what are these chords supposed to do?

[GWNG8]

I have purchased some time ago a sidewinder and a viper ztron for my preamp and SACD. After giving them time to "burn in" I have spent considerable time listening with and without them. For the life of me i can't hear a difference. My dealer is shocked i can't hear a noticeable improvement.......... Im not sure what to make of this. These were not cheap.

[TOGA]

The rest of system are also important too. They have to be reasonably transparent.
Long ago in my teenage years, I can't hear any different between any wires too.
Toga

[Haurock]

Originally Posted by GWNG8

I have purchased some time ago a sidewinder and a viper ztron for my preamp and SACD. After giving them time to "burn in" I have spent considerable time listening with and without them. For the life of me i can't hear a difference. My dealer is shocked i can't hear a noticeable improvement.......... Im not sure what to make of this. These were not cheap.

There's a reason why there is still skepticism about just how much of a difference cables can make and that a high cost doesn't necessarily equate with a huge difference. Often differences are subtle and not necessarily obvious.

You have an excellent and top-notch system and should benefit from excellent cables. If not, it could be that these cables don't provide good synergy. It could be your room acoustics. There are many variables. Have other people listen to them on and off, and see if they can hear anything different.

However,.. it is about subtleties.

[Glisse]

Chords are what come out of cords

Could be many reasons why you don't hear any differences:

• The equipment isn't sensitive to power cables, I have had plenty that are not, or where the differences seem small.
• Some equipment has a higher noise floor/lower resolution than other equipment, and will show more benefit from better power cables. Your Pass amps are pretty good, which is why I suspect TimA suggested you try the Viper there.
• Where the cables are coming from can have a big influence. If they are all connected to a cheap power strip, then they aren't going to work too well.
• Whatever differences they may be making are inconsequential to how you listen to and enjoy your system, nothing wrong with that. It is as arrogant and misinformed to say that the cables must make a difference as it is to say that cables can't make a difference. Good on you for trying them out.
• Perhaps your expectations are unrealistic. The Sidewinder and Z-Viper are at the low end of the Shunyata scale. I think they are also both discontinued, so you must have been burning these in for a very long time. But you seem to have quite a high end system. Perhaps, like me, you remember when $500 got you fairly high up the list of the Shunyata portfolio. Not now!! For me, it is the Alpha cables where it starts to get serious. I don't hear much difference below that level either

If your dealer is shocked, then he should evaluate and lend you some stuff which might overcome any "roadblocks". Or else take them back.

[GWNG8]

Thanks for everything so far. I had the sidewinder for a year or so the viper is newer. It's too hard to keep up with what is new but either way it shouldn't matter. Maybe I was expecting to much. I was hesitant to spending a ton as I wasnt sure about what I was supposed to gain. If I have spring $2k on a power cord to hear any noticeable improvement I just don't see value in that.

[GWNG8]

My dealer will exchange only with a 15% restocking charge.

[Haurock]

Originally Posted by GWNG8

Thanks for everything so far. I had the sidewinder for a year or so the viper is newer. It's too hard to keep up with what is new but either way it shouldn't matter. Maybe I was expecting to much. I was hesitant to spending a ton as I wasnt sure about what I was supposed to gain. If I have spring $2k on a power cord to hear any noticeable improvement I just don't see value in that.

Even with a 15% loss, if you aren't hearing any difference, then maybe you might want to return them.... or ask your dealer to lend you one of the higher level cables in the line.. and see if you hear a difference then?... Could be, if you bought at the lower end of spectrum, there isn't much to be gained.

What do you mean by a ton?...

[Glisse]

I agree with the Rock, think of the 15% cost as saving you 85% if you had bought them "cheap" from some place that won't take them back. And after having one of them for a year, you have a pretty decent dealer. Normally it seems to be 30 days...

But the Alpha series in the US are around $1k, are they not? If your dealer stocks them, maybe he can lend you some. Because to me that is where the magic start happening - if it is going to at all

But you are completely right in your approach to question what return you will get for the outlay, which is why borrowing some from the dealer is the way to go.

For me the foundation of good AC is key to getting the most out of the system, rather than being icing on the cake. I can't hear how good, or not, a component is unless I have optimised this. But there also comes a point of diminishing, or non existent, return where the money may be better spent on upgrading components.

But only when you already have a decent AC delivery system.

[GWNG8]

I'm guessing the dealer was only talking about the newer viper not the sidewinder which wouldn't have mattered if it had helped my Pioneer Elite plasma but no improvements there either.

I'm now a bit gun shy about spending even more money. It seems like the odds of there being improvement are low compared with the dollars I'd need to spend. But like most on here I'm trying to get all that I can out of my system

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by GWNG8

I'm guessing the dealer was only talking about the newer viper not the sidewinder which wouldn't have mattered if it had helped my Pioneer Elite plasma but no improvements there either. I'm now a bit gun shy about spending even more money. It seems like the odds of there being improvement are low compared with the dollars I'd need to spend. But like most on here I'm trying to get all that I can out of my system

If you are willing to share some information about your system I can help you.

We look at power delivery as a system and not about just individual parts. I think the best analogy for a power system is that it operates a bit like the intake and exhaust system of an engine. If you install a high flow flow muffler and get no results it is probably because there is a restriction somewhere else. Some people install hi-lift cams and get no improvement in horsepower because there is restriction in the intake or exhaust. Perhaps the intake air filter is the limiting factor or perhaps the stock headers are too restrictive? You need to look at the whole system and find the limiting part. If you address that limiting part or issue you will get results.

It is the same with power delivery. You must address limitations to DTCD first to ensure that there are not limitations to the flow of instantaneous current in the power system..