Just got my power cords from TTVJ last night. Having read LOTS of discussions on the boards about upgrades, I decided that the best way to approach it was to get "entry level" power cords. I bought five of the Cardas Twinlinks; they were around $150 each. I know some people will say right off the bat that this is crazy money, but with my system approaching $30,000, it's honestly not that big of a deal compared to what I could have spent.
After listening for a while, here's my impression--it seems to make some difference. It's not mindblowing, it's pretty subtle; it just seems like the music is a little more detailed. There are tiny, tiny parts that seem to have been obscured with the stock cords. It's definitely one of those "getting the last half of a percent" things where it might be totally unimportant to most listeners.
I have a degree in psychology, so I definitely know this could be a placebo effect. I'm fairly sure it isn't, though... I'm a stickler for listening to the details in a song, and it does seem like there are some that I haven't picked up on previously.
Since we're on the psychology subject, I wanted to throw out my opinion of those who say "This can't possibly work!" It seems to me that whenever something "new" comes out, there are always going to be the "Those damn kids and their flying machines" types who will refuse to give the new technology any chance, because after all, they don't have it and their equipment sounds fine. These people won't ever do what I did and actually buy the stuff and then make up their mind... hell, they won't even bother listening to it for free at the local hifi store because their mind is already made up.
Now don't get me wrong on this point... I'm not saying that everyone who disagrees with the power cable stuff is one of these people. Lots of people make good arguments for why this may be a bunch of bunk but are at least open to the possibility that it might work.
After listening for a while, here's my impression--it seems to make some difference. It's not mindblowing, it's pretty subtle; it just seems like the music is a little more detailed. There are tiny, tiny parts that seem to have been obscured with the stock cords. It's definitely one of those "getting the last half of a percent" things where it might be totally unimportant to most listeners.
I have a degree in psychology, so I definitely know this could be a placebo effect. I'm fairly sure it isn't, though... I'm a stickler for listening to the details in a song, and it does seem like there are some that I haven't picked up on previously.
Since we're on the psychology subject, I wanted to throw out my opinion of those who say "This can't possibly work!" It seems to me that whenever something "new" comes out, there are always going to be the "Those damn kids and their flying machines" types who will refuse to give the new technology any chance, because after all, they don't have it and their equipment sounds fine. These people won't ever do what I did and actually buy the stuff and then make up their mind... hell, they won't even bother listening to it for free at the local hifi store because their mind is already made up.
Now don't get me wrong on this point... I'm not saying that everyone who disagrees with the power cable stuff is one of these people. Lots of people make good arguments for why this may be a bunch of bunk but are at least open to the possibility that it might work.
. It sounds good now, so I can't see it go anywhere but up!
