My first power cord upgrade

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by schaefer11

Not trying to be a wise guy, but I have never found cable changes to be audible, unless they were broken and not passing a signal! I have never understood how you prevent all of the cheap copper wire in voice coils, transformers, internal wiring and printed circuit board traces etc. from messing up whatever good the expensive cables are supposed to be doing?

Grossly simplified explanation I have been using (but one which most people get):

Think of the power cable as a 2-way antenna: it picks ups and emits EMF (electro-magnetic fields).

Because of its concentration of other cables (power, interconnects, and speakers) and the electronic components themselves (which have transformers, etc.) the typical audio rack is an EMF nightmare. That EMF garbage can, and does end-up in the signal path unless some measures are taken.

You can prove this to yourself by passing a cheap phono cable (connected to a phono input) near some components and cords, you will probably hear hums, buzzes, hashing noise etc. The effect is very audible with the phono cable and input because the phono signal is very weak and its greatly amplified, but exactly the same thing happens with any conductor/cable - even though it's not as obvious with stronger signals.

A good cable uses both shielding and conductor "geometry" to minimize EMF effects. It radiates less "junk" and picks up less "junk".

This explanation also addresses the reason why the power cord makes a difference even though there are 100s of feet of other cheap copper cable leading to it: it's the proximity of the cables to other cables and components that makes a difference. The effect of EMF fields follows the inverse square law (1/X^2); the effect at 24" of distance (say from the components to the power outlet) is 576 (i.e. 24^2) times weaker than it is a 1" distance (the back of your rack).

I hope this helps to explain why we probably hear what we think we hear .

Alberto

[docdownload]

Yes I have run # 10 wire And this circut can only be used by my amps. Becuase of the atomatic turn system only one circuit works for me. And as a CGC I am aware of the NEC. How much in round terms would 4 power plugs cost?? (need pig tail type

[schaefer11]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Grossly simplified explanation I have been using (but one which most people get):

Think of the power cable as a 2-way antenna: it picks ups and emits EMF (electro-magnetic fields).

Because of its concentration of other cables (power, interconnects, and speakers) and the electronic components themselves (which have transformers, etc.) the typical audio rack is an EMF nightmare. That EMF garbage can, and does end-up in the signal path unless some measures are taken.

You can prove this to yourself by passing a cheap phono cable (connected to a phono input) near some components and cords, you will probably hear hums, buzzes, hashing noise etc. The effect is very audible with the phono cable and input because the phono signal is very weak and its greatly amplified, but exactly the same thing happens with any conductor/cable - even though it's not as obvious with stronger signals.

A good cable uses both shielding and conductor "geometry" to minimize EMF effects. It radiates less "junk" and picks up less "junk".

This explanation also addresses the reason why the power cord makes a difference even though there are 100s of feet of other cheap copper cable leading to it: it's the proximity of the cables to other cables and components that makes a difference. The effect of EMF fields follows the inverse square law (1/X^2); the effect at 24" of distance (say from the components to the power outlet) is 576 (i.e. 24^2) times weaker than it is a 1" distance (the back of your rack).

I hope this helps to explain why we probably hear what we think we hear .

Alberto

Thank you for an answer other than "trust me". So I can infer that if one person hears a bigger difference than another using the same cable(s), there is a good chance they have a bigger EMF problem?

[-E-]

If you cant trust us, trust Alberto, our resident explainer with a very cool accent.

[schaefer11]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

If you cant trust us, trust Alberto, our resident explainer with a very cool accent.

I didn't mean to imply that anyone could not be trusted. But "trust me" didn't really answer what I thought were fairly specific questions. Alberto's answer did. Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my intention. I appreciate all of the time that has been put into all of the answers to my inquiries.

[mac man]

Originally Posted by schaefer11

I didn't mean to imply that anyone could not be trusted. But "trust me" didn't really answer what I thought were fairly specific questions. Alberto's answer did. Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my intention. I appreciate all of the time that has been put into all of the answers to my inquiries.

And to think all this got started because I upgraded my power cord

Good fun guys

[Masterlu]

Your still cool

[Still-One]

I like that the whole post has stayed pretty cordial and contained several specific reasons why people feel one way or other.
Isn't this place great.

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by schaefer11

Thank you for an answer other than "trust me". So I can infer that if one person hears a bigger difference than another using the same cable(s), there is a good chance they have a bigger EMF problem?

I wish it were that simple. There are many, many, variables at play here. The resolving power of the system, the number and types and concentration/positioning of the components in the rack, the way the cables are "dressed" (i.e positioned to minimize interference), how good your hearing is, how sensitive or bothered you are by certain "noises", etc.

I know, as a fact, that I hear (or at least notice) some sounds that most people don't. In a story I already mentioned, I was at a friend's house, in his living room, and kept hearing this faint "whooshing" sound. It turns out that one of his toilet tanks (in the guest bathroom at least 20 yards away from where we were) had a small leak so the "refill" valve never quite stopped going. He was very surprised I heard it. I was very surprised he hadn't heard it.

For those reasons, only you can determine if the cost of better power cords is worth it or not for your system.

But there's no doubt in my mind that there is a valid scientific explanation behind this power cord thing.

Alberto

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by Stillone

I like that the whole post has stayed pretty cordial and contained several specific reasons why people feel one way or other.
Isn't this place great.

Yes. We are living up to the Friendly Forum moniker .

Alberto