[keefy6]

I have been interested in the benefits of upgrading of Power Cables for a while. Elite Electronics here in Hawaii has been liquidating (..a pause for SO MANY DEALS-they're an auth. Elite dealer and is wher i bought my 111FD) and I found a Monster Power Powerline 300 AV Power Cord and inquired about it. List price was $99.99 and he knocked off about $40.00 (..again I pause) So anyway, without expecting anything I bought it and had intentions of replacing my A/V Reciever cord with it.


When i got home I remembered the guy commenting on a friend's results when he replaced his Power cord to his Sub; but I went ahead and hooked it up to my reciever..immediately noticing the KPBS jazz was clearer and alot less noisy. "hm" i wondered..so i hooked it up to my SVS and well -- wHAt the F(#(#!!??


I have been replaying alot of bluray titles and DVDs for the last two days that i've seen in the past week just to make sure i'm not losing my mind. I think i may have to turn down my Bass level. This is what i've heard/felt:


1. It's LOUDER

2. It's LOWER

3. It's FASTER

4. I actually felt it in my freakin ear because of so low it was (Props to SVS obviously)

5. I've watched Bolt at least twice all the way through and by now know the demo quality scenes are, and there are lows that i'm noticing that just wasn't there last week when I watched it.


Here is a link so everyone knows what it looks like:

http://www.monstercable.com/company_...IEC+Power+Cord


..I went back and bought another one -- for my Marantz receiver. Outstanding - i really was not expecting such an immediate difference but there is. I really wish everyone could hear what i'm hearing.

 

[Gov]

Snake oil

 

[keefy6]

lol we all have opinions

 

[skool]

Without any objective evidence, it'll be hard to convince anyone of this "placebo" effect. If you really want anyone to take this seriously, please use some objective measurements before and after cable is used.

 

[keefy6]

nope, i don't have to prove anything - i'm just sharing my experience

(wonder why i'm smiling?)

 

[theelviscerator]

what a joke.

 

[MandM]

Noel is this you?!!?!?

 

[keefy6]

lol wow. i guess somebody's gonna say next that interconnects, speaker wire, hdmi cable, different phono cartridges, different turntables, different speakers, different displays etc., don't each differ and each aren't of better quality based on its parts and build quality. i'm beginning to think i've touched a nerve here! (

)

 

[mojomike]

What a load of crap!

 

[craig john]



Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16928543


1. It's LOUDER

This should be very simple to prove. Set an SPL meter at your listening position. Play the subwoofer test tone from your receiver. Change *nothing* but the power cord. Does the SPL level change?

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16928543


2. It's LOWER

This one will be a little more work. First download the test tones from the RealTraps website:
http://www.realtraps.com/test-cd.htm

Track 1 is individual frequencies from 10 to 19 Hz. Track 2 is individual frequencies from 20 to 29 Hz. Again, place your SPL meter at your LP. Play the tones and record the levels for each frequency. Change *nothing* but the power cord. Re-measure each frequency. Do their levels change?

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16928543


3. It's FASTER

This one can't be measured because there is no such thing as playing a frequency "faster". If a sub can play a frequency, it is, *by definition*, fast enough.

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16928543


4. I actually felt it in my freakin ear because of so low it was (Props to SVS obviously)

Don't hurt yourself!

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16928543


5. I've watched Bolt at least twice all the way through and by now know the demo quality scenes are, and there are lows that i'm noticing that just wasn't there last week when I watched it.

Did you change anything else, like possibly the position of the sub, or your listening position?

 

[Hyabusha]

Sounds great, but already own three of these for three of my subs! ^_^

 

[keefy6]

Craig, i have all the test equipment (spl meters, many test discs, tones etc.) but i'm not going to do any of that right now. I will keep your instructions for future reference btw I'm ALWAYS wanting to learn something new!

But to answer though, i haven't moved my Sub at all, i'm a little superstitious about that.


When i say faster, i guess it seems that the bass that i hear starts and stops quicker depending on different scenes in what i'm watching and has alot more impact than before.


I was in a HI-FI in Louisiana a couple years ago. The owner has been in the business for over 40 years, has never used a test disc or SPL meter, tunes every kind of turntable under the sun using very simple equipment (some are 15k and up equipment) and what he told me is this, "there is no audio instrument in the world that can replicate the ear". His demo HT was an NAD Amp/NAD DVD player, floorstand speakers and surrounds and a comparable sub. I have yet to hear as much realisim in Star Wars Episode I. I've heard it louder of course, maybe more bassy because the level is turned up but never again like that, and it wasn't even playing that loud. And he doesn't let the Amp figure out the crossover/phase etc., he does it all himself. I've been doing this now for at least 12 years and I have to say I learned quite a bit from this gentleman that day. We can invent all kinds of ways to measure and calculate but in the end, it still all comes down to sound

I'll also say this, if I had an extra AC cord and somebody wanted to use it for a while in their setup, I would let them use it - it makes that much of a difference.

 

[mojomike]



Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930433



But to answer though, i haven't moved my Sub at all, i'm a little superstitious about that.

Wow. This BS just gets better and better. What is it you think might occur if you move your sub? Seven years bad luck? (LOL)


I take it science is not your strongest suit.

 

[keefy6]



 

[Ivan Beaver]

There are a few-a VERY few people who posess the skills to do tuning/alignment PROPERLY by ear. The rest of the people DON'T!


Just because you met somebody who was good at it (and let's not forget things like maybe the ACOUSTICAL environment you were in at the store could have A LOT to do with what you heard) DOES NOT mean that YOU can do it.


Have you tried putting the old power cable back in and seeing what happens? Maybe have somebody switch it out and not tell you which one is being used.


THEN you might have something. Maybe. But if you know which cable is being used-it is real easy to "hear" a difference.


