Ideal power cord lengths?

@ghdprentice

@soix

etc.

Thanks for the welcome, but it’s misplaced.  It's far from early in my journey... But thank you anyway.

Yes, indeed, ears as arbiter I understand very well.

I also understand confirmation bias.

But if spending even more money on a 20k product for a power cord is necessary for you to hear "large improvements"... well, er, then I’d call out the manufacturer on that one because the amp must have some design flaw, because with a good enough amp there’s no such thing as "large improvements" except for system synergy with speakers, maybe dac, maybe... subtle, perhaps audible or perhaps psychological, improvements perhaps... One hopes to hear "large improvements" when one drops $500 or $1000 or more on a power cord or an interconnect, and hope leads to belief leads to thoughts of even greater nirvana if only, if only...

And I also understand priorities, to each his own there, financially and otherwise.

But as an educator, and as an educated long-time audiophile on the side, I do not agree that ignorance is bliss... and I’m also aware of endless, self-imposed rabbit holes that intertwist and eventually lead to more rabbit holes and never a home. So, if that’s where people want to lead the OP down, and if the OP chooses to follow, well then that’s your priorities and the OP’s priorities.

In my considered and experienced opinion, if you’re not satisfied with the sound of your system, and if you have a well-designed modern amp, you’re better off trying different speakers that are more to your taste than dumping money into cords and interconnects.

So, yes, follow your bliss, and if that means pouring money into... cords... well, so be it. Myself, I’m not following into that questionable hole, however, and the OP will just have to weigh everything out and decide for him or her self.

@ghdprentice 

I agree with soix, very well stated and reasoned reply. I've reached a point where I don't bother with those who are skeptical of what others report with regard to hands on experience in High End audio. That's their choice and issue. Listening is the best method for deciding what does and does not produce meaningful results. This approach has served me well.

Charles 

All of my AQ powercords are under 2m. 

So, yes, follow your bliss, and if that means pouring money into... cords... well, so be it. Myself, I’m not following into that questionable hole

@curtdr Yeah, you’re obviously right and the rest of us who’ve found PCs to make meaningful improvements are just kidding ourselves along with the manufacturers of equipment who never, ever use stock PCs either. You keep rocking those black plastic throwaway cords and reinsert head back into that much more comfy hole in the sand rather than daring to explore ours. It really is so much easier for you that way — I’ll give you that. Enjoy.

@soix

Ad hominem much?

By your stridency, I do believe I’ve struck a cord... er, chord. 😉

Yes, fine, you and some others have experienced "significant improvements" in the sound of your system by buying expensive cords... great. Enjoy.

Experience = subjective, by definition

Significant = subjective, usually, unless tightly defined

even Improvements = subjective

if we do adhere to the concept of let your ears decide...

... and if the OP wants to follow you into that replacement cord tangle, that’s fine w me... we all have our hobby or hobbies, right?

This subject reminds me of finances, in more than one regard. Esoteric financial products are not superior to intelligently implemented simple products. Many people buy way more insurance than they need... including "whole life" products... because they either don’t know the research or just because it makes them feel better. High priced hedge fund or other active professional managers, or amateur active traders, do not beat the indexed market in the long run, especially once the premium fees are extracted. Any that do, do it by statistical luck, not skill. But, people who buy into all that esoterica in the face of overwhelming long-term academic research to the contrary often feel better anyway and frequently think themselves smarter than us "uneducated" schlubs with our heads in the sand of our low-fee index funds... And that’s fine too.

It’s good to have a hobby, and I’m glad you found one that gets your juices going... more power to you and your system... my hope for you, in all sincerity, is that you someday find your own comfy satisfactory hole, or if you do not, then you will be comfortable with eternal wandering. It’s all good, whatever path you choose.

Few people follow the rabbit holes I follow through Kant and Wittgenstein, so hey... and I don’t blame ’em at all.

And it’s up to the OP or any other audience member to weigh it all out, consider his own priorities, and choose his or her own path, as well.