Why Power Cables Affect Sound


I just bought a new CD player and was underwhelmed with it compared to my cheaper, lower quality CD player. That’s when it hit me that my cheaper CD player is using an upgraded power cable. When I put an upgraded power cable on my new CD player, the sound was instantly transformed: the treble was tamed, the music was more dynamic and lifelike, and overall more musical. 

This got me thinking as to how in the world a power cable can affect sound. I want to hear all of your ideas. Here’s one of my ideas:

I have heard from many sources that a good power cable is made of multiple gauge conductors from large gauge to small gauge. The electrons in a power cable are like a train with each electron acting as a train car. When a treble note is played, for example, the small gauge wires can react quickly because that “train” has much less mass than a large gauge conductor. If you only had one large gauge conductor, you would need to accelerate a very large train for a small, quick treble note, and this leads to poor dynamics. A similar analogy might be water in a pipe. A small pipe can react much quicker to higher frequencies than a large pipe due to the decreased mass/momentum of the water in the pipe. 

That’s one of my ideas. Now I want to hear your thoughts and have a general discussion of why power cables matter. 

If you don’t think power cables matter at all, please refrain from derailing the conversation with antagonism. There a time and place for that but not in this thread please. 
128x128mkgus
The AC cords supplied by ARC are quite substantial, including a 20-amp IEC main input on mono blocks. These can be improved upon in terms of better metals and other materials. 

In recent years, and perhaps still, ARC factory-test-listened with AC cables made by Chris Sain, here in the Twin Cities.  I have been acquainted with Chris over the years and have auditioned his Sainline AC cables, which were over my budget at the time, but I was inspired by that sound improvement to make some cables for my system--first try was ok--second try was very good and still in use.

ARC does adhere to their own advice, and your system is going to sound as it should by using finer-quality copper/silver wire, connections, etc.  This has been well-established through real-world listening over many years, my fellow audiophiles.                

How long can these threads be dragged out?                  
And how many repeated posts, notions, arguments, rants, cries for help... will it take before we all just get tired??? LOL
I hope it's not the need to have the last word, but I'd be fooling myself to believe otherwise. 

Having said that, I ordered a new set of speaker cables that some will say won't make a difference. Can't wait to imagine the improvement. 😄

All the best,
Nonoise
elizabeth6,035 posts12-22-2018 12:30pm

How long can these threads be dragged out?
And how many repeated posts, notions, arguments, rants, cries for help... will it take before we all just get tired??? LOL
elizabeth

If we can convert just one naysayer to a believer it is worth it. Even on this thread there has been members that have said they finally forced themselves to listen to an aftermarket cable and confessed, yes, they could hear a difference. There’s hope......


@ prof

Other than a price target what determined, determines, the equipment you bought, buy, for your audio system.

1) Brand manufacturer name?
2) Equipment features?
3) Dealer recommendation?
4) Manufacture’s specs? Surely not! They can’t be trusted.
5) Audio magazine review? NOT! They definitely can’t be trusted.
6) A flip of a coin?
7) How it sounded to your ears? You liked how it sounded to your ears.......

.........