2. amps-preamps
  3. 189778-171531

A stupid question(s) about power cords

As the title indicates, I admit that this is probably a stupid question. But since I don’t know (for sure) the answer, I am asking it anyway.

The recent power cord thread got me interested in a power cord upgrade (from the stock cord) on my Maranzt SA10 (SACDP). The power cord receptacle on that particular component does not have a male equipment ground pin--only the neutral and hot pins. Therefore the cord supplied by Maranzt is a two pole (if that is the right terminology) cord. But because I have done it this way before, I do know that it will accept a power cord with an equipment ground as well as a neutral and hot.

Question 1: I went to musicdirect and looked at some power cords and I saw one (an open box Audioquest NRG Z2) that they were calling a two pole cord. The end that plugs in to the component only has a neutral and a hot, but the other end, the end that plugs into the outlet in the wall, does have an equipment ground blade (so that end has three blades). Why would that be?

Question 2: (and this is the stupid one) if a power cord has an equipment ground pin plugged into the wall, even if it is not plugged into an eqipment ground in the component itself, that cord is still connected to the neutral bus bar in the panel, right? So that being the case, since the equipment ground wire in the cord is right next to the hot wire, is there a way unwanted stuff (rf or whatever, my understanding of this is quite limited) can that dirty up the power that is traveling on the hot wire  in the power cord?

I think that the answer to the last question is probably going to be ’no’? And if the answer is ’no’, that means that I really don’t need to shop for only two pole cords, right? And I see this as sort of important because if I buy a two pole cord, the ONLY component I can use it on/try it out on will be my SACDP--there will be no playing around with a two pole cord on my preamp or my amp.

And ALSO, if I don’t feel constrained to shopping ONLY for two pole cords, I would probably have more options to consider.

TIA for legitimate insight to this, and to all others, feel free to ridicule me and my question--I don’t mind.

 

 

 

immatthewj

Showing 6 responses by rodman99999

rodman99999
6,206 posts
 

                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

                       Another runway builder, to be disregarded!

       Enjoy experimenting with your systems and enhanced musical pleasure, @immatthewj  (et al).

 I do believe that an improvement could be made without me fully realizing what the improvement tangibly is--just that my level of comfort and satisfaction has increased to an extent. Possibly or even probably a small extent. But small + small = slightly bigger than small. 

                                                            +1

          System improvements always prove incremental and some: more profound than others.     Just another of the myriad of VARIABLES, when it comes to this hobby.

           btw: there are no, "stupid questions".     Just some of the responses one gets, when making an attempt at a bit of education/enlightenment.

                                                   Happy listening!

rodman99999
6,206 posts
 

@classicrockfan & @botrytis -

                                             Once again:

     Isn't it amusing: someone that doesn't even know what Physics considers the best electrical conductor, has the unmitigated gall to mention Science?

                                             What hubris!

                 A perfect example of The Dunning- Kruger Effect!

                              A JOKE?     YES (and a BAD ONE)!

                                 Let's make that: TWO bad jokes.

                                                      🙄

                                          Happy Listening!

rodman99999
6,206 posts
 

                                                 Time for a rerun:

        Anyone needing a rationale for experimenting with new cables in their system and/or feeling dissuaded by the Church of Denyin'tology's antiquated electrical doctrines: take heart!

        Many new electrical facts have been established in the past 100 years, that support audible differences, between various cables, fuses, etc.

         I couldn't find anything like, "Updated Electrical Theory For Idiots", but- did manage to find something resembling a cartoon, that even a child could follow.  It neither mentions AC/sinusoidal waves in wires, nor does it go into the photon propagation of electromagnetic waves.   It does, however, emphasize/demonstrate how Electrical Theory has progressed, since the 1800s:

              (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGJqykotjog)

        These next two presuppose a certain amount of knowledge, in the field of modern Electrical Theory.    Click, "more" in the first link's third answer, to get its entirety.    Note how it mentions the OLD, "... commonly held misconception that the flow of electricity through a wire resembles a tube filled with ping pong balls...", to which the Denyin'tologists fervently adhere: 

https://www.quora.com/Are-photons-involved-in-all-forms-of-electricity-for-example-when-it-flows-through-wires?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google_rich_qa&utm_campaign=google_rich_qa

