2. cables
  3. 141153-122613

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
mzkmxcv
558 posts
 
@jea48

Both videos state it’s the harmonics, so not sure your point.

As for microphones, are you stating you are choosing your gear to make up the deficiencies in the recorded track? If so, that’s the first I’ve heard of that rebuttal for not getting the most transparent gear (other than plain preference). And, that’s simply flawed as the mics used are not the same, so you are just chasing an imaginary problem.

Measuring the accuracy of mics is easy. Put out a signal and see what the mic recorded. My measurement mic for doing DSP for instance came with an individual/unique calibration file to make sure it’s accurate.

Of course a $500 mic will be “cleaner” than a $5 mic, but don’t think that changing power cords or interconnects or speaker wire will negate any deficiencies of the microphone used in the recording. 
 
I also very clearly answered your question, unless talking ground loops, your power amp will not be affected by a light dimmer switch or your neighbor’s refrigerator. 
jea48
2,944 posts
 
You’re not going to answer my questions are you?

Again, Can they, (harmonics), pass through the windings of a power transformer of a piece of audio equipment? Can they be radiated? How far?

Specifically the harmonics created by,
A light dimmer.
Harmonics created by a switch mode power supply?
Harmonics created by a full wave bridge rectifier found in the power supply of audio equipment?

Surely you know the answer!
mkgus's avatar
mkgus OP
82 posts
 
PS Audio sells “high end” power cords, and even he basically said, in his rebuttal to null tests, that their only real benefit is better shielding for EMI

When and where did Paul state that? I just watched a video of his where he says the gauge of wiring in power cables affects the frequencies: large gauge emphasis bass and small gauge emphasis treble. He said a good power cable uses both small and large gauge. I have found similar results in my experience. When I put a very large gauge power cable upstream of my DAC, I had to turn down the sub because the bass was much greater than with a smaller gauge cable. And if it wasn’t actually greater in quantity, then it did something to the bass that made me want to turn it down because it wasn’t as pleasing. I eventually swapped that cable out because it didn’t improve on what was there before. This experience reflects other comments I’ve read about matching the right cable gauge to the piece of equipment. Larger gauge isn’t necessarily better. 
jea48
2,944 posts
 
Both videos state it’s the harmonics, so not sure your point.
Those are good harmonics aren’t they. Are you saying all harmonics are good? Harmonic distortion is good? DC offset, Harmonics), on the AC mains is good?
NO, a power cord will not block DC offset on the AC mains.

As for microphones, are you stating you are choosing your gear to make up the deficiencies in the recorded track?
Where did I say that?

Of course a $500 mic will be “cleaner” than a $5 mic, but don’t think that changing power cords or interconnects or speaker wire will negate any deficiencies of the microphone used in the recording.
Timbre.... Who said anything about power cords.
Will you hear a difference in timbre, quality, between a $500 mic compared to $5?

I also very clearly answered your question, unless talking ground loops, your power amp will not be affected by a light dimmer switch or your neighbor’s refrigerator.
No, you didn’t.

.
mzkmxcv
558 posts
 
@mkgus

Gauge only effects wattage loss per distance/impedance and damping factor, being better for different frequencies isn’t true, and doesn’t even make sense.

https://youtu.be/G0ZQHTzYv9I?t=5m13s

Better shielding to EMI, nothing about affecting the sound of the music in regards to tonal quality or quicker transients.
More to discover