How to Test Power Cables & Interconnects?

[4est]

On 9/30/2019 at 1:35 PM, Temporal_Dissident said:

Looking for some advice. Here is the situation:

• I am building out a new system (dCS Bartok > Parasound JC 2 BP > Parasound JC 5 > Floorstanding Speakers)
• Equipment is on-hand. I am in the process of re-wiring the A/C circuit with two matching, 10awg home-runs (one for power Amp, one for sources) 
• I have the opportunity to try some high-end power cables and interconnects
• I will invest in the cables if there is a discernible difference. I am somewhat skeptical.
• I am trying to come up with a test protocol to determine what these higher end cables do. Everyone advises that I do A/B testing will listening to music. Of course I will do this.

 

My question: 

Is there some more objective way to A/B test power cords and interconnects? I prefer to do this by listening,...not using lab equipment. How can I A/B measure system "blackness" or noise level? 

 

Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance. 

 

 

For starters, many of the previous posters don't think wiring matters- take their opinions with that in mind. When you say the equipment is on hand, is it new to you or have you been using it for awhile? If I assume the equipment is brand new and new to you, I'd definitely start out with the stock power cables, and use some straight forward interconnects and speaker cables using Mogami, Belden or Canare wire. A year from now after you have broken in the equipment and adjusted things you will be in a much better position to evaluate cabling. I believe cables make a difference, but it is a minor effect as compared to break in and speaker positioning. If you do not already have a copy, you'd be money ahead buying Jim Smith's book, "Get Better Sound".

[4est]

9 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

For starters, some of the previous posters have EE or physics degrees; others have conducted listening tests - take their opinions with that in mind.

Nice appeal to authority coming from a poster who thinks his science background somehow eclipses his mid range system...

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10 hours ago, marce said:

Yawn yawn yawn, mid range system indeed, how utterly snobbish!

Perhaps it is, and then again the poster I referred to seems to suggest that because one may have a degree in physics or engineering their opinion is worth more than a lay person. I get that you don't see a need for cabling along with Ralf. As it stands, there are many who do, including some with advanced degrees in those disciplines. To state outright that because one has some sort of degree they are more qualified to access the validity of a subjective topic such as cables is simply false. I merely added the midrange system BS because despite what that poster would like to think, he doesn't seem to understand how to set up a system well. It is clear if you look at the pics of his system (dipole speakers a couple of feet off of a back wall for starters) and some of the silly answers I have seen over the past year. Interestingly, I was not promoting cables at all if you reread my original reply. I said what I did because it seemed as if the cable skeptics had piled on, and I wished to offer a different perspective. To be honest, I do not even understand why someone as experienced as you would even bother getting into this fray.

 

If I may get back to the OP's question, it would be my suggestion to wait until you have a good handle on what you already have. Later if you feel the need, you can try some cables to see what they do for you. I have never cared for the direct AB comparisons with subtle changes. Instead I prefer to replace one set and play a bunch of different music over a few days or a week to let things settle in. Then swap back the originals as a comparison.