                                            and:

        https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=2348

        It's an established (measured) fact that an electromagnetic wave's propagation and speed, are dependent on the materials, of which the transmission line (cable) are made (ie: Dielectric Constant/permittivity).     The better (lower) the Dielectric Constant the better the flow and the longer it takes for that material to become polarized.     One reason anything that comprises an RLC circuit (ie: capacitors, cables, PC boards), takes time to, "form", or, "break/burn-in".*      

          *Something that makes the Denyin'tologists apoplectic.

   https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/blog/2019-dielectric-constant-of-pcb-substrate-materials-and-signa....

https://unlcms.unl.edu/cas/physics/tsymbal/teaching/EM-914/section5-Guided_Waves.pdf

          Even the most inane (regarding the Sciences) must admit; braiding and twisting wires eliminates/reduces EMI interference.              
          That must lend credence to various cable geometries.

          That better dielectrics enhance the propagation of electromagnetic waves (ie: your music signal), lends the same credence to choosing cables with better materials (ie: Polypropylene, Teflon, air, etc).

           Of course: anything the Church of Denyin'tology's popes can't fathom, they'll summarily dismiss.
     
         As simple a device as a fuse is: it still carries a sinusoidal signal/voltage, ALWAYS from source to load.
                                                 NOT back and forth!
         Also (as mentioned above): any fuse acts as an RLC circuit, the 'C' of which will be determined by properties of its wave guide's/ conductor's surroundings (ie: glass, air, bee's wax, ceramic, end cap materials, etc).
          Any commonly drawn wire will exhibit a chevron pattern in its crystal lattice, so: why not "directionality" and why OHNO Continuous Cast, single crystal wire sounds better, to so many?
 
                   Stated above are scientifically tested, measured and proven facts. 
                                  There is no "contest", or "dispute" involved.
 
         The OP mentions Maxwell, but: obviously they have no understanding of his theory and possible ramifications as regards the above.
  
          Anyone that feels compelled to harp on not hearing any differences, is obviously too obtuse to understand the term "variables" (as frequently mentioned) and worthy of disregard.
  
          My only goal in these threads has ever been to encourage those with a mind to experiment with their systems, based on the latest (20th/21st Century's) findings of ACTUAL Physics/science and ignore the Cargo Cult's incessant runway building (objections, convolutions, deflections and obfuscations).
 
                                                       Happy listening!

 

rodman99999
6,206 posts
 

     Isn't it amusing: someone that doesn't even know what Physics considers the best electrical conductor, has the unmitigated gall to mention Science?

                                             What hubris!

                 A perfect example of The Dunning- Kruger Effect!

                              A JOKE?     YES (and a BAD ONE)!

rodman99999
6,206 posts
 

Hi, @mrdecibel -

     Every cable, currently in my system, is silver (except for the 8TCs on my Subs).  ie:  1 pair) Kimber KS1030 & 1 pair) KS1130, 2) SR AC Master Coupler X pcs,  6) Zu Mother pcs and 1 pair) Analysis Plus Big Silver Ovals.

                          Nothing pricey, fancy or- the, "latest and greatest".

      It's always been my opinion: if you use a cable that has the best available conductor and dielectric, it just makes sense that you should be able to better hear whatever the rest of your components are putting out, good or bad.     Given the rest of the cable's construction is worth a damn, of course.

       Outside of some stridency, from some* 1970's, Siemens CCa's, that I tried in my CDP (it takes six); I've never had an issue with brightness.    This moment: there are six early 60's (grey plate) CCa's in there and the presentation is excellent.

         And: that's with the coaxial horn tweeters in my Emerald Physics speakers, which SHOULD let me know if there's a brightness issue.

          As you mention: ears are a MAJOR variable and just one of a plethora, when it comes to this hobby.

                      *I had tried two of those, combined with four of the grey plates.

                                             Happy Listening!

         

rodman99999
6,206 posts
 

Copper is the best metal for conduction of electricity.

                                  correction:

       Silver is the best metal for conduction of electricity.

https://www.thoughtco.com/the-most-conductive-element-606683

More to discover