Will good power cords help with computer audio?

[bg4533]

I was looking at the group buy for quail power cords with ferrite rings around the ends and I was wondering if there would be any advantage to using these with a computer? Is all of the interference killed by the PSU and Mobo or does some of it still make it to the sound card?

 

[PooJou]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bg4533 I was looking at the group buy for quail power cords with ferrite rings around the ends and I was wondering if there would be any advantage to using these with a computer? Is all of the interference killed by the PSU and Mobo or does some of it still make it to the sound card?

Well i can't say no, there's prolly like a 0.000000001% ammount of interference. Eg. SFA... so any extra cost just detracts from it.

 

[Earwax]

I can't see how a power cord would help, as the computer's PSU is the source of so much noise itself.

 

[jefemeister]

But I believe that the most common explanation of power cord benefits is that they keep noise from travelling back into the electrical system and then contaminating other equipment such as your amp. If this holds true, you definitely want to use one on your computer. But I agree that it seems weird to use a fancy power cord on your computer.

 

[gradofan]

I've tried the quail cord, and it appears to make no difference. That said, it looks really cool.

 

[thomaspf]

Actually a really good power cord will make the noise from the computer power supply distribute back into your house wiring even better.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[commando]

Maybe if you had ears like superman. I'd be interested as to who's convinced themselves they can hear a difference, and whether they could pick the correct one in a blind test.

 

[gaboo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefemeister But I believe that the most common explanation of power cord benefits is that they keep noise from travelling back into the electrical system and then contaminating other equipment such as your amp. If this holds true, you definitely want to use one on your computer. But I agree that it seems weird to use a fancy power cord on your computer.

A psu with active PFC (mandatory in EU) will probably help more than any fancy cable to your PSU.

 

[sluggo]

Active power factor correction doesn't do anything with regard to filtering EMI. The line filter on the power supply is responsible for emissions compliance, and yes, additional filtering (ferrites) will help with radiated and conducted emmissions.

The PFC keeps the current and voltage in near phase, that's all.

 

[gaboo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sluggo Active power factor correction doesn't do anything with regard to filtering EMI. The line filter on the power supply is responsible for emissions compliance, and yes, additional filtering (ferrites) will help with radiated and conducted emmissions. The PFC keeps the current and voltage in near phase, that's all.

Sorry for the misinformation.

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomaspf Actually a really good power cord will make the noise from the computer power supply distribute back into your house wiring even better. Cheers Thomas

LOL.

Yes. Separate lines for computers and audio make a big difference.

-Ed

 

[commando]

Would it be a big enough difference that my Mum could hear it?

 

[kyrie]

Quote:

Maybe if you had ears like superman. I'd be interested as to who's convinced themselves they can hear a difference, and whether they could pick the correct one in a blind test.

You mean Superman's Ears (the head-fier)?