Power Cords Snake Oil ??


Having been a long time audiophile living with countless high end compnents I have to wonder about the theory and practicality of high end power cords.

I have yet to hear the difference a power cord makes. Ive owned, synergistic, Shunyata, BMI and cardas. I in no way can detect any sonic signature or change. Give me a pair of interconnects and I imeadiately notice a difference somewhere in the sonic spectrum. Not the PC though. I have accomplished 4 blind tests with my friends. 3 out of the 4 they did not know their cord was replaced. All 4 were using a stock factory supplied cord. Each of the 4 tests were done on different components. Amp, CDP, Preamp & dac.

My electrical backround tells me that provided you supply the component with its required voltage bet 110vac or 220/240vac its happy. Now, change the incoming frequency from 60hz to say 53hz and watch how quickly your soundstage collapses.! This is often the case during the summer months when home air conditioners are in use and the utility company power output is taxed to the max. A really good power conditioner should however take care of the frequency fluctuations. But 110vac is still 110vac regardless of the conductor it passes through as long as its remains 110vac when it reaches the intended circuit. Does your 8k amp or preamp know the difference of the path the voltage took to reach it ? Many an audiophile will use a dedicated 20amp circut for their equipment.That is a good idea as voltage & frequency fluctuations will occur in the home circuit to to other loads on the main breaker panel but again, A power cord simply is the means of transporting the voltage from the wall to the component. IF there is a clean 110vac @ 60hz at the wall socket, no matter what the medium is to go from the socket to the component, it will still be 110vac @60hz.

Could somebody expand on this a bit more. I just dont understand it. ??
128x128jetmek
In another thread, Danomcroo wrote:
Hi all. My first post on the forum, and I'm posting here because after reading these audio threads for several months, I know there is a wealth of knowledge to be tapped.
Not looking for that here?

Regards,
I am a relative noobie when it comes to high end audio speakers, but I spend 6 years repairing communications equipment for the Air Force. I do know a little about electrical theory. I can see this forum is going to be far more entertaining than the dull old college football blogs.
I am by no means attempting to besmirch any product. If a person feels compelled to spend $1200 for something they could buy for $12.50, go for it! But, $1200 worth of acoustic wall panels and bass traps will ALWAYS be a better investment than a magic power cord or holy speaker wire.
07-24-11: Danomcroo
I am by no means attempting to besmirch any product.
Yes you are.
But, $1200 worth of acoustic wall panels and bass traps will ALWAYS be a better investment than a magic power cord or holy speaker wire.
No it isn't. Room treatment addresses speaker/room interaction non-linearities. Power cords address line noise and current delivery to the power supply. Speaker cables address signal transfer from the amplifier to the speakers.

You could spend $10,000 on room treatment and *still* not address an audible issue that can be addressed only by a cable swap.

Next time you want to use your job experience as a blanket condemnation of certain aspects of audio tuning, why not run it by Anthony H. Cordesman?