New expensive power cord for amp and no change in sound?
I bought new an expensive(for me) well known and reviewed power cord for my very good amp and plugged it directly onto the wall socket. After a couple of weeks of daily use I hear no change in the sound quality from a $500 cord. I don’t want to name it for fear of getting my thread deleted. You would know it or at least be aware of the company. Did I throw away several thousand dollars? Before I get the snake oil answer I want to let you know that I bought an upgraded cord for my pre as suggested by the pre’s manufacturer and am pleased with the results.
I guess for full disclosure the amp’s manufacturer said don’t bother. But I had had good luck with the pre so I thought it would be a good idea.
No one can tell you whether/how your system, room and/or ears will respond to some new addition. There are simply too many variables.
LIKEWISE: no one can possibly know whether a new addition (ie: some kind of disc, crystal, fuse, interconnect, speaker cable, etc) will make a difference, in their system and room, with their media and to their ears, without trying them for themselves.
Some companies offer a 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee, so- those that are actually interested, have absolutely nothing to lose by trying (experimenting with) such.
Anyone that knows anything about the sciences, realizes that something like 96% of what makes up this universe, remains a mystery.
For centuries; humanity’s seen, heard, felt and otherwise witnessed phenomena, that none of the best minds could explain, UNTIL they developed a science or measurement, that could explain it.
The Naysayer Church wants you to trust their antiquated science (1800’s electrical theory) and faith-based, religious doctrine, BLINDLY (their credo: "Trust ME!").
Theories have never proven or disproven anything. It’s INVARIABLY testing and experimentation that proves or disproves theories/hypotheses.
IF you’re interested in the possibility of improving your system’s presentation, have a shred of confidence in your capacity for perceiving reality and trust your own senses: actually TRY whatever whets your aural appetite, FOR YOURSELF.
"Unless there was something very wrong with your last power cord, or it was just a very poorly made one, you’re not going to here any differences other than those that occur within your own mind via confirmation bias."
- prove it
The scientific methodology that can found/support/refute theories works on disproof via hypothesis testing. Science doesn’t prove anything. Very common misunderstanding.
The crux of this thread’s OP is that an expensive power cord was compared to a more expensive power cord (albeit with the usual flaws that make an uncontrolled design) and no difference was detected. That is, quite literally, hypothesis testing for difference, and @roxy1927failed to reject the null (Ho = no difference).*
I understand why the deterministic claim of another poster you quoted might have bothered you, @dill- fine. But instead of picking at someone for typographical errors or for stating a strongly-toned difference of opinion, consider further study on how experimentation works. The info is out there and free. 😉
This thread posed something different from the paradigms of increasing sonic returns for money spent and being able to count on improvements using one’s own hearing (maybe). But it’s one uncontrolled (sighted, ill-timed, etc.) design that merely supports a camp of cables-can’t-be-audibly-different by way of failing to reject a null.
No big deal, really. If everyone chats about their experiences but no one’s controlling for their biases or setup, then it’s all different variants of apples and oranges - nothing that comparable when everything is confounded by incongruous variables, hey?
*in hypothesis testing, the investigator(s) will not “accept” a hypothesis any more than they’ll prove something. They reject, or fail to reject. That may look like semantics in print, but it’s a very important discrepancy in practice.
Full disclosure, I make my own power cords using Supra wire and their connectors. These are relatively inexpensive and they certainly do a fine job whether the component is tube or solid-state. And while I've experienced merelt changes or an occasional "improvement" in SQ from wire to wire, cables that, from my perspective, are priced absurdly high, make no sense.
The purveyors of those high-priced wires will, of course, disagree.
KUDOS, for experimenting with your system's sound/trusting your ears & senses.
Supra follows some of the same basic science/construction as I've mentioned, if you've read their explanation, as to why their PCs sound better* than stock/common wire.
cables that, from my perspective, are priced absurdly high, make no sense.
I agree.
However: those more comfortably situated than I, with much higher end systems and larger/better listening environs, can afford and demand the very best the likes of Kimber, Analysis Plus and Synergistic have to offer.
I've read this thread and each poster has his/her reasons for buying in or not on the power cables. JMO but had an experience that confirmed for me, in my system, that they do matter.
Purchased some speakers, Evolution MM3s. Decided to get the Evolution power cords for the powered woofers. You know, recommended kit yada, yada. Had some Fusion Enchanters for my Monoblocks, ribbons. Well the Evolutions were 6' and the Fusions 5'. Basically had to switch as the run to the speakers was easily reached with the Fusions cords and needed the longer cables to reach the amps. So I flipped them. Significant difference. Didn't expect it, didn't want it to be so. Therefore no expectation bias. The difference was as plain as day.
I didn’t read all the post so if someone mentioned this. You stated in first post “after a couple weeks of daily use I hear no difference”. Does daily use mean you are not running cord 24/7? Even if you are running amp 24/7 300 hours may not be enough to burn in your cable. If it’s not run in it will sound thin.
Expensive Cables, Wires, and Power Cords to make a huge difference on your wallet and that can affect your listening experience. Because you spent so much money you're going to hear things you never heard before. Like your brain telling you you should have never spent that much money on snake oil. Joke joke joke. I don't put a lot of stock in it. I bought some great wires and cables etc and I've had some really cheap ones.. The problem with the cheap ones is the build quality. Of course you never go for the cheapest stuff ever. Put yourself a reasonable spending limit on them and spend within your budget. I mean you should really consider it when you're buying a system that you know you're going to need cables, wires and etc etc. These are just accessories and there's a difference between the good and the bed and the ugly. The good is half decent Brands at good price. The bad is the Rock bottom cheap ones that don't have the best wiring or connections. The ugly is the overpriced ones that try to sell you something that is snake oil. Be a smart, educated buyer. Just cuz you're eating a steak. Doesn't mean you need a gold fork.
Expensive Cables, Wires, and Power Cords to make a huge difference on your wallet and that can affect your listening experience. Because you spent so much money you're going to hear things you never heard before. Like your brain telling you you should have never spent that much money on snake oil. Joke joke joke. I don't put a lot of stock in it. I bought some great wires and cables etc and I've had some really cheap ones.. The problem with the cheap ones is the build quality. Of course you never go for the cheapest stuff ever. Put yourself a reasonable spending limit on them and spend within your budget. I mean you should really consider it when you're buying a system that you know you're going to need cables, wires and etc etc. These are just accessories and there's a difference between the good and the bed and the ugly. The good is half decent Brands at good price. The bad is the Rock bottom cheap ones that don't have the best wiring or connections. The ugly is the overpriced ones that try to sell you something that is snake oil. Be a smart, educated buyer. Just cuz you're eating a steak. Doesn't mean you need a gold fork.
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