Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat The Old Snake Oil topic

Yes, yes + yes.

Basic things like different resistance of "heavy" wires and other very basic reasons(thinking here only straight). But really important are the dynamics terms for me, that the main reason for the purpose/usage of a power-cables.

What? For example in a amplifier (just to get the idea):
To hear music, the electrical current have to flow in circle-close loop. The current flows from the power supply through the amplifier electronics to the speaker and back into the power supply.

The internal resistance of the power supply is a (the) major part of the current in that chain. The transformer is a part of the power supply and the current in the transformer is determined of the main voltage.

The whole mains have a complex resistance(a power source) what "feed" the transformer/power supply of the amp.
So when the complex resistance(impedance) of the mains are different, finally the current through the amp and the current through the speaker (or output-stage) is different-and finally the sound.

That explains why the last meter (seen from the power plant) could be important and not all the hundreds Km before-because the power supply "see" the first meter and "then" the several hundreds Km afterwards.
Or to say it in technical terms, if the power-cord determines the complex resistance (like Ohms resistance, capacity, inductivity) then you have a different power source (the mains) that the power supply will see, or simply saying you have a "different" power source.

Another reason are the voltage fluctuations on the mains. But how can that "minor" influences/distortion in the mains could be hearable or important? For example you have 240VAC and a fluctuation of 100mV(0.1 VAC). That is a fraction, its a ratio of 1 to 2400- and that could be hearable?
Yes, when you talking of dB (where all measurements are published), then that value is 67dB. That is a hearable value.

There are so many theories published that I finally give up and just --- see below.

Yes, it's in our heads, and that is a problem with every kind of "change".
You only can try yourself and try to keep ALWAYS your mind open, then your are on the right way but it's not easy. So I learned not thinking to much about new things, just to try it out. One good test is also to change something and invite a friend for a listening of a (for example) new record and do not tell him what you have done. When he ask later on why it's sounds different (hopefully better) then you know it wasn't jus in your head...

And finally YOU decide how much you will pay for that change in sound...

Robert