powercords

At one point many years ago my turntable was battery powered. The battery was connected to a charger. The thing had a switch to disconnect the charger from AC. The darn thing sounded better disconnected, even when the charger was not charging.

I never bothered to try changing the power cord to the charger since it didn’t matter because I could disconnect it anyway. But this is a perfect example of how the power cord connected to an external supply can still affect the sound of a turntable with a very massive platter.

Currently the power cord going into the Verus motor controller is the least effective of all the power cords in my system. Likewise the same SR Orange fuses that make a substantial improvement everywhere else matter hardly at all in this controller. That said, the power cord and fuses do make a very slight difference. Nowhere near what they do everywhere else. Barely noticeable. Would not spend the money if I didn’t already have the power cord. But its there.

As to how, it should be obvious. There’s two explanations. One, as with the battery that sounds better disconnected, the power cord can act as a sort of filter that reduces AC line noise. Another is the motor is like everything else in an audio system, it does not draw power continuously nor smoothly. Its a never ending stream of transient micro-surges. Even as massive a platter as mine (25lbs or thereabouts) still responds to motor torque and speed, which in turn derives from power delivery to the motor.

These "I’d like to know how" questions might seem intelligent or intended to stump but are actually quite tiresome. You really should be able to figure this stuff out for yourself, you know?
Currently: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367vs with the battery powered motor: https://www.theanalogdept.com/c_miller.htm

Chuck, respectfully, what difference did you note when you did your turntable experiment?
 

You're asking me what I heard more than 20 years ago? You do realize of course there are people who think we need special switches to compare cables because we can't remember what anything sounds like for more than a few milliseconds. Not that I am one of those. Just taking advantage of the opportunity to really stick it to em.
The bass was better, and there was more drive and energy. Beyond that gimme a break, it was after all 20 years ago!

also, if the notion of low draw items need less "gauge" is true, what cord would you think would be good for the Herron?  Keith, of course, says he just uses the stock....

I talked with Keith a bunch back when I got my VTPH2A and he's a great guy but like all designers he goes with what he knows. Learned this so long ago. Called up Aronov audio. Thinking of upgrading caps, diodes, etc. Do not do this! We use only finest quality! You cannot do better! You will void warranty! You might kill yourself! Amp may explode! Earth will fly out of its orbit!!! Okay I made that last one up. But not by much. Went ahead and swapped diodes. Was absolutely stunned, floored, slack-jawed amazed how much better $8 worth of HEXFRED diodes made that amp sound!

So you can safely ignore all designers and manufacturers- including most especially the designers and manufacturers of power cords! Ignore EVERYTHING they say! Well except for plugs. If they say its an IEC plug, or for the EU or US, that you can believe. Not much else. Certainly not any of their stories about current, or construction, materials, any of that. Its all irrelevant.

The only thing to pay attention to is sound quality. Listening impressions. From people who actually used one. On anything, by the way. Because in spite of everything you may have heard, if they say it sounded dynamic 3D and liquid on a power amp believe me it will sound dynamic 3D and liquid on your Herron. If they say it was flat and sterile on a DAC it will be flat and sterile on the Herron. This is another BS story, that these things have to be matched to certain components. Wrong. Not even.

The only thing power cords need to be matched to is your listening preferences. Which if you like the beautifully balanced sound of the Herron you will probably enjoy the beautifully balanced sound of Synergistic Research. Simply read the reviews, and when you find people describing the sound in a way you like, go for it. That's what I do, and it hasn't failed me yet.

I believe in the time-honored incremental approach known as proof of concept. Because why argue when you can try and see for yourself? The beauty of proof of concept is you don't have to spend a lot of money, or maybe even any. Just time and effort.  

For example, can a power cord make a difference on a low current component like for example a turntable? Well I had a not very good one I was willing to sacrifice so I unsoldered the existing power cord and replaced it with the crappy aftermarket cord and surprise surprise it was a whole lot better! Direct into a turntable motor is just about the least current you can find. This was a truly not very good power cord. Yet it made a big difference.

Something similar has been done so many times since then (this was back around 1994) its been demonstrated beyond a doubt power cords do make a difference on everything regardless of current or whatever.

But hey, don't take my word for it. Don't take ANYONE'S word for it! Proof of concept! It sounds like you already have power cords. So swap them around. Find out for yourself. Only downside is you miss out on all the entertainment reading the people who love to argue way more than they love to listen.