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The Truth About Power Cords and there "Real" Price to Performance

This is a journey through real life experiences from you to everyone that cares to educate themselves. I must admit that I was not a believer in power cords and how they affect sound in your system. I from the camp that believed that the speaker provided 75% of the sound signature then your source then components but never the power cord. Until that magic day I along with another highly acclaimed AudioGoner who I will keep anatomist ran through a few cables in quite a few different systems and was "WOWED" at what I heard. That being said cable I know that I am not the only believer and that is why there are so many power cord/cable companies out there that range from $50 to 20-30 thousand dollars and above. So I like most of you have to scratch my head and ask where do I begin what brand and product and what should i really pay for it?

The purpose of this discussion to get some honest feed back on Price to Performance from you the end user to us here in the community.

Please fire away!


 


blumartini

Showing 10 responses by geoffkait

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I hate to judge too harshly but it seems a lot easier to satisfy the Naysayers as to what constitutes a “scientifically controlled test.” The reason I say that is because, by their own words, naysayers almost always have the least firm grip on what all the variables are. Not to mention anyone with bad intent can make the test impossible to pass. Thus, Naysayers are LEAST able to control all the variables. Make sense?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I knew that would get a rise out of you, nubbins. As soon as I wrote it. It’s Pavlovian! 🐶 It’s also ESP. By the way, I can’t help noticing your grammar and spelling are kind of falling apart recently. Are you OK?  Are you going the way of Lizzie? I hope not. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
One irony for cable tests, blind tests or whatever, is that new cables almost always sound quite bad relatively speaking, so what purpose would testing new cables serve? The other irony is perhaps more subtle, especially for you new guys, but unplugging a cable destroys the delicate electrical mechanical interface where the cable is connected. It takes at least a day or two to establish or restore that delicate connection once the cable is plugged in. Same for power cords. Conclusion, all (rpt all) cable tests are bogus unless you are willing to be extremely patient. Most cable swappers are like bulls in a china shop. As Bob Dylan says at the end of his records, good luck to everyone! 

Of course the big chicken 🐔 in the room is wire directionality. Why would anyone test cables that are in the wrong direction? Hel-loo!

“Because it’s what I choose to believe.” - Dr. Elizabeth Shaw in Prometheus
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
He asked the wrong question. Hel-loo! 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
thyname
But maybe someone is brave enough to step forward...

>>>>You’re too late. Someone already stepped forward. 🚶🏻
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The one cord I would get if I had the money AND if I still used power cords would be the AudioQuest Hurricane, you know the one that respects the inherent directionality of wire, the own that goes for around $4,000. Why? I’ve heard things. People talk. Oops a-daisy! The Price Range wasn’t wide enough.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I hereby recuse myself from this conversation as I do not use power cords any more. I also apologize for bringing down the average cost for power cords. And good luck to everybody. 🤗
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Oh, I don’t know, I think this high cost for certain audiophile products is a little bit irrelevant. There are $650,000 speakers, $16,000 cartridges, $120,000 turntables. So what? It doesn’t necessarily advance the science OR the performance to go all out on money. And who can do it? 1/2 of 1%?  As I said somewhere earlier even One Million Dollar systems can oft go awry. I would say it’s hard to prove the value of things, generally, but especially when the cost is astronomical. Money can’t buy me love. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Hey, $16,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to the Von Schweikert Ultra Speaker internal wiring upgrade that sells for as much as $35,000. Are you saying $4,000 for a power cord is where you draw the line. $1000? $100?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
About all I can say is beliefs can oft be very strong and hard to change.
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