Question for Atma-sphere, will expensive power cables improve your amplifiers?

Why are you asking ’opinions’ about power cables instead of just asking what science and physics say, with quantifiable facts. POWER CABLES DO NOT CHANGE SOUND.

@squared80 All one need do is use your ears you you can easily hear differences between most power cables. Earlier in this thread Ralph from Atmasphere explained that one aspect that is easily measurable and affects sound is how a given power cable handles the voltage drop between the wall and the amp — the more power hungry the amp the more significant the voltage drop and the more important the cable becomes. He said some power cables handle this drop better than others and again this can easily be measured, and this is just one aspect of why power cables can and do sound different let alone shielding, quality of the connectors, etc. If you wanna stick with cheap power cords and deny they make a difference have at it, but you are in the vast, vast minority here as most hear very significant differences between PCs and at least some of it absolutely is measurable according to science and physics.

@soix 

I came away thinking that Atmasphere cleverly skirted answering the question of whether or not expensive power cables of the SAME gauge will improve the sound of an amplifier versus their less expensive counterparts.

Instead, I thought that what he was writing is that a power cord needs to be of significant gauge to handle amplifier voltage drop.

I believe that you (and maybe Atmasphere if I misinterpreted his post) are implying that power cables of the same gauge can carry different amounts of voltage from each other?  

In fairness though, the actual voltage drop across a power cable is going to be as insignificant as its resistance and in any event, wouldn't mitigation consist of heavier gauge conductors (ref. Ohm's law)?

I am not suggesting power cables do not make a difference in sound quality, merely that voltage drop may not be the best explanation, unless of course the conductors are improperly sized. After all, some big amps can pull 50 or 60A from the wall during transients.

I believe that you (and maybe Atmasphere if I misinterpreted his post) are implying that power cables of the same gauge can carry different amounts of voltage from each other?

@jetter @devinplombier No, I was responding to the general assertion made that power cables make no difference in sound and can’t be verified with science or physics, which is pretty much absurd on any level. I just mentioned voltage drop as one aspect because it was mentioned earlier in this thread and is measurable, but obviously things like capacitance, resistance, etc. can also be measured and can affect cable performance and sound. I usually avoid responding to the flat earthers here, but this one was so broad and silly I felt compelled. That said, there are variables like geometry, conductor (silver, copper), shielding, connectors, etc. that can all make a difference so that even cables of the same gauge can and will sound different. One only need compare 10AWG cables between different manufacturers or even two different lines within the same manufacturer to hear that this is the case. If you think all 10AWG PCs sound the same then we’ll just agree to disagree. Anyway, hope this clarifies things.

@jetter

Honestly @atmasphere deserves a lot of credit for being so forthcoming while being somewhat unfairly put on the spot by a question that applies not just to him but to every manufacturer on the planet, assuming of course that that question had value in the first place.