I work in a highly technical industry that deals with all kinds of signal. I know that there are infections from AC into delicate analog devices. The company I work for manufacturers about 50 percent of the worlds suspensions (reader head for the hard drive) for the hard disc drive manufacturers. However, there are other things at work here that I can't talk about. There are some silly notions (IMHO) that no-one has answered yet. How do you explain the wonderful power cord when it reaches the unshielded IEC socket? After the socket entry, there is no shielding. All is exposed to the internals of the device. The shielded cable offered no defense and the IEC socket let all of the interference in. No one at the gate.
Now if you want to talk about a power cord affecting poorly shielded audio cables, that might be a differrent story. And that is what some of you may be experiencing. However, I've been running vinyl for a long time, running micro-volt cables criss-cross with 120 volt cables and have heard zero bad effects from this. I have heard bad things from a wall wart or other transformer or motor type devices.
Wayner
A good post!!
I was a machine builder for many years, and delt with exactly the same problems almost continously. We never ever used a IEC connection on anything period as they're dirty. We used a completely different style plug that was also locking (no matter how many wires were being used [anywhere from three to twenty at a time]) . We did power cables that carried everything from a minus twelve volts to 440 three phase, and probably tried at least a hundred brands of wire over the years. The best quality small gauge stuff was from Alpha Core, but the best for higher loads was always from TPC that used a copper shielding in it. (CNC drives make good antennas, and can emmit more junk than twenty amps can). Another thought here is seriously how many cable manufacturers own a smelting plant to formualte their own alloys? And if they did; how come they don't copyright the alloy? Why is because they don't, and they're just using somebody elses with their name printed on the insulation. They may make a spec'd change in the foil wrap (really only three or four types), and the color. I use nothing but WBT ends on everything (will say I'm not sure what the IEC ends are, but they're big and ugly), and really think that has more to do with the cables than anything.
gary
Thanks Gary.
I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud here. At work I have to deal with facts. Those are things that drive the design. Here is what ultimately bothers me. Why wouldn't a component designer, whether he's designing a amp. preamp, DAC or even CD player, forget all the rules of electrical design and go completely over the top on every component selection and implamentation? Maybe some do and that explains why their stuff sells for 5, 10 even 20 times the price. Is it real value? Has a $1000 aftermarket powercord made my $600 dollar Cambridge preamp sound 2 times better? Sorry, I'm not in that camp. And this is the heart and sole of the issue. Your spending big dollars for .XX% something sound improvement. Most of you say it doesn't even show up for weeks and then, there it is, a bigger, blacker soundstage or it has more detail. To me...and apparently it's just me, if I plug it in and it doesn't sound better instantly, it ain't.
I really wonder Wayner if you'll be able to learn to sing a different tune IF Frank Van Alstine does in fact change his tune after trying one of Paul Kaplan's newly developed power cords? I do respect Frank for going against his beliefs long enough to actually
listen,, something you don't seem to be able to do for yourself. HEY, anyone who tries an aftermarket power cord and they don't hear a difference,,,that's cool with me. But folks like you Wayner and those who throw out their Ph.D's,,, who already know all the facts but have yet
just listened for themselves, well I'll just let ya'all talk to the hand cuz you don't have that
I've been there respect from me. As for the high dollar power cords being worth it, couldn't agree with you more, especially when after doing listening comparisons, an DIY Asylum Volex power cord can hold it's own aginst many of these $$$$ power cords,, which simply says no one needs to spend the big bucks to enjoy the improvements derived from replacing stock power cords. But until you yourself do a
Frank Van Alstine power cord listening comparison of your own, you'll really never know. But HEY,,, just maybe Frank can tell you once more what to hear so then you'll know,,,, again. I hope for your sake, Frank hears nothing.
Cheers,
Robin
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