Power Cable Upgrade

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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited February 2010
    Placebo or not, it makes me happy, and my ears like it. Because my ears like it, it is no longer snake oil, because SOMEHOW, it works.

    It's snake oil if it DOESN'T work.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • selkec
    selkec Posts: 187
    edited February 2010
    NO. It can still be snake oil even if you fall for it. There is no reason to be worked up about it. GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:p
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited February 2010
    If my ears didn't hear any improvement, i wouldn't buy it. THAT would make it snake oil.

    And yes... go Colts! :p
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited February 2010
    selkec, I didn't see any name calling in this thread or did I miss it? You do have a point on proper cable management to avoid adverse effects. So would you agree with the statement that if just by moving your wires you improved the sound that the possibility exists that a higher quality wire could have the same impact? I'd venture to say no.

    Snake oil and placebo? So what if it is? All reproduced music is an illusion to begin with. Why do people pay to see a magician perform? Some illusions cost more than others. Would you rather see David Copperfield or Joe Schmo?

    By the way your right. A $250 cord is useless to me. I paid $700 each to get the illusion I wanted. You only come here to stir the pot. Why do you do this?

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    polkatese wrote: »

    IMHO, here is the variables that I think play major role in allowing someone to hear a "difference" (notice that I didn't say good or bad, but rather a difference that can be good or bad, depending on a slew of other factors such as preferences, perceptions, etc. etc.):

    1. Resolution level of the system
    2. Dedicated outlets vs. non dedicated standard outlets
    3. Power conditioners in between vs. no conditioners


    You forgot:

    4. Overactive imagination
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited February 2010
    Some things are just not debatable...cables being one of them. If you like what you have, who gives a rats **** what anybody thinks.
    Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
    Mirage PS-12
    LG BDP-550
    Motorola HD FIOS DVR
    Panasonic 42" Plasma
    XBOX 360[/SIZE]

    Office stuff

    Allied 395 receiver
    Pioneer CDP PD-M430
    RT8t's & Wharfedale Diamond II's[/SIZE]

    Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. ~Ronald Reagan
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited February 2010
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    You forgot:

    4. Overactive imagination

    Be that as it may, it is still a valuable experience to go through and have the satisfaction to be able to say I did it, rather than hearsay...

    :)
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,181
    edited February 2010
    Upgrades...

    I use to be a skeptic on speaker wire. Not anymore.

    I switched one set. the bass improved.

    I switched again, the midrange improved.

    I heard it! plain as night and day. just switching speaker wire.

    I don't know about power cables yet but some say they hear it too. We shouldn't say they're crazy until we ourselves do the A/B comparison and even then is our equipment the same as those who stand on the side of improvement or change.I doubt it but wire DOES change sound.I've heard it with my own ears now.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2010
    Swapping power cords can be an improvement or quite the opposite. It depends on the gear and the power cord used. On some pieces of gear it can be very noticeable, on others not noticeable at all. YMMV.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    polkatese wrote: »
    Be that as it may, it is still a valuable experience to go through and have the satisfaction to be able to say I did it, rather than hearsay...

    :)

    Nonsense. It's just a waste of time.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Swapping power cords can be an improvement or quite the opposite. It depends on the gear and the power cord used. On some pieces of gear it can be very noticeable, on others not noticeable at all. YMMV.

    What a load of BS.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited February 2010
    selkec wrote: »
    You can get more noticeable results in sound just by cable management. Like keeping your power cables away or from running parallel speaker wire or other cables. I used to have a hum coming from my speakers till I organized my cables. It was coming from my TV power cable running parallel with my speaker wire.

    If you had a properly shielded power cord, you wouldn't have that problem.

    As for the other poster to why I made my own.

    Properly shielded?

    Your minds play tricks on you since you spent 250 on a cable it must be better right? Placebo effect at its finest.

    So you don't trust your mind and ears, which is fine, but don't you dare try to tell me what I hear.

    I've heard power cords improve the sound and I've heard them degrade it. One example that lays waste to your placebo effect theory...I compared a very, very expensive power cord against my expensive cord. I didn't like the sound of the very, very expensive cord. Needless to say, I trust my mind and my ears.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • selkec
    selkec Posts: 187
    edited February 2010
    fbm211 wrote: »
    Have you tried different power cords.?(I used to think the same thing.)They can and do make a difference, or else all those companys making aftermarket power cables would not be making them.

    Just because all these companies make them does not mean anything. They make them because they know people will fall for it and buy it. Or maybe they have good marketing. Its like Bose. They make **** speakers but people still buy them. (mostly the ill informed that just know the name). It doesnt mean they are good. (I just used bose for example not trying to get another debate started). Why are there so many threads in this forum that get so heated. LMAO!!!!:p
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,990
    edited February 2010
    John K. wrote: »
    Squeeb, audio equipment manufacturers aren't crazy enough to sabotage their own products by supplying power cords that aren't more than sufficient to carry the required power. The supplied cords can't be "upgraded" in a meaningful sense(as blind listening tests have confirmed) and absurdly priced replacements are one of the sillier rip-offs that the sellers try to foist on us.

