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
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.......

.........

NO amount of WORDS is going to convince anyone. The only method which changes the naysayers is the actually get a wire and use it, discover it really does sound better. there you go, a convert.But it may be true threads like this might get a naysayer to at least try a different wire.. Awful lot of work though!!!              

You can lead an audiophile to a set of cables, but you can't make him listen. 🙉
elizabeth

The Times, They are A changing........

Who would have thought? Not that many years ago the naysayers far out numbered the believers on the SH forum.

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/high-end-power-cords-do-make-a-difference.713269/

You only have to read the first few posts to where Steve Hoffman chimes in. (Post #12). Then read the next moderator post.