Can you hear matched power cables?

Elizabeth, try Custom Power Cord original Top Gun on preamp and phono. They show up here for sale from time to time. Though quite expensive when new, you can get them for $120-$150 for 5ft now. Then maybe you will want to get rid of your piles of Pangeas.

This is pretty typical of information intended to help in terms of "evaluating power cords", that gets confused in translation when recounted.

When evaluating power cords of any type, if you bring brand x home and have 2 brand z, 1 brand y and 1 brand a, then the performance of the new sample cord is heavily influenced by the rest of the power cord system...

Some cords are designed with massive gauge and have heavy inductive signatures, some use ribbons or have a capacitive signature, some are silver, some use copper. Power Systems of any make-up are interactive by nature. To get a real idea of any power cords contribution, its best to evaluate as a complete set_ when possible_--especially when replacing stock. Obviously, this cannot happen often, but it does represent an "ideal" for of an evaluation.

A great deal of the divergence of opinions on the internet with regards to different power cord models comes from testing them in mixed power system contexts. If someone tests a Cardas cord in a system that has three Nordost cords, one Pangea and a Synergistic, they will likely gain a different result than someone who tests the same cord in the exact same electronics context but with a different mixture of other cords.

If there is an actual point to the design of one companies cords, say "lowered resistance" for example, then getting one of those cords and mixing it with high-resistance cords will give a unique result, could be good, could be bad, could be a null result. Applying any cord of a particular design as a system will yield generally very consistent results that are _easy_ to discern and describe.

That was the point of what I wrote, not that you had to run out and buy extra Venom 3's.

It's explained clearly here without any mention of brands:http://www.shunyata.com/Content/ac_guide.html

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding.

Regards,

Grant
Shunyata Research

I learned a lot from that link, thanks.

I disagree that evaluation of a system is best done with the same power cords. I have made sets of power cords using acrolink cable but with Furutech F1 ends, and Oyeida ends. I have an all Ayre sytem except for the speakers which are Vandersteen 5A's. It seems that the amp likes the Furutech ends while the other components like the Oyeida ends. If I switch, there is a definite polish off the edge. I say that you must try each power cord in the component with which it is to be used.

hi cm jones:

your question is a vriant of:

should a stereo system feature one brand of cable or is mix and match a viable alternative ?

this subject has appeared on other threads.

i think the simple answer is your ears.

own any cable that produces a sound you like , regardless of brand.