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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
lacee
811 posts
 
Thanks for answering my question?
One or two times that a power cord didn't improve the sound over the course of so many years and systems is proof enough for me.

So what multiple aftermarket cords did you try?
And on what did they not work?
Pretty simple I think.

I find it curious that since there were only one or two occassions,you should be able to remember what they were.

I am not attacking you, but I am curious.
As I've said, I've never met a component that didn't sound better with a better power cord.
And I can remember all the ones I've used them with.

I do agree with you that there are no absolutes in this hobby, as there are none in life.

Still being the curious type, I am left to wonder if I have owned either of those two pieces of audio gear,and that perhaps I came to a different conclusion.

Surely you should be able to remember the gear in question,
and perhaps others will share their experiences with it and stock power cord vs upgraded ones.

I can remember every mistep I've taken.
I think you would be doing us a big service by informing us of the mismatch so that others don't go down that same path.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
One of the pieces I think was a PS Audio Premier Power Plant.

Lacee, as we age, the memory is the first thing to go.

I tried the Tekline Reference Master, Silver Audio Wattmaster, VH Audio Flavor 4, PS Audio Statement, Lessloss, DCCA Musical Essence, Purist Audio Dominus Ferrox Synergistic Tesla.

As far as other power cords I've used as I've changed components and speakers, the list is longer.
terry9
2,214 posts
 
I tested this hypothesis, and found that isolation transformers work better, for less money.
lall
122 posts
 
For those who think power cords don't make a difference please read my experience. I have 4 power cords in my system: two Harmonix Studio Master 350 on my two mono amps and two Kharma Grand Ref. on my front ends (Audio Aero Capitole Ref SE and de Havilland mercury 2 preamp). The rest of my system comprise Kharma CRM 1.2 speakers, Harmonix Golden Performance GP & Fusion Audio Romance 2 interconnects and Jorma Unity speaker cables.

When I swap the two pcs between the front ends and the amps (i.e the Kharmas now on the power amps and Harmonix on the front ends) keeping all else remaining the same, the sound from my system changes dramatically. It becomes extremely robust, big, powerful, gusty, and almost thrown on my face: too much muscle in the sound to enjoy.

Reversing the order of the pcs back to the original order, music becomes smooth again, lots of emotion and very enjoyable. Even my wife spots the difference within a second.

Lesson learnt: if your system is revealing and consists of high quality components, every single change in the chain be in pcs, tubes, interconnects, speaker cables or individual components will make a noticeable difference to what you hear. If no difference is detected then either the system is not sensitive/revealing enough or the listener's ears need to be checked. Simple as that. Caveat: difference does not necessarily mean better or worse as these are subjectively determined by the listener alone.
cheers
lacee
811 posts
 
Thank you Foster9,I have a friend who can't seem to hear differences between cables,be they inter-connect or power cords,even when I can hear the difference they make when listening to them in his rig.

He has discovered that his right ear has 20% hearing loss.

What he has just discovered is that using 4 bass traps and 4 wall damping panels has improved his ability to discerne differences better than before he tried them.
In fact he was sure that the room tuning devices would be a waste of money, because of his hearing issues.
He is pleased that his latest investment in audio has given him so much pleasure and a renewed interest in listening again.

It's unfortunate you are among the few who cannot enjoy the benefits that upgraded power cords can bring to the experience.
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