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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 3 responses by samuel03

samuel03's avatar
samuel03
40 posts
 
I know a guy (who made my living room speakers) who has spent years perfecting his brand of power cord. Knowing, if superficially, how much time and effort he has put in the project and how many trial and error he has gone through, I can’t say he is overcharging. It is not just the cost of the material plus some labor cost.
samuel03's avatar
samuel03
40 posts
 
The guy I mentioned earlier about, for instance, uses 31 different small conductors in his brand of interconnect cables, and checks the direction of each. To come up with the 31 combo in the first place is a lot of work, then check the direction of each, most of which are not specified by the manufacturers? If one of 31 is in the wrong direction, it messes with the sound quality. He demonstrated it to me and I agreed with him. So it is not that simple, like different length, etc. And fyi, the length of power cord especially changes the sound.
samuel03's avatar
samuel03
40 posts
 
I am sure some manufacturers are crooks, and surely some audiophiles are gullible and paranoid. I, for one, hear most of the differences and while acknowledging some superior products, I can’t afford, to be more exact do not want to spend that much money on, many of them. I am content with what I have because I have taken pain to put together my system within the budget I feel comfortable with and it is of one good synergy. I can’t talk about the other makers since I don’t know them firsthand, however I wouldn’t consider my speaker builder unethical just because his cables are expensive. On the contrary, I appreciate his passion in his hobby/business. And I won’t waste my time to persuade anyone who believe differently. There are always different opinions on any subject and even name-calling. So be it.
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