On my system, to my ears (and to others’ ears), different power cables and different plugs connected to those cables do make a prominent sonic difference. Moreover, power plugs of the same manufacturer having different metal coating have prominent different sonic signature. Power plugs of different manufacturer have prominent different sonic signature compared to power plugs from the first manufacturer, made of the (proclaimed) same material.
I’d love to hear an explanation for the above phenomenon.
Each case is different depending on power supply design and how the ground is coupled. These factors effect transient supply of current. The basic assumption of line power impedance is quite standard and you can find circuit models used for testing for compliance with local standards. From this we can see the source in a reactive model, so change in capacitance between any two lines will effect the transient supply of current. So when you change any part in the power line, you are generally changing the capacitance between the lines. Cable thickness also effects transient current capability, but how dominant it is also depends on power supply design. Generally I like to work with commonly available components and make the best of them. If I have a choice, I look for power line components that have as little bends in the conduction path as possible. For fine tuning a design, the best is to have equipment normally used in Condictove noise testing to help figure things out.
To make things more complicated, when you have many equipment connected pretty much to the same wall socket, then it is possible that inter equipment ground coupling can occur, this happens often when you have unbalanced connection and the circuits do not have the grounds properly separated.
One more thing, there is no need for heavier gauge conductors than what you have in the walls. I try to make it sort of between the wall line gauges and internal line gauges no thinner than the leads of the transformer.
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Please, come over to my place and hear for yourself.
Should you not hear any differences, I’d pay for the round trip.
All my audio setup is commercial gear. I didn’t open it up in order to see how the grounding is done. On top of that, I know that other people with other systems hear the very same differences I do.
It doesn’t explain why power plugs of the same manufacturer, with different coatings, have different sonic signature. The sonic signature typical to each plug is there, no matter to what gear it is attached – CDP, phono stage, preamp or power amp.
The power cords I use are made by Neotech, cut to length, and the plugs are made by Oyaide. Both are commonly available.
My ears suffice for fine tuning.
This isn’t the case on my system, there are 4 isolation transformers. The sonic signature of each power cord is the same, with and without isolation transformers.
My system is fed by a dedicated in-wall power wires, with large diameter.
Joshua, this is part of the whole shebang of little things mattering - the underlying mechanism is that all systems, irrespective of their quality and cost, generate low levels of non-linear distortion via a myriad of of cause and effect linkages. This distortion is quite audible, is the reason why systems keep sounding 'different' whenever something alters, there is a great soup of this underlying set of audible artifacts constantly present, which act as flavourings, or spices to the sound - like all complex mixtures, the end result can't be pinned down to just one thing, it's the interactions and combinations that produce a final 'flavour'.
There are two ways of dealing with this: adjust the mixture of spices for maximum 'niceness', so changing the metal surfaces of the plugs is a way of fine tuning the 'distortion taste'; or - sort out every aspect of the system that is contributing to this distortion 'broth'. Personally, I favour the latter approach because it gives me the most open vista on to what was originally recorded ...
I have no intent to save the world of audio.
I am just providing some examples what can cause these differences from my experience. For example, different coatings have different signature is not something I think will be investigated by me. No coating and consistent high density uniform material is what I would go for, but at this point.
In my definition, tuning process of a design must go hand in hand with listening and measurement, or you could be doing the wrong thing going in circles. For example, a manufacturer tried to sell me in on their own proprietary interconnect process, I asked them to send me a sample when applied to our interconnects, sure, the sound was different, but it also measured differently as well. It was no benefit in using the process because we had to still work on it in house as well.
Bear in mind that since each design is different, and it is necessary to look into each design in detail with the right lab equipment to improve it. Additionally, it is also possible to be mislead when improvement in one place more significantly reveal problems in others. This is why I started out with working on speakers and ended up going up the signal chain.
If I had the time I would gladly do so. Visiting Israel is on my bucket list
Sadly, I have yet to hear any horns which "do it" for me. I really, REALLY want to like them, because of their SET compatibility. I've had to settle for reasonably efficient direct radiators and high power SETs. Not a bad compromise, but I know the same amplifiers would sound even better if they didn't have to deliver as much power...
If it "passes through the power supply", then the component needs a better power supply. An ideal power supply should behave like a battery on the load side, and behave like a resistor on the line side. A practical power supply may not quite reach this ideal, but good noise/harmonic isolation isn't that difficult to achieve. Sadly, I see a LOT of gear (both commercial and expensive and DIY) where it seems power supplies are an afterthought. It makes no sense...
Relax, Joshua. What if he is deaf?? Or will pretend doesn't hear any difference?? You have to pay then, which is why this invitation is not really your intention.
I have done blind tests, much crazier than just power cable test. Differences do exist
So, you select power plugs by the material they are made from, while I select them by their sonic signature.
BTW, power plugs of the same materials, from different manufacturers, have completely different sonic signature.
I don’t design audio gear, I assembly audios setup from various pieces of gear, be it commercial ones or (some of them) DIY ones.
Can you tell by measuring interconnects what will be their sonic signature, no matter what pieces of gear they will be interconnecting?
If I had the time I would gladly do so. Visiting Israel is on my bucket list
Should you have the time, you’ll be welcomed.
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P.S.,
Alternately, I can send you some cables, should you send them back to me.
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Relax, Joshua. What if he is deaf?? Or will pretend doesn't hear any difference?? You have to pay then, which is why this invitation is not really your intention.
I have done blind tests, much crazier than just power cable test. Differences do exist
Hi Jay,
Thank you, I am relaxed.
I believe he isn’t deaf and he wouldn’t lie.
I’m sure that anyone will hear the differences, thus my money isn’t at risk.
No matter what I use or design, I hope there is no sonic signature. But if you put the same device in many different systems and you can hear the same sonic signature, then I think you should consider throwing it out unless you are just looking for a certain sonic signature instead of the improved fidelity.
My intent is to point out is manufacturers are very unlikely to provide all the necessary information for you to make the best match of equipment. If one manufacture has pretty consistent sound quality regardless of which model you choose, and you feel that quality is what you are looking for, then it means the company's products are ones you can trust. Otherwise, like me, just dig into the design details and figure things out.
Regarding interconnects, I think you should find your answer in my blog to understand the problem is really not the connect alone.
You are wrong about my interest in building the successors of the Ariel. Due to my interest I’m on this thread.
Anyhow I’ll try not to divert to OT.
Hopes are one thing, while reality may, at times, be different.
I’m waiting to find a single piece of gear for audio system that has no sonic signature at all.
So far, I didn’t find any.
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