Do powercords make a difference in sound?

I have discussed the subject of designing an amp with a fixed power cord or an iec. several have said that an iec degrades the sound, and a well designed permanently attached will provide superior sign. in fact, conrad johnson wasa using attachable power cords for a long time, and only recently designed their amps and preamps with an iec for marketing reasons, not sonic ones.

at this point in the discussion, i would think that one can sum it all up by the following:

those who believe power cords make a difference are entitled to tehir opinion, while those who don't are entitled to their s' .

there is no way to prove the hypothesis that powercords make a difference, it may or may not be true.

any thing else to say is probably redundant

Computers and portable appliances did help make the detachable universal IEC connectors popular. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_60320]

09-09-11: Tbg
Another reason many manufacturers don't include power cords is that they don't want to irritate many power cord manufacturers while pleasing only one.

i'm not so sure about this explanation. for example, krell apparently decided that there was money to be made in the "upmarket" power cord biz because they introduced the "vector hc power cable". krell says of the vector hc power cord that it is "engineered to the same rigorous standards as krell electronics".

yes audiophiles, if, after spending $40,000 or $50,000 on monoblock amplifiers, you still feel that you haven't spent enough money, krell will now accommodate your wishes by offering you the opportunity to spend another $4,000 on a pair of "upmarket" power cords.

09-09-11: Mrtennis
I have discussed the subject of designing an amp with a fixed power cord or an iec. several have said that an iec degrades the sound, and a well designed permanently attached will provide (a) superior sign(al).

theoretically this is true; the connection is a potential source for the introduction of noise into the signal path. the same reasoning would suggest that you would achieve superior sound if a phono preamplifier had hardwired load resistors instead of switchable ones. but the questions you have to ask are what is the amplitude of the noise and what is the frequency range of the noise. i mean, unless you have your audio system in an emi shielded room with extra precautions to shield each component and each cable from cross-emi, then your audio system operates in an environment where are all kinds of ambient sources of interference noise that could theoretically degrade the signals traveling through your audio system. but the real question is: can you *really* hear them? if you believe that you can, then you may want to take appropriate actions.

Mrtennis writes:
"at this point in the discussion, i would think that one can sum it all up by the following:

those who believe power cords make a difference are entitled to tehir opinion, while those who don't are entitled to their s' ."
There is no one who is not entitled to their own opinion, it is not something that can be "taken away" from them per se and therefore simply exists if so stated. The value of that opinion however, when scrutinized via truth and fact in hand, will vary from legitimate to ignorant, depending on the viewer's awareness to the presented facts.
To say: "there is no way to prove the hypothesis that powercords make a difference, it may or may not be true." is NOT true, as many of us on this thread have tried to make you aware and as I have specifically claimed citing verifiable evidence, several times.
The evidence is NOT debatable when blind testing (as earlier described) proves with NO doubt, that different cables result in easily discernible and often dramatic differences in sound each and every time the swap(s) is/are made...each and every time properly identified...and are repeatable with dozens/hundreds/thousands of people...100% of the time. This now constitutes FACT. Like it or not. It also confirms that your entitled opinion conflicts with the facts yet you are of course, fully entitled to have it as long as you wish. Enjoy.
PS After first receiving my Conrad Johnson monoblocs I initially set up my system and became familiar with its sound. Shortly thereafter my first order of upgrade was to have IEC receptacles installed in them, replacing the fixed stock cables attached. Swapping in my aftermarket powercords (which had been previously used in my former pair of monos) resulted in an instantly noticeable and significant improvement to the sound. This history of replacing stock powercords with aftermarket upgrades resulting in obvious performance improvements has been consistent with virtually all the components in my system over many many years. Anyone pondering this upgrade path should do one thing: TRY IT, and let your ears make the decision. Odds are you too will find the choice [to upgrade from stock] an obvious one...do it! (then defend your decision on these threads!)