Blind Test of Power Cords

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Steven Sullivan wrote:
> procedures and results here:
>
> http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/vol [...] -2004.html
>
> interesting because, in this case, a reviewer (Jason Victor Serinus) who'd
> positively reviewed the 'sound' of expensive power cords ($2500 Nordost
> Valhalla -- which , he reported, only sounded good after break-in) ,
> participated in the ABX, and wrote up the report.
>
> Mr. Serinus had also praised the Bedini Dual Beam UltraClarifier, as sheer
> a piece of quackery as ever was marketed to audiophiles.
>
> Even though his acceptance of the scientific method, and the results
> obtained thereby, appears grudging at best, I trust that henceforth he
> will be more cautious in drawing conclusions about audible difference from
> unconctolled sighted comparison.

What the heck was the logic behind expensive power cords anyway? I can't
begin to fathom why, after traveling for miles and miles through wire
that was provided by the lowest bidder, the last three feet would have
some sort of magical difference.

Mike

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

"What the heck was the logic behind expensive power cords anyway? I can't
begin to fathom why, after traveling for miles and miles through wire that
was provided by the lowest bidder, the last three feet would have some
sort of magical difference."

After having eliminated all of the bits and parts by applying tweeks to
them, powercord wire was what was left. One real area of tweeky audio was
the turntable where individual action might hit upon some previously
unknown trick/technique which addressed it's many inherent sources of
problems in translating mechanical motion into electrical signal. With
the advent of the cd that world collapsed for most audiophiles. I think
one will find that is the era when wire came into the picture as all that
energy was adapted to finding something to replace the previous area where
an individual could make a difference by tweeking a complex system.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

"Rutgar" <rutgar@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:cp5tae0cq9@news4.newsguy.com...
> On 8 Dec 2004 00:50:46 GMT, Michael Dombrowski
> <legodudenein@hammycorp.com> wrote:
>
>>Steven Sullivan wrote:
>>> procedures and results here:
>>>
>>> http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/vol [...] -2004.html
>>>
>>> interesting because, in this case, a reviewer (Jason Victor Serinus)
>>> who'd
>>> positively reviewed the 'sound' of expensive power cords ($2500 Nordost
>>> Valhalla -- which , he reported, only sounded good after break-in) ,
>>> participated in the ABX, and wrote up the report.
>>>
>>> Mr. Serinus had also praised the Bedini Dual Beam UltraClarifier, as
>>> sheer
>>> a piece of quackery as ever was marketed to audiophiles.
>>>
>>> Even though his acceptance of the scientific method, and the results
>>> obtained thereby, appears grudging at best, I trust that henceforth he
>>> will be more cautious in drawing conclusions about audible difference
>>> from
>>> unconctolled sighted comparison.
>>
>>What the heck was the logic behind expensive power cords anyway? I can't
>>begin to fathom why, after traveling for miles and miles through wire
>>that was provided by the lowest bidder, the last three feet would have
>>some sort of magical difference.
>>
>>Mike
>
> Personally, I don't buy into the "magic" power cord either. But, in
> answer to your question, I believe the expensive power cord is only
> benificial when used in conjunction with quality grade electrical
> outlets, and Power Conditioner.

There is no reason for any of those things to make a difference. Since it
is well known what the properties of wire are, it is equally well known that
unless one cord is very different in gauge, it will not affect the sound.
Power conditioners are likewise not going to affect the sound, they can only
be useful if your power company or your wiring are not sufficient or tend to
spike.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

On 9 Dec 2004 03:22:50 GMT, outsor@city-net.com wrote:

>"Personally, I don't buy into the "magic" power cord either. But, in
>answer to your question, I believe the expensive power cord is only
>benificial when used in conjunction with quality grade electrical
>outlets, and Power Conditioner."
>
>Do you mean the quality outlets and conditioner mess up the current and
>the wire fixes it? This is a variation on the "one needs equipment of
>high enough resolution to hear it" school of appology. If the current is
>fixed up to the power cord, what fixes it in the many feet in the
>transformer after the cord?

Er, where did I say that outlets and conditioners mess up the
current? The original poster asked how an expensive power cord would
make a difference after miles of "lowest bidder" power lines. I
merely said, that the intent is to use the expensive power cord, along
with an "expensive" outlet, and power conditioner. I also said,
that "I" don't really buy into this belief. I was just re-stating
"magic power cord" dogma.