Why an AC Power Cord cannot make a difference

[Gibsonian]

I had voltage sag in summer with the air conditioners running in the neighbothood.
.
The only audio problem noticed was the beep-beep-beep of a power strip that includes an alarm, and will even shut down if the volts are too low.

The Power Company Engineer had the Line Truck Guys put a meter on my meter for a month.

He agreed with me, and replaced the local transformer that serves maybe eight or ten houses.

Now I get my full 118~120V at the rack.

118-120? Wimpy. Mine averages a cool 124V, power!

 

[kyuu]

So, another completely derailed thread, right? As always. Frankly - the forum is disappointing.

Just how many pages can a thread on power cables making any difference for audio components go on before it must go off-topic for any discussion to continue? Frankly I'm more disappointed just how many pages of discussion on the actual topic there have been, given that there's really nothing to discuss.

 

[JayGilb]

Just how many pages can a thread on power cables making any difference for audio components go on before it must go off-topic for any discussion to continue? Frankly I'm more disappointed just how many pages of discussion on the actual topic there have been, given that there's really nothing to discuss.

I would like to see a thread locked when an answer has been provided. This happens on other forums and would save readers time from reading pages of off topic comments.

 

[mhardy6647]

Don't forget... nuclear power (for that radiating heavy bass)


JSmith

Fission or fusion?

meanwhile... this gave me pause (from an earlier post to this wry discourse):

I hope that someone told this guy (and I am pretty sure it's safe to assume it is a guy!) that the loop in that cord has got to go! He's picking up the ultra-low carrier frequency worldwide submarine communication network with that sucker! So much for the blackest backgrounds when listening to Melanie Gardot, Holly Cole, or Diana Krall!

 

[Cbdb2]

Ack. Are you being serious with these chatgpt arse responses? Or just trolling? I really hope it's the latter.

Are you being serIous? I never use chatgtp, These are right from the spec. If this is wrong (its not) show us instead of trolling.

 

[Salt]

Fission or fusion?

meanwhile... this gave me pause (from an earlier post to this wry discourse):
View attachment 449188

I hope that someone told this guy (and I am pretty sure it's safe to assume it is a guy!) that the loop in that cord has got to go! He's picking up the ultra-low carrier frequency worldwide submarine communication network with that sucker! So much for the blackest backgrounds when listening to Melanie Gardot, Holly Cole, or Diana Krall!

Eh, it wa an attempt to reach those cable lifters seen on the floor , that's why the question if 6 ft would be better

 

[mhardy6647]

I would like to see a thread locked when an answer has been provided. This happens on other forums and would save readers time from reading pages of off topic comments.

Strictly FWIW:
1) I disagree (rather vehemently) with this notion/suggestion.
2) How can a thread such as this be "answered"? There was no question asked in the OP to this thread.
Here is the text of the OP for reference:

Time after time we can hear or read that a change of amplifier power cord made a difference in perceived music signal spectrum, like more bass, cleaner middle frequencies etc. Please let me show that it is technically impossible. I made measurements of class AB amplifier input mains spectrum, transformer secondary voltage spectrum, DC power supply rails spectrum, amplifier output noise spectrum and finally the measuring system error noise spectrum. Everything measured in the same safe configuration with full scale range of 615Vac.

<removed graphic>

Please note that spectrum at secondary winding of the mains transformer (no. 5 trace) has noticeably higher amplitudes above 4kHz than the 230V input mains spectrum! This is due to mess produced by diode bridge rectifiers in the traditional DC power supply, diodes + capacitor bank.
If there is any small change of mains spectrum as a result of line filter or power cord change, it happens at high frequencies and is totally overlapped by amplifier self-induced EMI voltages. The power amplifier is a generator of its own interferences unaffected by power cord exchange.
Note: please note how amplifier output power (here 100Hz signal 100W, dashed line no.2) affects DC rails spectrum.

source: https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ac-power-cord-cannot-make-a-difference.56623/

 

[kyuu]

Strictly FWIW:
1) I disagree (rather vehemently) with this notion/suggestion.
2) How can a thread such as this be "answered"? there was no question asked in the OP to this thread.

