I was wondering if aftermarket powercables strive to achieve the same effect as a power conditioner and vice versa? I've seen some users only use one or the other so im not sure if they are suppost to compliment each other by using them together, or substitute each other by using only one or the other?

Can anyone clarify this? I've been looking at the Shunyata Hydra 4, but was wondering if a better power cable is all I need.

they strive to achieve profit by tricking idiots. what's new.

Yes. Look at what they use in the wall, say no more.

Oh come on, 3 feet of magic pixie dust infused uber copper gravel and irrigation tubing over standard home depot copper wire can undo all the bad that miles of aluminum and other crap induce...

Why do you use aluminum over there in the colonies? The only thing we are allowed to use here for in-wall wiring is 16-18AWG solid core copper.

Yeah, but you suck your power up from the bowels of the Earth, so it's all stinky and stuff.

Nahh that's only about 20%... the rest is ice cool from the glaciers.

Aluminum hasn't been legal for new construction for quite some time in the US. There are a lot of houses that still have it of course.

well i guess these will not make a better change for sound i take it? I was only curious, as i've never had any experience with any of these.

I've never done a power cable blind test myself, but I don't see how theory could back up any perceptible change other than placebo effect. There are many audio shops that are willing to lend power cables for a short period of time to try in your system, you could always do that if you want to form your own opinion.

I think most were commenting on power cables, not conditioners. I personally use a Brickwall and wouldn't be without it. I also use a couple/three crump audio asylum power cables that i built back when I was asking the same kinds of questions, but would not attribute any sort of sound to them, beyond the fact that components do seem to work better when plugged in.

I thought Zerosurge/Brickwall stuff was just for surge protection and didn't do anything to the signal like conditioners do. Did I miss something?

yeah, i should audition and see if i can detect any difference. I stumbled across a review of the PS audio PPP over on the other site, which got me curious. It seems that many find it a clear improvment when integrated with their gear. But i mean it only makes sense that your gear would suffer if there is lack of current.

Im only trying to understand what these devices attempt to do, and am not sure if they designed to provide a stable current to your gear, or if they are trying to do something else, which some may find complete bs and just creative marketing?

I'd be happy to save my money and plug into an ordinary outlet or use a stock power cable, if this was a better choice.

I use power conditioners and fancy cables and like them so you all can go to hell.

Of course you do Al, but can you hear a difference, or do you do it just because it's worth it to not have to worry about it?

I have absolutely heard improvements and the opposite with changes in power cords and power conditioners. And the other thing too.

I think most were commenting on power cables, not conditioners.

Personally, I was commenting on most all power cables, and most all power conditioners. The only ones I would believe in would be the ones that try to completely regenerate the power. That's the only way that makes any sense to me.

I completely believe in surge suppression, though.

While I'm not a great believer in the plating on the AC plug making a huge difference I've spent some time testing AC cords and they do make a difference in some cases. The problem is all our own doing with all these switch mode supplies, wi-fi and etc. sending a lot of noise back onto the mains which the gear can pick up. Then there are the issues many are facing, even with 20 year old electrical systems, the wiring wasn't designed to handle the load of a modern home and often the grounding scheme is a joke. One solution is to just throw a shit load of money at bling cables or rather just fix the problem, either with isolation transformers or dedicated lines.

Or you could build a listening room out of lead with dedicated stand-alone circuits and no other electronics.

I thought Zerosurge/Brickwall stuff was just for surge protection and didn't do anything to the signal like conditioners do. Did I miss something?

They do provide some conditioning/noise rejection as well. Like the dimmer in my dining room was causing noise in my system; Monster HTS2000 wouldn't take care of it. Switched to Brickwall; noise gone.

Rebar/steel is more then enough to create a Faraday cage and it doesn't mess as much with your head. I use dedicated lines but there are also quite a few solid silver PC's here...

what do you mean by dedicated line?

what do you mean by dedicated line?

Step 1: Go to your nearest clean power plant

Step 2: Hook up some pure OFC copper wire to their power

Step 3: Connect it to your home audio room

And there is your dedicated line.

I like that Furman power conditioner with the dinner plate-sized, 63lb Plitron transformer in it. If you don't believe in it, it will kick your balls up into your throat.

Toshiba's Home Nuclear Reactor | Gadget Lab from Wired.com