Power Cord Length


Here's one for the electric wizards to kick around. Whilst attending Axpona this weekend I was doing some power cord shopping. At one particular display I was being told by a very well known cable company representative, I'll not mention the name so it doesn't influence any responses, that the rule of thumb is that in order for the pwr cord to be effective it needs to be at least five feet long. This allows the current to be in the cord long enough for it to be effective. Ok, I'm really dumb when it comes to this sort of thing so maybe I said that in the most simpliest of words but that's pretty much how it was explained. Anyone care to elaborate on this good or bad?
jackcoke


, I’ll not mention the name so it doesn’t influence any responses, that the rule of thumb is that in order for the pwr cord to be effective it needs to be at least five feet long.

Really? That’s why? That was your reason? Huh?


Shunyata .

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/visits/shunyata_visit_interview.htm


So what exactly does the DTCD Analyzer measure? As the name implies, it measures, in the context of a pulsed current draw, instantaneous current delivery in amperes and voltage drop across the device during the conduction period and the stored residual noise component rate of dissipation after the conduction period.


Food for though. For those that believe most of the EMI/RFI noise generated in the ac power feeding the power supplies of audio equipment is actually generated from the associated audio equipment of the audio system equipment consider this.

IF you believe that two dedicated branch circuit is better than one to decouple the power supply’s of a CDP from an amplifier, there by preventing the digital hash from the CDP going back out on the power cord and then reentering the power cord of the amplifier, then why is it so hard to understand that a power cord couldn’t be designed to help do the same thing?

What IF you have a CDP and an integrated amplifier plugged into the same wall duplex receptacle using the OEM power cords that came with the equipment. Will the two power supplies of the CDP and amp be more likely coupled together than they would if they were fed from two dedicated branch circuits?

What IF a well designed power cord can reject the digital hash, (call it what you want, RFI, harmonics, high frequencies, what ever), from going back out on the CDP power cord to the duplex receptacle and then reentering the power cord of the amp’s power supply. Would that be a good thing?

So, IF you believe such a power cord can be designed and built which do you think could accomplish the task better, a power cord that is 2ft in length or one that is 5ft in length?

If the power cord performs some type of filtering than probably the longer the better. If the cord is to transfer current like for a Amplifier or a power conditioner than a heavier gauge shorter wire would be best.

But in reality, I have used quality power cords that are a few feet long and some that are 5 meters long. If they are properly designed for the task there should be no problem with sound quality.

Ok, so keeping with what usually happens here (which is what made me go away for so long) my simple question which was directed to those that actually knew something about electricity ended up being answered mostly by guesses, personal opinions, advice on how to buy cords and another debate as to wether aftermarket cords and cables are better then the stock cords. I don't remeber asking for any of that.  I just thought somebody could explain why this company rep said what he said, other then to just make you spend more money on a longer cord. So you can all sleep easier tonight, the company was Nordost. Also, as long as it was started up again, anyone that doesn't believe that cords and cables don't make a difference, get a different hobby.  
   For those of you that tried to give an answer with some merit, I thank you.. 

Just as well you didn’t mention their name.


Quote from their site:


"What minimum cable lengths do Nordost recommend?

The minimum recommended lengths of Nordost cables are as follows:
Power cables – 2 meters
Analog interconnects – 1 meter
Digital interconnects – 1.5 meters
Tonearm cables – 1.25 meters
Loudspeaker cables – 2 meters"

End of quote.

Why? Because they say so, that’s why!
http://www.nordost.com/faqs.php

I could not find any white papers backing up their claims.

At least Shunyata takes the time to explain the theories behind their claims as well as actually tests. Pictures and graphs too!

Ahem. "I just thought somebody could explain why this company rep said what he said, other then to just make you spend more money on a longer cord." I believe you answered your own question quite well enough. There is no reliable, double-blind, independent research *that I am aware of* that clearly shows any significant difference among reasonably well constructed power cords. What HAS been clearly and significantly demonstrated, repeatedly, over the years is the placebo effect. If you *think* it will sound better, it *will* sound better, at least to you, and for the ridiculous money it bloody well ought to! A little confirmation bias helps one along, too.

Well, good luck. For me, just spending money is NOT a hobby. I’ve rather better places for it.