are ther non-contentious benefits to aftermarket power cords?

If there is a difference, by definition, some parameter has changed. If something has changed, the change will be detectable by measurement.

Power cables are very, very simple things. Three conductors encased in an insulator. The mechanisms involved in electrical conduction are fully understood at a very, very deep & comprehensive level. Instruments are available to measure all the variables to an extreme level of accuracy. The physics involved throws out mathematical functions which allow the calculation of variables which are not mesured directly to any required level af accuracy.

And yes, when measured to this level of accuracy, every power cable will have small variations.

That these small variations could conceivably alter the physical output of an audio device is, to put it mildly, extremely unlikely.

"Ah, but I hear a difference" is the reply. No problem there, except in the semantics. " I perceive a difference " is a more correct response.

Chris
Regards,

Chris

 

So from this point of view, when shielding of some sort is added to a power cable I assume (do correct me if I've got this wrong) that this is viewed as superfluous. That being the case, is it because a power cable won't pick up interference anyway or because even if it does that interference will have no effect on the sound produced by the system?


On a slightly different tack: if I connect a length of coax - which is shielded from the outset - to my tuner it acts as an aerial, if I then connect that to an outside aerial reception improves. What is the shield bit of the coax there to do: keep the stuff I want in or the stuff I don't want out?

 

Provided that a) one knows what to measure and b) one has the ability to measure it. One does not necessarily satisfy those conditions.

Are they? Perhaps they are simple until one applies a voltage across them.

How does one know that one has reached a limit?

Proof?

 

Well as a mains cable skeptic, I'm still waiting to hear one that makes a difference, I have to say I did notice the difference cleaning all my plugs and contacts (particularly the dirty copper plugs).

 

What was the difference?

 

I can't honestly remember. I'll have to have another go and let you know.

 

Just measure the output of the device in question. We have instruments which are much more sensitive than human hearing, so this is very easy. Not surprisingly, the foo cable manufacturers can't manage this!

 

Have you cleaned a mains plug yet? Try it with just the live and neutral pins, listen, the clean the earth pin, and listen. Play music that has plenty of dynamic range.

 

Go freeze some CDs.

Foo cables "work" via suggestibility, cleaning mains plugs, and all the other sillinesses work the same way.

 

Heh.

 

I am sure that everyone on here has seen this:

 

How lucky can you get. Take SMEagol up on his offer that
would answer all our questions. Wish i did not live on the
wrong side of the world i would love to try his cables
Try before you buy.
Noel W.

 

Ripit, lol, yeh he ended up wearing that video at the Heathrow show after talking crap in front of the wrong reviewer, ie one with a serious education and engineering electronics background.



And before you lot start wanking over Walker silver contact cream, i suggest you stick a voltmeter in it to see how well it conducts...

 

Which shows how little you really know.

it makes pretty reasonable sense to me that cleaning electrical contacts will improve signal strength.

I see you are still having a dig at everything, James?

 

Jolly good. Please explain how cleaning pins on mains plugs will improve signal strength, David.

 

Oh yes I also witnessed that.
Mr Colloms chewed him up and spat him out.

 

I can actually see some sense in getting a good earth connection. But the pins on a mains plug would need to be seriously corroded and dirty to have much effect in this regard.

 

I get very positive results from this usually.

Its a good thing to do.






Edit,

But the pins on a mains plug would need to be seriously corroded and dirty to have much effect in this regard.


Not so at all Simon.


imo any way.

Sure.

If there is muck on the contacts it will interupt (for want of a better word) the flow of electricity between them.

Its a well known fact, James. Sorry.




James I ahve to say I am puzzled why you don't seem able to let people enjoy a hobby without pooring your own brand of cold water on things.

HiFi does have a poor write up in the industry I don't dispute but there is also much pleasure to be gained if you keep your eyes (and ears) open.

I'm sorry if you don't concur with that or can't trealise the interest.

There are many things I can't get my head around (fashion for one) but I just leave it well alone. I don't try to spoil other people's pleasure of it if it is their thing.

 

Ah. Muck on the contacts interrupts the flow of electricity, does it? How does that happen, David?