How can power cords make a difference?

Many times the power cord has made no difference in my system. If I were somehow brainwashed into believing in the placebo, I would think I heard the difference all the time. But I don't. In my system, the differences are most apparent on my preamp and TV. I've tried different cords on everything else and they don't make too much of a difference.

Jhunter

The difference between stock cords and expensive cords is the difference between the system "working" and being more "musically involving, emotionally involving, live, present, soundstage, etc." .

Your system will "work" with the stock cord. But, the music enjoyment will be choked off in my experience.

Anyone who has ever heard and appreciated the difference that good PC's make will never go back to stock cords.

Jay, I always wash my brain with Kontak, and chase it with bleach. It helps me hear power cord differences better. Don't knock this tweak til you try it. It also helps clear up some of my other brain problems.

I WAS a non-'enthusiast' of "special" vs "ordinary" power cords until I decided to actually TRY one. So I bid on and won a ZuCable power cord. I put it on my amp and WHAM! no bass??? Much better upper register, clearer and smoother treble, but the bass all but disappeared. So I took it off the amp and put it on the preamp, same thing but less problems with the bass. Eventually I cut the cord by 2/3 and 1/3 making two cords and put the long part back on the amp, but straight into the wall (not via conditioner) and the preamp via the conditioner, after a hundred hours or so of break in... the cables started workin' right. My SACD is via 3 conditioners in line with another 6' ZuCable now. After break-in the power cables bass was restored... And now I can say the non-Zu power is like a "wooley rinocerous" trampling around in my listening room. Where th Zucable is taunt, and way-more correct and true to the music. The treble remains cleaner and smoother. So a non-believer became a believer after trying one out. My story. The END.

Same here Elizabeth. A realist by nature (some might even say pessimist but I don't think the affliction is quit that advanced) I tried a "designer" cord on a whim. Fully expected to notice no difference. On the source (DAC or transport), where others claim the most benefit, there was no appreciable effect. Putting it on the preamp was another story. The sound was more "musical" and lively. On the amp the difference was VERY noticeable. Here it brought a considerable increase in the heft of the low end and at the same time the overall sound was less strained.

Bought another cord to put on the preamp. Ah, the best of both worlds. Eventually my anal retentive nature caught up and now everything has an upgraded cord. The source didn't really *need* it, but what the heck!

Ultimately it paid off that even as a doubting Thomas I was willing to try something new. If only that attitude could be bottled...