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
I think the argument can be made that the better a piece of gear’s power supply, the less sensitive it will be to power issues.

The argument can also be made that power cables may not be very cost effective.

My cost-effective balance is to ignore cables, wiring and sockets, and use an effective power conditioner as close to the gear as possible, and try to make separate zones of power.

That is, one for my sources and preamp, a separate for my Class D amps, and another for all my networking gear.

Within these, noise has to travel at least 2 filter sections to crossover.

I actually discourage the use of very large gauge electrical wiring (i.e. Romex). Having some impedance in the line can actually reduce noise a great deal. I don’t really want my amps that tightly coupled to the noise from my dishwasher for instance.
@ elizabeth

About 15 years ago I built a power distribution center using a non ferrous aluminum alloy 2 gang Bell Box.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BELL-2-Gang-Weatherproof-Box-with-Five-1-2-in-Outlets-5334-0/203638230?M...

Power cord is an Audioquest AC 12 I had. I used a non ferrous type cord strain relief connector to connect the cord to the Bell box.


The two duplex receptacle outlets are the original manufactured Hubbell HBL8300H hospital grade outlets. (I got them for free.)


Duplex cover plate is a Cooper Industries non ferrous 2 gang stainless steel cover plate.
Jim

@ fleschler


Roger basically takes the attitude that if a PC makes an amplifier sound different, the amplifier has an inadequate power supply or design. Only his RM line of amps are correctly designed and built because they are are unaffected by different PCs.
I take him at his word, for his designed equipment.... Can he speak for all designers of audio equipment? NO! It should be said if you design it that doesn’t mean the manufacture will build it. I remember reading an article where John Curl said he would spec a certain grade of components, for a piece of Parasound audio equipment he designed, only to be overruled the owners of the company saying it would make the price of the piece of equipment to high and price it out of the market competition.
erik
If you visit the Cable Asylum forum you can read where many members build their own DIY power cords. You don't have to spend a fortune for a good power cord.
Jim
I'm one of them. Used Oyaide Tunami cable with Furutech connectors. Very nice PC's for the money.