Mains cables.Do they (and why)make any difference?

[Geek]

Well, I've head a $0.50 cable and a $1K one and several in between.

The difference from a computer cable to ~$100 cord was OK.

The difference between a $100 cable and the $1K one wasn't enough to justify it, IMO.

Take a look also at the construction of some of these "audiophile" cords too - you'll find some couldn't pass a safety inspection if your life depended on it... literally

Cheers!

[Panicos K]

Hi,I agree with you on solid core cables.I have recently installed a separate power line for my audio system,directly from the supply board to the listening room(just 5.5 meters)and the cable I used was a heavily shielded 12awg PCOCC-A solid core one.This was the best thing I've ever done for my system.
Very interesting link,and nice prices.Thanks.

[Panicos K]

Hi Geek,no doubt a $1000 cable cannot easily justify its price.One problem however with thick power cables,especially for us here where we are using UK mains plugs,is to find a good quality and safe plug to use with such cables.The only one that will handle the stress and tension of a 10awg or 12awg solid core cable is one from Furutech(I can't think of any other)and that is quite expensive.Good IEC connectors are easy to find and at logical prices too.Safety must be of course of prime importance to all of us,for both cables and connectors.

[adrianuk]

Yes, in general mains cables do make an audible difference to the sound. The major changes are in the bottom end, sound stage and instrument separation. These changes are associated with RFI noise. What is happening is that the cable is making the RFI noise change before it passes through the power supply.

[Geek]

I assume you are new to audio forums in general then. They can be an entertaining place to be, but keep your helmet handy

Threads like this eventually get plugged with audiophool BS. Therefore to those who have been around for a while usually interject (or expect) some humour by the third post or so.

It took "Mr. Smiley Face" 15 posts to appear (notice the jibberish behind him - typical of highfalootin' audio magazines).

Hence, my comment

Cheers!

[Panicos K]

A few days ago I went to a nice place for dinner,and there was a very nice poster hanging on the wall that said :

"Those who think they know everything,make us- who know everything-,very ungry..."

[gainphile]

One sure way is to test the old cable and new cable, the easiest using ohm meter. Second test would be to input 50Hz signal (not 110/220v !) and do FFT on the output.

[analog_sa]

Originally posted by gainphile
One sure way is to test the old cable and new cable, the easiest using ohm meter. Second test would be to input 50Hz signal (not 110/220v !) and do FFT on the output.

Equally sensible would be to measure the precise weight.

[lineup]

this is what i think

mains cable, that can not carry enough current can effect the operation of attached device

any normal mains cable that can carry enough current
is as good as any other mains cable that can do the same

i would never spend my money on special mains cables for audio
simply because
the cables does not know the difference
if the provided current will be used for audio or something else

that is, to the cable the passing current will always look the same

[Buckapound]

We're sooo short on the theoreticals here.

Miles of who-knows-what into a house full of dimmers and other noise, then welding cables for a meter or two and then a mile of skinny wire in the form of a transformer. Can anyone give a non-ridiculous guess why mains cables could cause the kind of sonic effects that are being described here?

I'm open minded, but I don't hear much of an argument here.

--Buckapound