Power Cord Challenge

I had a broken-in one around here for awhile but I shipped it. I'll put another one on my amp and let it run. I have a MOBIE for the interconnects but the power cables are useless to break-in before shipping. All that agitation during shipping does something to them. Keep them off the ground for listening and it helps to run them on the equipment you want to test for awhile before getting into listening mode. If all of this isn't unscientific enough for you then try some yoga and meditation before listening. :)

Kevin: I have been having good luck running extra PC's in on the computer for 2-3 weeks. They sound smooth enough to listen to anyway and then I use them on the systems.

JHunter, My first time reading these threads, but this hits my questionong right on. I've been out of the hi fi cicuit for some time,( a good 15 yrs. ). Back when I was really into it, the only 'wire' upgrades were Monster cable speaker wire, & Kimber cable had just hit the market,( we're talking 20 yrs, ago),& I wasn't overly impressed with Kimber back then.I ended up on e-bay from another site, & decided to search audio. I saw a power cord advertised,& was floored by a 1000.00 price tag, then I saw another 2995.00 cord on 'sale' for 1500.00. All I can say is that a fool & their money are soon parted. I can't see spending 1000.00 for a power cord, much less 500.00 for a pr of interconnects. For crying out loud, that's the price of a decent pre-amp, or amp! When you consider the amout of 'material' in any component, even a cheap cd player compared to whats in a 'pig-tail', come on. I don't doubt thay it makes 'a' difference, but the dollars just don't seem to add up. That's my 2 cents worth

JHunter, I live 10 minutes southwest of San Jose and will bring the wine in exchange for a ducat to sit in on the event, if you ever find a taker. Of course, the wine will have to wait until AFTER the ballots are cast so as not to unduly influence the outcome!! :-)

Jhunter, about two months ago I was in your camp. I thought power cords were pure snake oil. A friend of mine kept telling me what a difference they made so I decided to buy a Virtual Dynamics Power 2 Cryo. I knew I could sell it and not take much of a bath if it didn't work out.

Forget the 9 out of 10 right. I promise you I could get 10 out of 10. And so could you if you were listening to my system. I can't speak for any other system, but this wouldn't even be a contest in my system. The difference is that dramatic.

Look, I have been listening to my same system for a long time. I know what it sounds like. When I installed the PC, it was like I had upgraded one of my components. I wasn't so impressed the first few days. The detail, sounstage, the clarity, etc., sounded better, but not dramatic. But I left the cord on 24/7, burning in for about two weeks and then it was a night and day difference.

Anyway, you don't have to do a shootout. Just spend about $300 on a decent cord and find out. Some are better than others I suspect, but I am thrilled with mine.

Even my wife, who never listens critically, made the comment as she was passing through the room, "Whatever you have been fiddling with now(tweaking), don't change it, it has never sounded this good."

All I changed was the power cord. Well, that's not true exactly. I had to install an IEC on my CDP to use my new power cord. I used silver wire and an Acme Silver Cryoed IEC. Simultaneously, I installed an Acme Silver Plated Cryoed 20 amp wall outlet. So I can't give all the credit to the PC, but I suspect that you would be just as skeptical of the Acme outlet, as well.

Try a good cord that other people have reported success with and find out for yourself. In my system, it was as dramatic as upgrading a component for a mere $300.