be like periodic switching distortion that happens in time-gates that are spaced at 50/60 Hz.
Or you can do what those of us in touch with reality do, and try it and hear for yourself. Then you will know what you are talking about and not be reduced to schoolyard taunts.
I am not sure where you get the school yard taunts from?

There are literally no shops within 1000 miles. So asking for some reasoning as to the theory, or some examples of what it is removing should not be viewed as an attack or a school yard taunt. I am not likely to spurge on cords when the system sounds pretty good as it is, unless/until I can better know what to expect.

Caps are also often times called smoothing caps, because they smooth out whatever varying current is going through them.
Sometimes there are diodes —> smoothing caps —> (choke) —> voltage regulator —> more capacitors at the rails.


You can add me to the camp that hears a difference with better power cables. I added a set of SR Foundation power cables to my amps and preamp. I’ve been listening to them all week and the sound from my system has absolutely improved. I actually notice more reverb from the instruments in the music I’ve been listening to this week. Drums sound more real than they did with my OEM cables. The higher frequency notes have much more clarity. All my cables now have silver conductors instead of the standard OEM copper. To my ears, this has absolutely been worth the upgrade.