USA already has 240V with 2 x 120V but you guys use it for the washing machine. Must be one audiophilic washer.
It seemed like a deliberate but misplaced moving of the goal posts. Maybe due to a very literal reading of "Power cable cannot make a difference".
Almost all of us know that from the start, Pavel's OP was addressing the topic of "Why expensive/snake oil power cables will not make a difference to sound quality compared to the exact same setup using a $3 Monoprice power cord".
But if someone wanted to read the title literally, whether to be intentionally argumentative or because they cannot extrapolate the actual topic of interest from it, then I get why one might argue from the stance of "Well, if there is a grounding or mains wiring defect, than here is an instance where the power cable can be modified to make a differnece".
So maybe it just needs to be repeated plainly and bluntly: when discussing pwoer cables not making a difference, it is in regard to an otherwise properly working system and comparing a standard power cord (wired properly) to an expensive/snake oil power cord (also wired correctly).
However, one may use a Class II power supply and reference it's output to ground. I've seen that more and more as many power supply manufacture's are reducing their number of offerings with many newer designs being offered only in Class II.True, a Class II Double Insulated appliance (including audio equipment)canmust not be modified.
Class I and II refers to the appliance, with the chassis (and the clearance/insulation) and stuff. The power supply alone is not classified by this class.However, one may use a Class II power supply and reference it's output to ground. I've seen that more and more as many power supply manufacture's are reducing their number of offerings with many newer designs being offered only in Class II.
For example, the HyperX SMPS1200Axxx documentation only show a two wire connector for Line (Phase) and Neutral. However, looking at pictures it appears more builders are using the standard IEC C13/C14 power connector.Now, it's entirely possible it's connected through the frame though they appear to be using non-conductive standoff posts.
Pretty sure I found a Y cap to a grounding pad around one of the mounting bolts .
Not so much baggage - just a different topic....... rather than adding it to one which seems to carry significant baggage.
And while we are about it, lets keep it to the type of cable difference other than "those basic requirements to make it work correctly and safely" which are not really what the thread is about.
So maybe it just needs to be repeated plainly and bluntly: when discussing pwoer cables not making a difference, it is in regard to an otherwise properly working system and comparing a standard power cord (wired properly) to an expensive/snake oil power cord (also wired correctly).
Perhaps I should not have made my observations on the possible effects of leakage current and it's phase in a new thread
Maybe an idea for a power cord test: We use an osciloscope to watch the noise at the main rectifier diodes of an amplifier. There should be some change of the diode noise with an different "audiophile" AC cord. If not, there is no way that the AC cord could change the sound of the amp.
In my day, we used to just snip the "ears" off the old-school (US) polarized two-prong plugs.These days, yes, if the plug is molded on, you have to cut it off, strip wires, and put a new plug on it because of polarized plugs and outlets. However... most of the cheap wallwarts I have plug in directly rather than having a cord and don't have polarized prongs, so you can just physically turn them the other way. Easy peasy.
Yes, you could swap the wall socket's wires after ensuring the breakers are off!![]()
If diode noise was making it onto the DC rails, you'd have a really bad power supply. Either it would be faulty or just poorly designed. I don't know another way to describe how the AC energy going into the transformer, then into the rectifier bridge and then gets smoothed out by the caps and presents at the output terminals as DC. The output energy is completely different to the input energy, it has been PROCESSED. It's a one way street, AC is transformed into DC and the amplifier cannot be influenced by the AC or any slight defect in the AC waveform because its GONE! In a properly designed linear DC power supply, no elements of the AC waveform will affect the DC at the output. This is why a meter or two of mains cable or a fuse can not influence the performance of the audio amplifier. If you can't understand this basic principle, you have no business speculating or commenting on issues of an electrical nature.
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be illegal.A highly resistive cable would
First I can understand - though it seems a sledgehammer solution compared to other more appropriate ones, such as downstream isolation, or balanced interconnect.Power cable can make a difference in an actual system, indirectly.
If you have a class-I ground loop scenario, then a higher resistance of the cable can help because then the second GND connection via the interconnects has better chances to be lower (dominating) impedance. A weapon of choice in many recording studios is a large 50m cable drum which creates a significant resistance and common-mode inductance.
A second aspect is EMI (electromagnetic interference). There is a reason why ferrite-loaded mains cables do exist (industrial stuff from Eupen cable company). Such a cable, or at least lots of clamp-on ferrites on a regular cable, can improve the EMI situation big time. In an audio system this can reduce background noise. Clamp-on ferrites should generously be used on each and every cable in a system.
I would say only when needed. Gear should be immune and not emit too much (conducted as well as radiated).Clamp-on ferrites should generously be used on each and every cable in a system.
Of course not. But they block RF frequencies, both coming out of a device as well as ingressing into a device. And RF contaminating a device can lead to demodulation which can make the disturbance audible.They do little to nothing at audio frequencies.
You name it, "should be"... but often it isn't beyond to what's required to pass EMC regulations which are sloppy when it comes to audio artefacts produced by EMI.I would say only when needed. Gear should be immune and not emit too much (conducted as well as radiated).