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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. 
mkgus
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
NO. usually the advertised as 20 amp plug means it has an IEC plug designed to fit only the 20 amp IEC mate. The IEC 20 amp design has HORIZONTAL blades. The 15 amp IEC has VERTICAL blades.Usually the 20 amp IEC is used by manufacturers making big amplifiers or heavy duty power conditioners. My Furman REF 20 came wit ha 20 amp chassis IEC which I took out and replaced with a 15 so I could use other cords. (That was back BEFORE a lot of aftermarket cords for IEC20 amp were being made)
They almost always have a standard Edison 15 amp wall plug
fleschler
766 posts
 
What makes a positive difference in PCs is the design of the PC, not the cost.  I've heard $5K PCs that sound awful in several systems and every time I mention the manufacturer, someone says the opposite.  But I've tried well designed, less expensive PCs under $1K that trounce that other PC every time, dozens of times, including at several audio shows and a two homes.  The homeowners dumped their $13K PCs and purchased the $800 PCs instead.  So, it isn't the cost, it's the execution of the PC design that matters most.  It's not an if or possible difference, it's an obvious difference that Mkgus wants to know about.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Having said that, @mkgus is going to want to know which cords you're speaking of. 😄

All the best,
Nonoise
fleschler
766 posts
 
High Fidelity Cables - Hard, bright, forward sounding, harmonically thin. My friends and I experienced these ICs and PCs at various audio shows at about 18 rooms and in 2 homes (replaced after our substitutions). Even the old Monster Cable 300m ICs were at least tonally pleasant, lacking in frequency extension, resolution, dynamics and ambiance retrieval. $15 Monster versus $5K to $13K HF cables. Some audiophiles claim HF cables are the greatest. Not at least eight of us audiophiles with at least mid to hi end systems ($20K to $850K).  
clearthink
672 posts
 

jafreeman"Even though this thread has veered wildly from the original question, the evidence for the validity of using high-quality AC cords is overwhelming."
This is obviously, unquestionably, and indisputably apparent from the information, evidence, and facts presented here by various contributors expressing their personal, first hand, observational experience across a wide variety of components used in music reproduction systems.
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