Power Cord for Power Conditioner

"You can't lump in power cords with ic's and speaker cables. Electrical engineers (like me for what it is worth) will tell you that one is connected to a device designed to accurately amplify or transmit a signal and the other is connected to a filter network designed to gobble up hash on the incoming power line. It is an apples an oranges thing."

So are you saysing that frequency bandwidth, and the LRC characteristics do not impact the performance of powercords the same as speaker cables and interconnects?

"So are you saysing that frequency bandwidth, and the LRC characteristics do not impact the performance of powercords the same as speaker cables and interconnects?"

No, (actually sort of yes due to reduced effect of L and parasitic C at 50 or 60 hz vs up to 20,000 hz, but lets say no for discussions sake).

What I would say is that minute differences in incoming ac, such as you might get from a new power cord are orders of magnitude lower than the constant and unavoidable ac line fluctuations that your stereo has to deal with.

Whenever someone in the house is using a hair dryer or the refrigerator motor is running or the lights are left on downstairs, or the music you are listening to changes in volume or etc. etc. ad infinitum, the incoming ac is measurably effected.

Luckily for us good designers install ac line filter networks in audio gear (and other good designers make supplemental stand alone filters for those of us are fussy). With well designed equipment the filter will do its job and protect you from being bothered by the big stuff let alone the minute stuff.

If you're oscilloscope is not giving you the resolution you paid for or if your stereo is not making your ears light up, the answer might be a relatively inexpensive line conditioner or having your existing components checked for blown caps & etc. If you can hear minute differences in ac noise due to different power cord capacitance (for example), something is significantly amiss. If you can hear minute differences in power cords but are not constantly bothered by the large scale ac line fluctuations, I think the most likely explanation is not electrical in nature.

Interconnects & speaker cables - here the designers job is to accurately transmit the most minute details of the incoming signal, and they are pretty good at it. Filtering is a 4 letter word in these applications

Happy Listening,
holdout from a bygone era :)

So if I used lamp cord to power a pair of Levinson mono blocks I'll be ok?

If you can't hear any differences between power cords,yes I agree something is very wrong somewhere.

Lamp cord would be fine if the gauge is heavy enough.

Here's one last analogy on this topic which might bring things into better perspective: tires. We all know that putting 4 new tires of the correct size to match your car will adequately allow it to travel from A to B properly. Put bias ply non-radials on a 72 Chevy Impala made from one of the big manufacturers such as Goodyear, Michelin or Firestone and odds are you won't be able to tell which of these brands are on the car based on the car's performance...they are all more than adequate and based on the overall performance capabilities of the vehicle none of them would be considered a particular benefit or liability to the cars' designed abilities. Take a Formula 1 driver and fit his car with those same 3 different brands [of exact same properly-appropriate tires] and the driver will have absolute preferences based on the performance aspects each manufacturer brings to their tires and the ability of the car to wreak every last iota of capability from each one.
Audio systems can be compared similarly; you will not notice as much difference in powercords if you retrofit your 1972 Pioneer receiver with an IEC connector and a decent aftermarket powercord (although I'm convinced it would be an audible improvement) as you would replacing the stock cords of those Mark Levinson monoblocs with an appropriate aftermarket pair befitting the caliber and expense invested in the amps.
If you refuse to believe this and refuse to try it out for yourself, no one is twisting your arm to do so but the audacity so many people show trying to convince others that we couldn't possibly hear a difference is astounding.
Lamp cord of appropriate gauge will not sound anywhere near as good as a properly matched aftermarket powercord from any number of companies such as Shunyata, Synergistic Research, etc. etc. etc....
Don't believe it? Have a nice day enjoying your system with your stock cords.
But please stop preaching about what others can and can not hear.