    Key word here is sufficient. While true,it also does not imply "the best" power cord.
    I changed out the power cord on my receiver, heard an immediate improvement in bass,tighter,cleaner, put the old cable back in, alittle looser low end,put new cord back and left it alone. Noticeable yes,huge improvment,no. The statement that Johnny boy makes suggest that we should all use the wires that came in the box with our gear. You know,those thin red and black wallmart looking interconnects,because as he says,manufacturers aren't going to sabotage their own gear. LOL!! So cheap wires are sufficient, but are they the best SQ possible ? Uh...no.
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited February 2010
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    What a load of BS.

    Do you have anything constructive to say, ever?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • selkec
    selkec Posts: 187
    edited February 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    If you had a properly shielded power cord, you wouldn't have that problem.




    Properly shielded?




    So you don't trust your mind and ears, which is fine, but don't you dare try to tell me what I hear.

    I've heard power cords improve the sound and I've heard them degrade it. One example that lays waste to your placebo effect theory...I compared a very, very expensive power cord against my expensive cord. I didn't like the sound of the very, very expensive cord. Needless to say, I trust my mind and my ears.
    I do not know if what I made is properly sheilded. Is canare 4S11 properly sheilded. Thats what I used.
    EDIT- I used this for my DIY speaker cables. Im not sure what I used for my power cables. It was from Lowes, all I remember is it is yellow and thick. I cant remember the gauge.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited February 2010
    selkec wrote: »
    Just because all these companies make them does not mean anything. They make them because they know people will fall for it and buy it.

    Have you tried any aftermarket cables other than homemade?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • selkec
    selkec Posts: 187
    edited February 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Have you tried any aftermarket cables other than homemade?

    Nope. I am currently saving up to buy some amps. But I doubt I ever buy after market ones unless I saw a good deal and they were the correct length I needed and looked nice. Which, is the only reason I made mine to begin with.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    So you don't trust your mind and ears, which is fine, but don't you dare try to tell me what I hear.

    It's all in your imagination. Deal with it.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Do you have anything constructive to say, ever?

    Do you have any evidence to the contrary? That would be constructive.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2010
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    Do you have any evidence to the contrary? That would be constructive.

    He already has, as have I, and a number of other members. You just choose to ignore because of your closed mind.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited February 2010
    selkec wrote: »
    Just because all these companies make them does not mean anything. They make them because they know people will fall for it and buy it. Or maybe they have good marketing. Its like Bose. They make **** speakers but people still buy them. (mostly the ill informed that just know the name). It doesnt mean they are good. (I just used bose for example not trying to get another debate started). Why are there so many threads in this forum that get so heated. LMAO!!!!:p

    Threads in this forum get heated because the ill-informed try to tell the INFORMED that what they hear is BS.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited February 2010
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    Do you have any evidence to the contrary? That would be constructive.

    You refuse to acknowledge our evidence. We refuse to acknowledge your evidence about what sounds like what, off of your piece of paper.

    What does your paper sound like? Not like music, i assure you.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited February 2010
    concealer404 wrote: »
    You refuse to acknowledge our evidence. We refuse to acknowledge your evidence about what sounds like what, off of your piece of paper.

    What does your paper sound like? Not like music, i assure you.


    It may to William.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited February 2010
    Apparently so...
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • selkec
    selkec Posts: 187
    edited February 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    He already has, as have I, and a number of other members. You just choose to ignore because of your closed mind.

    Where is the evidence? Just because you and your gang on here say so is not evidence. I would like to actually see proof. Let someone with the proper equipment to test and lets see if changing power cords changes anything. Some of you say it makes for tighter bass or whatever but there is no proof. Just because you say so is not proof. Well, it may be proof that your susceptible to the placebo effect. ;)
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    He already has, as have I, and a number of other members. You just choose to ignore because of your closed mind.

    What's that, the old "Ican hear it" claim? That's not evidence, it's BS.

    Choosing to ignore all evidence contrary to your beliefs in not an "open mind", no matter how many times you repeat it.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited February 2010
    concealer404 wrote: »
    You refuse to acknowledge our evidence. We refuse to acknowledge your evidence about what sounds like what, off of your piece of paper.

    What does your paper sound like? Not like music, i assure you.

    You haven't presented any evidence, just BS. Who said anything about paper?
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited February 2010
    Please review this thread. If power cords don't make a difference how could this be true. Take the time and read it because it may do you some good.

    Maybe I'll post another if you are reasonable enough to appreciate this thread.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88538
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,990
    edited February 2010
    I believe the question was presented for the naysayers to post what cables they have tried,and on what gear. As usual per these cable debates,none are ever posted. Some even admit to not trying better grade power cords/cables. Nothing speaks volume other than good old fashioned experience,and until you get some,your opinion means squat.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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