Power Cords: A Skeptic Looking to Dabble...

One key thing about "listening" to changes brought on by inserting different power cords in a resolving system: when you first connect a power cord, the sound of the system will change over time, and it will change several times. The changes in sound can be subtle or more pronounced. This is the "break in" process. After trying many aftermarket power cords on different components over the years, this is my experience. If you're simply trying power cords for a few hours and then removing them, you will not hear the final sound of the system. Again, this is my experience. It may not be your experience. For me, the terms "settling in" and "breaking in" of cables exists. In my opinion, you cannot properly judge a power cord's affect until quite a few hours and days have occurred with that power cord connected. Or, you can run a new power cord connected to some other device (ie. refrigerator, computer, humidifier) before inserting it in your system to break it in. (also called "burn in.") Anymore, I typically don't have the patience for this and simply connect a new power cord to the component and play the system.

Foster_9 - Do you really believe that you can remember what your system sounded like with the previous power cord installed after many hours of break-in on the new one? I hope you at least swap back for a after the break-in to the original cord otherwise I'd say you are fooling yourself. It is simply not possible to accurately remember the "micro details" after a long period of time, it is hard enough with an instant A/B comparison.

Banquo- I have often taken notes when trying out power cords on a new (used) piece. I have about 6 power cords not in use and upon getting new gear I may use 4 or 5 of them trying to find a good match. I rarely buy new power cords. Mceljo, it comes down to knowing the sound of your system, recordings, and room very well and then you are not just depending on your memory to know what a power cord change is doing to the sound.

Regarding the last few posts, an additional point that will be obvious to some but I nevertheless think warrants mention in this kind of discussion, is the possibility that things other than the performance of the power cord may change during the breakin period.

Examples being changes in AC line voltage or AC line noise characteristics, and ongoing breakin or aging of system components. Tubed components perhaps being particularly susceptible to the latter possibility, at some stages of their life-cycle. Also, the possibility that cartridge suspensions or speaker drivers may be in different states of flexibility due to differences in usage patterns that occur from time to time. (While I haven't particularly noticed that kind of effect with my speakers or with the cartridges I have used, it certainly occurs to a huge degree with my Stax electrostatic headphones). And, also, the possibility that the components in the system may be in unequal states of warmup during the various stages of the comparison, given especially that some folks believe that solid state components can take 24 hours or more to reach a stable warmup state.

As I see it, without a very disciplined methodology it's especially easy in audio to attribute a perceived change to the wrong variable.

Regards,
-- Al