Can someone explain how power cords help if...

RFI can be super-imposed or "ride on top of" other AC frequencies and also DC. Better designs make use of "bypass caps" in the power supply, which should drastically reduce the effects of RF on the AC lines. Some designs, such as Bryston's, are supposedly insensitive to power cord changes.

If you study the design of Bryston products, they make use of the aforementioned "bypass caps" across the rectifiers. This serves two purposes. First of all, it helps to reduce the amount of RFI that finds its' way into the circuitry and it also helps to smooth out some of the ripples and harmonics generated from within the AC to DC rectification devices themselves. As such, this is a beneficial approach that is desirable. Sean
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PS... I am not suggesting that Bryston products are the best available. I am simply commenting on a single aspect of their design. I chose this brand as others here have commented on their lack of sensitivity to power cord changes and i was able to verify the design of their power supply via schematics that are published on the net.

As i've mentioned before, there isn't anything that one can build into a power cord that shouldn't already be built into the component that you're connecting it to. The bigger the difference a power cord makes, the more under-designed that component is. In this respect, i would say that Bryston is at least as good and probably better than most products out there.

Thanks for the kind words. Believe me, i had a helluva time "staying away" from Agon. I still don't like the way that some things are being handled, but as i myself mentioned before, it is their site to do with as they please. Love it or leave it and evidently, i love it more than i want to leave. Besides that, i'm tired of arguing with people at AA and would rather just share ideas : )

As to Vvrinc's comments, i don't know if Bryston uses the same exact design / lay-out for all of their various models / power supplies or not. On top of that, it is possible that you were experiencing voltage sag with the stock cord that you weren't with the heavier aftermarket cord. I do not know the specifics of the stock Bryston cord and the aftermarket cord that you used, but this could account for a few things. Since the sags would primarily take place on transient bursts or long duration, high current demand passages, the dynamic contrasts of the amp would be the most likely to demonstrate such a problem.

Having said that, bare in mind that wire gauge is not all there is to building a "good" power cord. Obviously, voltage sag is one aspect that is measureable but my personal thoughts are that there are a lot of other factors at play here. Starting off with a heavy gauge cord that is of a low inductance design will get you most of what you are looking for in a power cord. If you can find those attributes at a reasonable price, go for it. Chances are, you won't be sorry and it will be a step up from a stock cord. Sean
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