Power Cords - Just Say Yes

Lacee: "It's when you add all the little "can't make a difference" tweaks together that you start to notice what's going on."

I argee heartily with that. I'm no Golden-Eared Audiofile, able to hear subtle differences instantly. I can and do hear, fairly quickly, some differences among cables and other components, but I'm more a medium- to long-term listener, able to eventually hear improvements in transparency, smoothness, etc. And lest the protestors write that I'm merely getting used to the new sounds, not all changes to my system have created better sounds, and they get reversed.

I believe that cable, generally, has significant influence on sound quality, and why shouldn't it? Even Measurists understand that, for instance, brass is a measurably better conductor of electricity than cheaply plated steel, and that copper a better conductor than brass. How about the dielectric surrounding the conductors? Who would say that PVC is a better-sounding insulator than, say, Teflon?

If you agree that components--including all cable--of a music-reproduction system can never IMPROVE the music, only add bad stuff and remove good stuff, then probably you'd agree that EVERY time you replace one of these 'sinning' components with one that sins less, the quality of the music improves. IOW, improvements to music-reproduction systems are indeed cumulative.

Lacee: "Good enough is good, but better is better. If you don't have to settle for good enough, why should you? And why should you feel everyone else should?"

WELL said, Lacee.

My system, after about 65 years of being an audiofile/audiofool, has never sounded better and is the BEST-sounding music-reproduction system I've even heard. I'm confident that all those relatively expensive interconnect, speaker, and powercables in it are assisting, not hindering, that excellence.

I also believe that the majority of those who state loudly that powercables (or whatever) CAN'T sound different will NEVER hear a difference, because they don't want to.
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Besides powercord, i get improvements when i changed the dc cable from a stock 20 awg multistrand copper to a diy dc cable using 18 awg neotech upocc solid core silver with teflon insulation. The lines are clearer and more defined. This dc cable is for the calyx linear power supply feeding the calyx 24/192 dac.

I think this hobby has room for all types of music lovers.
Just like some folks hooked on cars like to tinker and add turbo chargers better tires ,and upgraded performance parts, other folks are content to just drive them the way they came off the assembly line.

I have yet to understand what benefit to one side or the other,is gained when negative comments appear after a positive experience with an upgraded audio device.

The cost of the upgrade compared to the cost of the stock item is a constant complaint,so is the belief that such things just can't make an improvemnt, hence a waste of money no matter how small the investment.

Everything matters,everything has a sonic signature and contributes to the end result we hear in our listening rooms.Including the room itself, which is so often neglected.

I truly believe those who find little or no difference in upgrades,just don't sweat the details like the rest of us who hear the improvements.

Fix the power, treat the room, and then you too should be able to hear how a fuse upgrade or a power cord can make a positive improvement.

Or you can tell yourself that your Chevy Vega is still as good as it gets.

"Everything matters"

Not to everyone as you point out though, plus no two things to exactly the same extent, so there is a pecking order in general to what matters most or least

"everything has a sonic signature and contributes to the end result we hear in our listening rooms"

I agree with this theoretically, but practically there is way more that matters little or is less or insignificant than the things that matter most. Time is best spent getting the things that matter most correct first. I think a lot of people are hoodwinked into wasting time dealing with less or insignificant issues before the time is right (if it matters at all to them in the end). That can be a huge wate of time as pointed out. SO it is important to put all things in proper perspective and order of significance.

"Including the room itself, which is so often neglected."

That is a big one, perhaps even #1, that is often neglected.

"I also believe that the majority of those who state loudly that powercables (or whatever) CAN'T sound different will NEVER hear a difference, because they don't want to"

I want to hear a difference in wire and all the other improvements that tweaks bring, and I have good ears. But with all the Supernovas going on in the Milky Way, and the Sun making all that racket with Atomic Fusion, I can barely hear my speakers, let alone wire!
Cheers