how can a line cord affect frequency response ?

robert raises an interesting point. perhaps i will start a thread on the subject of good versus bad components.

i din't say that an interconnect is a bad component. i said i would not own it and would not recommend it.

one cannot logically infer a statement of quality from a statement about ownership.

robert, you assume to me much and you have mis interpreted what i said.

its too bad we can't have a debate about this.

back to the main point . what is a good component ?

is it what i like and a bad component is what i don't like, or is there something more ?

if disliking a component is not the basis for evaluation of a component what is ?

is there a standard ?

let's relate this to a line cord.

if i place a line cord into my stereo system interfacing an amplifier and after break-in i don't like what is coming out of my speakers., at the least it is a bad line cord for my stereo system. it may have expensive parts, be constructed according to certain criteria, but it does not further my sonic preferences.

such a line cord would be producing negative sonic results.

i would consider it inferior for my purposes.

I hope our friendly audio manufacturers DON'T follow that advice.

Currently we have Bob Graham, Steve McCormack, Mike Elliott, Ralph Karsten and many other respected inventors, creators and manufacturers occasionally entering the Audiogon forums to answer our questions.

Who better knows these products than the people directly involved? I will grant you that Bob Graham probably favors his tonearm over others, same comment for amps regarding Ralph at Atma-Sphere. I would hope so, is all I can say.

Anyway, I have spoken to Robert at Ridge Street on several occasions and love his humor. I really know nothing about his cables but I am certainly not offended that he loves them, in fact I would expect nothing less unless he secretly believed he made a design error.

Most at Audiogon have their favorite brands, surely we can decide for ourselves what is valid data, especially when the writer comes forth and identifies himself as all those I mentioned have done.

I do not have any say about forum rules (fortunately), but if I did I would be encouraging more manufacturers to join in our discussions.

Just one mans opinion.

I agree wholeheartedly with Albertporter.

back to your original question, I have a hypothesis(not a theory) on why a power cord would affect frequency response.
1)Almost all well known audio component manufacturers pay special attention to their power supply with their flagship products. The topline normally differing only in the power supply and delivery to their second in line.
2)Almost everyone also recognises that transformers and filter caps play an important role in the final sound and these falls within the power supply section as well.
3)I believe that human hearing is more sensitive to phase differences than tonal differences.
4)Given that any conductor carrying a current is going to generate a lateral motion in a magnetic field, capactance and inductance is inevitable.
5)In any pc, it is relative straight and would vibrate, the vibrational and dampening aspects plays a huge part in its sound, the same with tranny or caps. Not to say that the type of the conductors or the shielding does not matter, but I believe that vibration tuning plays a significant part.
6)the same pc's sound different in different setups because they are placed differently(coiled, draped on lifts, on the carpet etc) and hence their vibrational aspects are affected.
7) I divide pc's into 2 main categories, modifying and neutral. eg, elrod vs cardas. modifying cords affect the sound whether they are at the breaker or just before the component. I use both types, which you prefer depends on your biases and your overall system sound.
8) Other aspects such as geometry, guage, shielding, material, dielectrics, conductor cross sectional shape, length, connector types, termination, treatment, conductor state(liquid vs solidvs amorphous), length etc is left out for another day in this post as they do matter as well.

regards

Yes! - to manufacturers continuing to have a say in this forum. They are also audiophiles with highly refined points of view. That knowledge is very useful.