Still mystified by mega expensive power cords

Cables are for a lot of wealthy audiophiles the real toy. Normally they don't understand anything from their own System, except the price tag and the review about it.
But with cables they understand something, they pull one out (no big deal) and plug the new one in (the task of red and white input they are able to handle) and then they can hear something. A difference. And that's it. And when the price is high enough (high means, YOU & others can't afford it), then it is better. That's the bargain.

@ Electroslacker, Hi, I agree!, however, LOL!, I paid $1,000.00 for a 1-meter Taralabs cabolt with oyaide plugs a/c cable used, it has been authenticated by the factory as well, man, what a deal!, as you see on the above post, this cable retails for $5,450.00 for 6 foot, cheers.

The two words,"Everything matters" has made a few people rich, and a lot of people poorer. Stereo systems can easily be seen as a string of pearls that is degraded by any pearl that is not as expensive as its neighbors. That can just be an illusion, or a deep desire to lovingly create a beautiful piece of jewelry from end to end.

Until you compare power cords in a blind test it is all blather

@ Zavato, Hi, Not all exspensive power cords are worth the asking price, brands like Taralabs, Elrod, Purist audio design,High-fidelity, just to name a few are worth the exspensive asking price compaired to whats out there, I will say, to me all top range cables are to much money!, LOL!, this is the price we have to pay to get the best available to the buyers ears!, I cannot say much other than my Taralabs cobalt power cable with oyaide plugs is worth the $5,450.00 compaired to whats out there for even more money!, good luck on your resolve, cheers.

Just got Stealth V12 only $4500.00 a bargain.

How many cable companies employ cryogenics and/or cable burn-in machines, one wonders? Can a $100 cryo'd and burned in power cord beat a $200 stock power cord. Can it beat a $400 stock power cord. That's what I'd like to know.

$11K is a bit of a stretch, unless, your gear is around $100K retail.

We do need to educate those not as wise as us seasoned Aphiles. Sometimes we just have to do the right thing. Ha!

I'm not looking for flames, but for those that believe in power cables, enlighten me.

Zavato 10-12-13

I'm a power cord believer, though I didn't use to be. I don't feel that it's my duty to enlighten anyone of anything. You have to listen for yourself, either you hear it or you don't. You're probably better off if you don't hear a difference. ;)

I agree 100% with Grannyring. Instead of posting this thread you would be better served by trying a variety of PCs in you system. You are free to come to any conclusion you wish but it should be "a posteriori" rather than mere speculation.
I will agree that $11,000 might be a "bit" more than a well engineered PC should cost, unless it can cook gourmet meals and pour a nice cocktail.

First thing to do is to not fall for the red herring. The red herring in this case being the argument that with all the miles it takes to get to your wall outlet, blah, blah, blah.

At first blush and without giving it a second thought it sounds plausible. It's what you use to get that power from the outlet to your amp that's important.
Power isn't being delivered to your abode with the intent of giving your amp a break. It's not a finished product yet. PCs that come with your gear just meet the requirements of not catching fire or melting. Great for power tools but not for audio (though I've seen what long lengths can do with power tools).

You don't have to spend a fortune to get great results and to hear a difference. If you set your goal on nothing over $200 you'd be surprised.

As others have said, read up on other threads and get a feeling for PCs and what they can do. Now, back to doing my Sunday thing: nothing really.

All the best,
Nonoise

So here's the drill. Put on Jennifer Warnes' Famous Blue Raincoat and listen. Swap in expensive power cord and listen to FBR again with attention to minute changes. Swap back in original PC and listen again to confirm differences.
I can't think of a way to make the exciting experience music provides more boring. Think I'll join Elizabeth in that nap.

Well you should be equally mystified why the capacitor, tranny, connector or wire or resistor etc...in your gear would make any difference! Same exact question should plague and not plague you for consistency sake.

Goodness, what can a few feet of wire or a passive part inside our gear do after all those miles and miles of power from the station to the house and then inside our house? Ha!

What about IC's and speaker cable? What can they do after all that spider web of power lines into and in our homes?

Well the simple answer to your question and all like is this. Gear and wire is designed to fix or maximize our music system because of all that comes ahead of it! You need a good power cord because of the very fact that miles and miles of stuff before it needs help to play the best sounding music possible in your home. Is that not the very definition of our need for high end gear and cables and conditioners etc...When you question the power cord you really question all of Hi Fidelity . No kidding.

Power supplies in our gear and on and on are designed and needed to help sort out and maximize the very thing that mystifies you.

If you have a power amp that needs considerable current to do its job, the power cord should be of a decent quality to match- IMHO $500-$1K is enough money to do the job properly. As for source components, with the exception of tube preamps and/or other pieces using a bit more than the usual amount of current, the cord should be well made, especially the terminations. Flexibility is a big plus when trying to hook up everything behind a rack system or cabinet.
In regards to extremely expensive power cords, if there is something else i need to know about (of a scientific nature), i would like to be educated further so i "can get excited" over them as well.

I've read plenty and heard plenty. I remain mystified though. Delivering 120v, 20 amps isn't that tough. Tight connections, adequate AWG, ground and shield. Back in the day when I used to change my own oil I believe I would have bought a length of belden, some good connectors and went to work. I suspect that's exactly what any number of purveyors of high priced power cords do. And they add a techflex cover too.

Maybe I am in business! OPM Cable and Wire in now born!