Blind tests are the ones that show what BS this is.


But people who "believe", do not believe in blind tests.

 

[keefy6]

Ivan I didn't say that I calibrated by ear, I can't and would not attempt to, that was the experience that I had with the owner of the HI-FI and how he does it, and do agree that very few people have that expertise. I was using that to point out that in the end however speakers are calibrated what is heard is what matters.


Is it also BS that Audiophile equipment whether it be Amps, Turntables, Speaker Monitors, or Floorstanding speakers use similar power cables -- It really is strange to read that so many claim BS when everyone is ignorant to not ever using the product itself

All that i'm doing is passing on my impression of an AV Cable that I bought and included in my system that I haven't changed in the last 8 years, (as far as audio goes) and have had same Sub for the last 5. I can tell the difference in what I'm hearing if there was one - good or bad.

 

[craig john]



Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930433


Craig, i have all the test equipment (spl meters, many test discs, tones etc.) but i'm not going to do any of that right now. I will keep your instructions for future reference btw I'm ALWAYS wanting to learn something new!

I don't get it. You have everything you need to validate your claims, but you're "not going to do that right now"??? How do you then expect us to lend credence to your claims?

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930433


But to answer though, i haven't moved my Sub at all, i'm a little superstitious about that.

I don't doubt you're superstitious. Wiki says: "Superstition is a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge."

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930433


I was in a HI-FI in Louisiana a couple years ago. The owner has been in the business for over 40 years, has never used a test disc or SPL meter, tunes every kind of turntable under the sun using very simple equipment (some are 15k and up equipment) and what he told me is this, "there is no audio instrument in the world that can replicate the ear".

I'm sure *he* had good, well trained ears. I know for myself, I can't get my speakers balanced to within a dB without an SPL meter.

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930433


His demo HT was an NAD Amp/NAD DVD player, floorstand speakers and surrounds and a comparable sub. I have yet to hear as much realisim in Star Wars Episode I. I've heard it louder of course, maybe more bassy because the level is turned up but never again like that, and it wasn't even playing that loud. And he doesn't let the Amp figure out the crossover/phase etc., he does it all himself. I've been doing this now for at least 12 years and I have to say I learned quite a bit from this gentleman that day. We can invent all kinds of ways to measure and calculate but in the end, it still all comes down to sound

Of course, "...it still all comes down to (how it) sounds. However, do you think subwoofer designers reply solely on their ears to design their subs? Do you honestly think that, if SVS was aware of the significant improvements you've claimed, they wouldn't switch to these power cords? Or, at least offer them as an option? I suggest you contact Ed Mullen of SVS. He's a member of the forum. Ask him for his thoughts on these power cords.


Monster claims in that link you provided:

Quote:
PowerLine 300 Delivers Four Times More Power for Better Sound and Picture

I would like to see an explanation and "*measurements* to validate that claim. Power = Voltage x Current. Whch of these does the power cord increase the delivery of?

Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930433


I'll also say this, if I had an extra AC cord and somebody wanted to use it for a while in their setup, I would let them use it - it makes that much of a difference.

If you lent one to me, the *first* thing I would do is measure to see if it made anything louder or lower.

Craig

 

[Ivan Beaver]



Quote:
Originally Posted by keefy6 /forum/post/16930821


Ivan I didn't say that I calibrated by ear, I can't and would not attempt to, that was the experience that I had with the owner of the HI-FI and how he does it, and do agree that very few people have that expertise.


It really is strange to read that so may claim BS when everyone is ignorant to not ever using the item itself

All that i'm doing is passing on my impression of an AV Cord that I bought and included in my system that I haven't changed in the last 8 years, (as far as audio goes) and have had same Sub for the last 5. I can tell the difference in what I'm hearing if there was one -good or bad.

The purpose of the AC cable is simply wire to bring the AC voltage into the sub. Once it is there-the "sound" of the cabinet is determined by the amplifier and loudspeaker driver-PERIOD!


As long as the AC cable is not having any loss while delivering power (I doubt your old cable was having loss), then it has done its job. The AC power is converted to DC for the amp to actually run off of. Therefore anything "special" that the cable "might" be providing is lost by the time it is converted to DC.


Now if you moved your sub to a slightly different position while replacing the cable-I have no doubt you might be hearing something different-due to room modes. But THAT is not due to the power cable-just the fact that you moved your sub.


And in scientific terms-you have now changed 2 things (cable and position) so you have no idea what has actually caused the change.


But in the end, I am glad you are happy, and I am sure the store was willing to take your money and make them happy also-and Monster was also happy.


So see- buying an expensive AC cable IS GOOD (or at least some people are happier).

 

[mojomike]

When you noticed this drastic difference in sound quality between the two power cords, did you attempt to use any logic or reasoning as to why or how a power cord could bring about such a tranformation? Does it make any sense to you scientifically at all? Are you sure your old power cord wasn't very defective?

 

[keefy6]



Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomike /forum/post/16930872


When you noticed this drastic difference in sound quality between the two power cords, did you attempt to use any logic or reasoning as to why or how a power cord could bring about such a tranformation? Does it make any sense to you scientifically at all? Are you sure your old power cord wasn't very defective?

I actually did look at the two cables i replaced and they're in good condition. The only thing changed was the two cables replaced and that is all. We all know that the quality of a picture is dependant upon the source material but how the signal transmits in between has an effect as well. The same goes for sound, there are many variables that can make sound sound worse, vibration, dust, dirt (when playing records), worn out records, inferior cartridges, magnetism, interferance, acoustics, poor amplification etc., in trying to diminish some of these things is what makes sound sound better right? I would think if someone invested thousands of dollars one would research and learn as much as one could to get the most out of what was purchased. I've been reading up on this for at least 4 years but never bought any until now.