Do power cords make a difference?

Joseph796,

After 20 years in this crazy hobby, I've given up trying to convince skeptics
and I've definitely stopped feeding the trolls. I've watched people spend
$50k and fail to improve their sound by more than a skosh. I've watched
people spend half what I have and create systems that made me weep.
What works in one room won't work in another. I respect all views that are
based upon critical listening. I laugh at anyone who stands on the ground
explaining why something "can't fly." If a significant number of
people I respect enjoy something enough to buy it and keep it, I'll usually
try it. That strategy yields good results 98 percent of the time.

Btw, my elderly mother once commented that her old HDTV sure looked
better after I "messed around with that cable in the back." She
could care less that all I did was attach a $90 after-market power cord.
Does that prove anything? Obviously not. But, it *was* a fun moment.

Well said Vhiner, well said.

Without a doubt one of the greatest upgrades you can make to your system is a power cord. There are a lot of hokey devices out there that may or may not work, but a power cable is not one of those. They work wonders.

I am normally very cynical about the various "accessories" that are sold in the audiophile journals and websites. Many of the products that you see for sale makes me feel embarrassed for the people who work hard to buy such hokum. However, after my system reached a certain level of performance, I finally did buy some aftermarket power cords. I do not want to show bias, so I will not name names. But after upgrading cords for the power amps, preamp, and source components, I could definitely tell a definite increase in performance. These were entry level and mid-grade cords from the same well-known company -- two $700 cables for the two power conditioners, two $300 cords for my amps, and several $80 cords for my source components. The improvement was a definite yes, but I would caution anyone to first spend their money getting good electronics -- the proverbial sow's ear will always be what it is, irregardless of exotic power cords. And, also, if you like the sound of the first cable, follow through with the other components.

I was given one to use in my system and I did not expect to hear any differences and was going to send it back after hearing it. Well, 7 years later, I still have it in my system. It feeds an isolation transformer for my headphone rig. It does improve but the performance to value issue is one of the most contested in the hobby.