Well you might say the OP answered their own question, as posed in the thread title.

 

[egellings]

If the power cord has adequate ampacity (current carrying capability), then there is no plausible way for a pair of cords to 'sound' different from each other, especially since there is no audio in them.

 

[Mayan]

Just how many pages can a thread on power cables making any difference for audio components go on before it must go off-topic for any discussion to continue? Frankly I'm more disappointed just how many pages of discussion on the actual topic there have been, given that there's really nothing to discuss.

Exactly my thoughts. And since when has providing credentials or for that matter which power cords are being tested in an A/B comparison such difficult questions to answer. One word, rudimentary.

 

[RickS]

So, another completely derailed thread, right? As always. Frankly - the forum is disappointing.

Is your thread Pavel. If the ongoing jesting is not to your liking, PM to discuss or maybe it is time to close it?

 

[EJ3]

118-120? Wimpy. Mine averages a cool 124V, power!

117-119 here (James Island, SC)

 

[JayGilb]

Strictly FWIW:
1) I disagree (rather vehemently) with this notion/suggestion.
2) How can a thread such as this be "answered"? There was no question asked in the OP to this thread.
Here is the text of the OP for reference:

Time after time we can hear or read that a change of amplifier power cord made a difference in perceived music signal spectrum, like more bass, cleaner middle frequencies etc. Please let me show that it is technically impossible. I made measurements of class AB amplifier input mains spectrum, transformer secondary voltage spectrum, DC power supply rails spectrum, amplifier output noise spectrum and finally the measuring system error noise spectrum. Everything measured in the same safe configuration with full scale range of 615Vac.

<removed graphic>

Please note that spectrum at secondary winding of the mains transformer (no. 5 trace) has noticeably higher amplitudes above 4kHz than the 230V input mains spectrum! This is due to mess produced by diode bridge rectifiers in the traditional DC power supply, diodes + capacitor bank.
If there is any small change of mains spectrum as a result of line filter or power cord change, it happens at high frequencies and is totally overlapped by amplifier self-induced EMI voltages. The power amplifier is a generator of its own interferences unaffected by power cord exchange.
Note: please note how amplifier output power (here 100Hz signal 100W, dashed line no.2) affects DC rails spectrum.

source: https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ac-power-cord-cannot-make-a-difference.56623/

I understand your concerns, but it would be nice to have some mechanism to help sort the wheat from the chaf. Not sure what that would be or if it is even possible ?
It seems like threads derail quicker and tempers flare the more users diverge from the original topic.

 

[watchnerd]

Just how many pages can a thread on power cables making any difference for audio components go on before it must go off-topic for any discussion to continue? Frankly I'm more disappointed just how many pages of discussion on the actual topic there have been, given that there's really nothing to discuss.

I’ll report my findings when my $18 hospital grade cable arrives

 

[kyuu]

I’ll report my findings when my $18 hospital grade cable arrives

I'm very curious how much more "clinical" the sound will be.

 

[wwenze]

I would like to see a thread locked when an answer has been provided. This happens on other forums and would save readers time from reading pages of off topic comments.

And all these locked threads don't have actual answers and just serve to waste google time. No.

 

[antcollinet]

So, another completely derailed thread, right? As always. Frankly - the forum is disappointing.

Again - no-one is forcing you.

 

[pma]

Would you mind opening a new thread for this pub-like chat???

 

[EJ3]

Would you mind opening a new thread for this pub-like chat???

I think that I am done with it.
At least, I hope so.
Sorry!
But I also STRONGLY agree with @antcollinet.
You can select what you read or don't read.

 

[dedobot]

I witness how a strongly bent i-Mac power cord catch a fire (one of those stupid white and mega flexible apple cables) . So - a power cord definitely can make a difference !