Why Expensive power Cables when Romex behind Wall?

Bwhite wrote:
"Here are quotes from Audioengr's "Technical Papers" - seems he is contradicting himself in claiming that resonance is for the most part not audible"

No contradiction. If you take the time to read the paper, you will see that I am talking about ELECTRICAL resonance, not mechanical resonance. I have extensive measurement and simulation data on this effect proving that it is real.

Mechanical resonance is a second-order effect at best. Electrical resonance is more of a first-order effect.

As for your metal outlet covers, I beleive that you are experiencing the placebo effect. There is no scientific explanation as to why this should make any difference whatsoever. Resonance requires a high-Q system, which this is not. Even if the outlet cover resonated, what electrical effect could this possibly have?

Nikkidanjo wrote:
"Basically, I don’t by the filter part unless some form of RF filter was deliberately added."

Agree 100%, power cords should not be filters, particularly on power amps.

The best analogy is that the pressure in the outlet of the pipe is the indicator of performance. If the pipe is 2" diameter for 25 feet and the last 6 feet are 6" in diameter, this will yield a much higher pressure at the outlet than if the pipe were 2" diameter the whole length. This is what happens when you add a low-inductance 6 foot cord to a 25 foot high-inductance wire in the wall. It really does work.

"Shielding the cables as they near this big rack of electronics may make all the difference. Perhaps the worst dirt is the dirt generated by your own system feeding back into itself. This could explain why shielding may help."

Sorry, but this is technically nonsense. Ask an engineer friend whether this makes any sense. You are mixing shielding from EM fields and mechanical resonances. Shielding eliminates susceptability to crosstalk from nearby EM or magnetic fields. It does not help with mechanical resonance.

"It may be a long wait before technology is developed that "proves" how some power cords work in our systems. Having heard significant improvements with several power cables, I don't intend to wait for a piece of paper telling me what I already know is true."

What is wrong with the analysis I just did above? It proves conclusively that lower inductance power cables reduce impedance to current flow by 22% or more in a typical home scenerio. Do you not understand the analysis?

"I intend to purchase a couple of plates next time I visit Home Depot. Worse case I return them a few weeks later."

I cannot believe that you guys are inventing your own "snake-oil". Best of luck.

I have tried my best to actually do the science to prove which effects are significant with all types of cables. This is significantly more than 99% of the cable manufacturers do. I even publish the experiments and the results. Evidently the public is hard-pressed to read this and understand the significance.

Audioengr - One thing I have learned in Audio is that measurements aren't necessarily worth the paper they're printed on. What measures good usually - in most cases -doesn't sound good. Measurements don't tell the whole story.

I trust my ears and not fancy-schmancy SPICE simulations.

Here is an Audioengr blooper:

Audioengr wrote:Shielding eliminates susceptability to crosstalk from nearby EM or magnetic fields. It does not help with mechanical resonance.

Duh! Anytime you increase the mass of an object you potentially change the frequencies at which the object resonantes. Adding shielding to a cable will change the mechanical resonance of everything it touches.

Read a thread in Audiogon's Tech Talk Forum Entitled:Tweaks & How My System Disappeared by Jadem6 - a well respected Audiogon member who has been very diligent in tweaking his system.

Most of the changes he's made have been in regard to the Mechanical Resonance of his system. But I am sure that's placebo too right?

Regarding Audioengr's comments on Audiogon vs. what is stated on his website as it pertains to his discounting of the effects of Mechanical Resonance in this thread, Audioengr wrote:

No contradiction. If you take the time to read the paper, you will see that I am talking about ELECTRICAL resonance, not mechanical resonance.

Hmmm.. well given that the second sentence in your "FAQ on resonance" reads:

Resonance can be excited by many phenomena. If you pluck a guitar string or strike a bell, they will ring at their natural resonant frequency and then decay over time due to losses in the systems.

This doesn't imply that you are speaking of electrical resonance. Unless you have an electric bell. So I read further.

ANYHOW get this!! I cut and pasted the text from his Resonance FAQ into a text editor, did a search and find on the text - and bingo! It doesn't even have the word *Electrical* contained in that FAQ. It doesn't say electric, electronic, or even electricity. Whatever Audioengr! What are you hiding?

Audioengr wrote:
As for your metal outlet covers, I beleive that you are experiencing the placebo effect. There is no scientific explanation as to why this should make any difference whatsoever. Resonance requires a high-Q system, which this is not. Even if the outlet cover resonated, what electrical effect could this possibly have?

Guess it depends on what science you subscribe to.
So get this, DUDE!!! there is no electrical effect. This is what I keep saying to you.

When you plug in your power cord and it snugly presses against the metal outlet cover, the mechanical properties of your power cord (and system) change. Maybe you will understand this:

plastic plate + powercord + system = X
metal plate + powercord + system = Y

X sounds different than Y

Nice math huh?

When power flows through the power cord pressed against a plastic cover plate they resonate together. When power flows through the power cord with a metal cover - they resonate together (but differently). The cover plate has an effect on the power-cord and hence the rest of the system.

Plastic is a bit dull sounding and metal is a bright sounding. The thicker the metal the less bright.. wood is odd sounding and not what *I* hoped it would be... the best is to just remove the plate all together.