Front Row Seat Power Cord?

@laginz

You want to ’create a perspective that is more “front row” than “mid-hall”’.

I would like to introduce you to a British electrical engineer, Mr Peter Walker, but he died in 2003. The company he founded, Quad Electroacoustics, produced valve and solid-state amplifiers in prodigious numbers, and he was the first to commercialise full-range electrostatic loudspeakers which are still very popular today.

His ideal amplifier was "a straight wire with gain". In recognition of the imperfections of recordings, his pre-amplifiers came with several subtle controls to allow music-lovers to optimise settings for record playback. His demonstrations often used A-B comparisons, where recorded music could be compared to live music - the actual source being hidden behind screens.

Now to the point. He deliberately described what we call the volume knob as the focus control. He encouraged listeners to adjust this control until everything came into focus, rather like a camera lens.

I am wondering if you already have a control that can change your perspective?

@laginz "I agree that  the simple “volume” knob is part of the equation in creating a front perspective, but not the only part."

Would the other part not be to do with the recording itself?  For example, placement of microphones (assuming a natural venue since you mention front row and mid-hall)?

If you really want to make a change, try DSP where you can switch between venue types.  A lot more options than swapping a power cord!

@1971gto455ho You, like most people, are assuming the power cord might affect the quality of the mains supply, if it affects anything at all, which I guess you doubt.  Much more likely is that it modulates in some way RFI generated by your equipment that it powers. 

Elsewhere I have given a reproducible example of a power cord feeding a subwoofer with an in-built class D amplifier, which generates lots of switching noise.  The cable was acting as an antenna and destroying TV signals.  A couple of ferrite rings round the power cord fixed that issue.

@1971gto455ho 

I have given you a concrete example of a power cable radiating EMI from a subwoofer.  The EMI was sufficient to take out my TV reception, which of course is a low-level digital signal.  This is entirely reproducible, and was solved by modifying the cable by adding two ferrite chokes.  Untamed, this EMI would feed into any other connected component which just might affect its performance?

As a Cambridge-trained physicist, my natural inclination is to disbelieve odd claims. However, reports of RFI affecting sound quality have been around for decades, so maybe there is some real phenomenon at play.  Back then, everybody thought it was from the mains, so it seemed non-sensical that the last six feet could make a difference.  Much more recently, our own components have come under suspicion, especially those with electrically noisy digital circuits, or switched mode power supplies.

Rather than dismiss what people claim to hear, I would prefer to try to understand what they are reporting.  It may be psychobabble, or it may be a real phenomenon we don't fully understand yet.

Do I personally think changing a power cord can move your virtual listening position?  Never in a million years, but every good scientist should keep an open mind.  I also deplore the reluctance to do A / B testing, especially on something as easy to swap over as a power cord.

@steakster

Too bloody right!  All Ozzies know you need to sift a pile of dirt to get a nugget or two.

By the way, if your engine is showing signs of pre-ignition, you need to up the octane.  Otherwise be happy

Cheers to all