I haven't read all 10 pages of posts but here's another example of an extreme difference between PCs. My EAR Acute CD player came with a cheap computer grade PC. I switched to a Audioquest PCs NRG 3 and 5s. The result was nearly the same, slow and murky sound, lacking in highs, tubby. Horrible. I then used a GroverHuffman.com PC cable (or a high end cable of your choice). The EAR Acute sounds now as good as the near SOTA CD players available. It competes with my $22K analog set-up. That's why I can wholeheartedly recommend the EAR CD players as bargains, but you MUST put in a high quality PC or else it's mud.
Why Power Cables Affect Sound
I just bought a new CD player and was underwhelmed with it compared to my cheaper, lower quality CD player. That’s when it hit me that my cheaper CD player is using an upgraded power cable. When I put an upgraded power cable on my new CD player, the sound was instantly transformed: the treble was tamed, the music was more dynamic and lifelike, and overall more musical.
This got me thinking as to how in the world a power cable can affect sound. I want to hear all of your ideas. Here’s one of my ideas:
I have heard from many sources that a good power cable is made of multiple gauge conductors from large gauge to small gauge. The electrons in a power cable are like a train with each electron acting as a train car. When a treble note is played, for example, the small gauge wires can react quickly because that “train” has much less mass than a large gauge conductor. If you only had one large gauge conductor, you would need to accelerate a very large train for a small, quick treble note, and this leads to poor dynamics. A similar analogy might be water in a pipe. A small pipe can react much quicker to higher frequencies than a large pipe due to the decreased mass/momentum of the water in the pipe.
That’s one of my ideas. Now I want to hear your thoughts and have a general discussion of why power cables matter.
If you don’t think power cables matter at all, please refrain from derailing the conversation with antagonism. There a time and place for that but not in this thread please.
This got me thinking as to how in the world a power cable can affect sound. I want to hear all of your ideas. Here’s one of my ideas:
I have heard from many sources that a good power cable is made of multiple gauge conductors from large gauge to small gauge. The electrons in a power cable are like a train with each electron acting as a train car. When a treble note is played, for example, the small gauge wires can react quickly because that “train” has much less mass than a large gauge conductor. If you only had one large gauge conductor, you would need to accelerate a very large train for a small, quick treble note, and this leads to poor dynamics. A similar analogy might be water in a pipe. A small pipe can react much quicker to higher frequencies than a large pipe due to the decreased mass/momentum of the water in the pipe.
That’s one of my ideas. Now I want to hear your thoughts and have a general discussion of why power cables matter.
If you don’t think power cables matter at all, please refrain from derailing the conversation with antagonism. There a time and place for that but not in this thread please.
Showing 9 responses by fleschler
What makes a positive difference in PCs is the design of the PC, not the cost. I've heard $5K PCs that sound awful in several systems and every time I mention the manufacturer, someone says the opposite. But I've tried well designed, less expensive PCs under $1K that trounce that other PC every time, dozens of times, including at several audio shows and a two homes. The homeowners dumped their $13K PCs and purchased the $800 PCs instead. So, it isn't the cost, it's the execution of the PC design that matters most. It's not an if or possible difference, it's an obvious difference that Mkgus wants to know about. |
High Fidelity Cables - Hard, bright, forward sounding, harmonically thin. My friends and I experienced these ICs and PCs at various audio shows at about 18 rooms and in 2 homes (replaced after our substitutions). Even the old Monster Cable 300m ICs were at least tonally pleasant, lacking in frequency extension, resolution, dynamics and ambiance retrieval. $15 Monster versus $5K to $13K HF cables. Some audiophiles claim HF cables are the greatest. Not at least eight of us audiophiles with at least mid to hi end systems ($20K to $850K).
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jea48 The Curl/Parasound incident occurred numerous times. He designed the equipment and they modified it to a price point which diminished the resulting product sound quality. My own PCs are GroverHuffman.com Empress and Pharoahs which are laboriously made as you can read on his site, patented and priced at $400 to $900 1 to 2 meters. I am the beta tester for his cables for the past several decades. His PC designs haven't changed much, about a half dozen retailed designs over 15 year period. His ICs have had 100 iterations with many retailed designs. Low voltage signals are very tricky to design. His speaker cable also has had maybe four or five retailed designs over 15 years. No one does what he does to wire such as his embossing and pressure flattening the wire or triple coating his first layer of insulation with nickel, carbon and tungsten powder in a solvent based binder. His wiring is generally low capacitance. Just some information why his cables perform so well on a wide range of equipment. |
At another forum hosted by Roger Modjeski of Ramtubeworks, he specifically 100% denied that PC make any sonic difference other than adequate gauge. His forum https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/does-anyone-care-to-ask-an-amplifier-designer-a-technical-que... answers questions concerning amplification versus Atmasphere manufacturer who are often at odds. Roger basically takes the attitude that if a PC makes an amplifier sound different, the amplifier has an inadequate power supply or design. Only his RM line of amps are correctly designed and built because they are are unaffected by different PCs. He then sort of berates me as an uneducated person. His quote "
My stand on power cords is entirely intellectual from an amplifier designer and transformer makers point of view. I know what is inside a transformer and how it works. When you know about transformers, house wiring etc. we can further discuss this interesting topic." |
Roger of Ramtubes has the opposite view of Atmasphere and myself. He says that any PC cable that sells for over $100 is a waste of money. He thinks that there are advantages to better quality PCs but not after $100 price. I've tried maybe 20 PCs in my time, including lower and middle end Audioquest, Magnan cable (horrible High Fidelity cable), etc. and found GroverHuffman cable to outperform them at $400 to $900 (depending on model). Very much higher than $100. Infinitely more complex in design than a $100 cable as well. |
@ elizabeth
As to the kitchen magnets, I tried six of them and they are worthless as to affecting my audio and video systems. On the contrary, the E-Mats, full size, one dozen, greatly improve my sonics. Just one on the main power box significantly improved the video picture with enhanced color and brightness on my 75" Sony 940D. My wife does not want me to remove it. Since 100s have tried and purchased the E-Mats and found the same results, why knock it? I would have returned them unless they provided a very significant benefit for the cost. Again, the E-Mat is NOT a kitchen magnet. The kitchen magnet has a low level magnetism and helps hold it to some metal products. It is being used only as a convenient way to hold the inside "mystery" product that Tim Mrock uses to achieve the sonic enhancement. I don't know what the "mystery" product is but it works. As to TC product, I reserve judgement although I have applied it liberally last year. I prefer the E-Mats. |