Power Cords: A Skeptic Looking to Dabble...

but I'm certainly not planning to get a dedicated line for this project.

Dedicated lines should be the first step for power upgrades. Think of it as the power cord to the system from the service panel. Typical house wiring will be 14 gauge wire with many connections as it routes from one inexpensive outlet to the next, then finally gets to the system. Even if you upgrade the outlet at the system, you still have the connections through all the other inexpensive outlets. A dedicated line eliminates this.

Also, does it really make sense that you will achieve full benefit using a 9 gauge heavy duty power cord on the amp, when 14 gauge is feeding your wall outlet. Maybe a 10 gauge dedicated line should be the first step.

It makes absolutely no sense to me that smaller AWG power cords would outperform larger AWG power cords.

And why would it matter that the power cord be 12, 10, or 9 gauge when it is the last 6 feet to the amp with 30, 40, 50 feet or more of 14 gauge feeding the system outlet through connections of inexpensive outlets? As I said, dedicated lines should be the first step for a power upgrade.

A water large water pipe has the potential for more water to flow through it, but if a smaller pipe has adequate capacity to carry all of the available water then having a larger pipe wouldn't result in a benefit, but would have more potential.

True, but you need to take this a step further. If you are listening to test tones, no problem, however a bass drum requires an instantaneous burst of current in a fraction of a second. Obviously, having that larger pipe will deliver more water in that fraction of a second than the smaller one. Also, the multiple connections prior to your system outlet will limit the potential for that instantaneous demand. No doubt that dedicated lines will improve bass definition, but other aspects of the sound will improve as well.

I have encouraged many local friends with quality audio gear to install dedicated lines and told them if they didn't think the improvement was worth what they spent, I would pay their bill. All have thanked me, and some said they wish they had not waited so long to do it.

Mceljo, I didn't miss anything, and if you think the power available at your current wall outlet is adequate, then I agree with this recommendation,

It sounds as if you are looking for reasons NOT to try a power cord. I would say by all means then, don't try them. If you like what you have now, don't tread any further. Just listen to the music and be happy. Many folks wish that they HADN'T heard differences. LOL! This hobby is MUCH cheaper if you do not hear differences, or better yet, you don't even attempt to hear differences. LOL!!

You said the outlet itself might be an option, so why, all that is going to do is give you a better connection for the transfer of power. So think about this, what would be better if you had to plug the system in at your service panel?

1) 3,4,5 or more 14 gauge extension cords connected together to reach the system

2) A single 10 gauge extension cord to reach the system

Connections and distance are degrading to power transfer, and what has the greater potential for benefit with that upgraded power cord, 1 or 2?

I have had plenty of experience listening to systems before and after dedicated lines, one in particular that was even upgrading the actual dedicated lines. IMHO it is a very cost effective upgrade to achieve better sound when you are using quality equipment. Oh, but I forgot,

I'm not in this with the specific goal of improving the sound of my system, but rather to evaluate for myself the reality of sonic difference from a power cord with a secondary benefit of potentially improving my system.

Sorry, I just don't understand why anyone would have thoughts about spending additional money on a system, and not be looking to improve sound quality.

Nevertheless, good luck with whatever you decide.

Mceljo, then just get a power cord and see what happens. It may or may not make a difference. My point is that dedicated lines will definitely make a difference, and with dedicated lines, the power cord has a much greater probability to make a difference, and that difference itself to be greater.

As I said, good luck.