Innate sense of correct sound

[Conrad Hoffman]

I've never heard Baez sing Diamonds and Rust, but I'm absolutely confident that if her voice doesn't have a certain timbre, something is wrong with my system. With distorted guitar like Eric Johnson, there's still no doubt about when it's right or wrong. Lots of people like the Dire Straits album Brothers in Arms for evaluation. IMO, it's heavily processed, yet it's still obvious if the system isn't reproducing it properly. I could go on...

I have zero belief, that solder, conductor material, most capacitors, green markers, wall clocks, and most of the other audiophile tweaks, have any real effect, nor have I been able to hear them in my tests. I've tried, honest. OTOH, I do believe harmonics, response, and actual amplifier flaws are definitely audible, i.e., not everything sounds the same, but it takes a good double blind test to really prove anything.

Yet, inexplicably, I have an equally strong belief that I can judge how something that I've no reference for, should sound. I can walk into a high end (or any other) shop, tune out the head job the salesperson tries to do on me (are they even aware they do this?), and quickly identify the flaws in any given installation. Am I nuts (don't answer that), are we all nuts (send me a dollar and I'll by happy to answer that), or is there some fundamental musical sensibility that we all possess, that sets off an alarm bell when it's violated?

[KP11520]

Hi Conrad,
Come on over to my place and I will show you what impact a power cord had on my amp and overall sound. It's not in my head except, that is where my ears are. I, like you, felt the same way until I tried it (heard it). Long Island isn't that far from Rochester!!!! Come on down!

I have a decent amp (rated 200wpc but actually 238wpc) with a IEC inlet fitted with the equivalent of a power cord from a computer. Then I plugged in a very good quality (but HIGH VALUE) Power Cord and the bass and low end became WAY more defined. All the tom toms and bass drum suddenly each got a voice of their own and it was easier to hum along with what the bass player was playing. Also the soundstage went wider and deeper along with, but less obvious, more distinct mids and highs.

The power cord is high quality 99.99% copper 10awg stranded with HG connectors at each end. $79.00 USD.

Do I think a $1000.00 power cord is worth it, NO. Do I think you can hear a difference between my $79 and a $1000 power cord, maybe but not a lot. I think I gained 90% of the improvement you can get (hear) with my high value cord. The rest is diminishing returns (severe).

I did my cousin's amp 2 weeks later but had to add the IEC inlet (Rhodium) and replace the wiring to the power block with 12AWG 99.99% copper twisted pair Cryo wire (total $36 plus the cord). He had boney 16 guage lamp cord from the manufacturer.

He has had this amp 15 years and knows his "Demo" CDs cold and he heard the difference significantly. Trust me, he is suffering from severe depression for 3 years and nothing seems good to him, so for him to hear it, says a lot!

These are my experiences and opinions and although the old and new power cords may test the same, they certainly do NOT sound the same. Please try it for yourself in a quality environment before the theory squashes the actual listening results. You can't test this effect on paper, just in your head (ears).

Anyone want to buy a computer power cord?

Regards//Keith

PS Cashews or Peanuts?

[theAnonymous1]

Hey Conrad,

It's nice to know I'm not alone when it comes to what things I think make a difference in a system. For instance I have recently converted to using 10uf 6v ceramic SMD capacitors as DC coupling caps on all my equipment. This is sacrilege to most HiFi'ers, but after hours of AB testing with multiple polypropylene caps I can't here a da** difference. Why the values of 10uf 6v? Because I purchased 3000 of them for $15, a lifetime supply.

I also agree that we have some sort of inherent ability to tell what systems sound good or not. This makes complete sense to me as we hear natural sounds every day of our lives. I'm no expert, but It doesn't seem so far fetched to think our brain analyzes these reproduced sounds and compares them to how we know they should sound.

BTW, I'll be in Rochester for a wedding next weekend. I'm glad there's at least one level headed person within stone throw.

Keith,

I have no doubt your $79.00 power cord made a difference, but I think it has less to do with the fact it was $79.00 or even that it's 99.99% high quality copper and more to do with it being 10awg wire. I'm sure even I could tell the difference between a 10awg power cord and an 18awg power cord, and I'm a crazy guy who uses ceramic coupling caps . Could I tell the difference between a $79.00 10awg power cord and a $1000 10awg power cord? I think not.

[soongsc]

Different mics also make a difference.

[Cal Weldon]

Originally posted by Conrad Hoffman
or is there some fundamental musical sensibility that we all possess, that sets off an alarm bell when it's violated?

Fundamental sensibility? - Yes
All possess? - No
Sets off an alarm? - It sure used to. Much calmer now.

Originally posted by theAnonymous1
It's nice to know I'm not alone when it comes to what things I think make a difference in a system.

Yes, and to discover how many opinions there are on the matter. One for each of us.

[Conrad Hoffman]

T.A.1- Ah, power cords. If you've read many of my other posts, you'll know two questions are coming. The first is, "Is the effect real?" Can you have a friend come over and switch cords without your knowledge, record your reactions, and show statistically that you can tell the difference? There are all sorts of pitfalls, but if you don't touch the level controls, this test should be easier than most. In the event the effect is real, the next question is, "What's behind it, why should a power cord make a difference?" I can think of a variety of things concerning RF and grounding that could be responsible, but they're all pretty low probability explanations. The benefit in understanding what's going on is that you might be able to improve the situation even more, without spending (IMO) absurd amounts of money on a line cord. If the line cord changes the sound of the system, there's likely something amiss in the system, or something amiss with your building wiring. Speaking of which, what about the other hundreds of feet of wire running to your nearby transformer (aka "pole pig")? Why isn't that as much or more of a factor as the line cord?

[ingrast]

Originally posted by Conrad Hoffman
.....what about the other hundreds of feet of wire running to your nearby transformer (aka "pole pig")? Why isn't that as much or more of a factor as the line cord?

I wonder why is it that the scores of buyers of outrageously expensive power cables never seem to think on this.

Rodolfo

[Hartono]

maybe if someone want to "Donate" their good sounding power cord for a small "surgery", we can learn something

[Hartono]

About "green marker" actually I tried black marker, I was skeptical at first , but I've tried on PC CD-ROM and Playstation 1 CD that have trouble reading on certain part , the CD-ROM failed to install up to same part, amazingly black marker fixed this, same with the playstation CD.

[Cal Weldon]

I think Conrad would like to hear about your senses more than power cords.