I try not to get too caught up in the voodoo science, snake-oil and fairy dust of the "wire" biz. However... I have tried a few of the “specialty" power cords. And as bad as I wanted NOT to hear a difference, unfortunately I did. And I perceived the differences to be an improvement.
Like another forum member reported above, I have settled down to PS Audio power cords. They do bring out more low level “rez”, details and “dynamics” to my ears – more clear – more “there” there, blacker backgrounds, less hash, haze and noise.
I don’t go any further up the crazy chain than the Perfect Wave AC-5 (which I buy when I can find them used). The AC-5 is about as big and bulky as I think is feasible to deal with, lest you risk damage to the IEC jacks of the equipment unless you support the power cord somehow – which I do anyway on some components, depending on how the cord lays. Once you get to such massive power cords, they will lift/move smaller components.
I like the PS cords even if I didn’t think they sounded better, if for no other reason than the “connectors”. Take a look at the prongs/contacts… these are not stamped brass, or gold plated stamped brass.. but milled from solid chunks of metal. And then plated and polished to prevent oxidation and tarnishing. And if you do a little research, you will discover that the wire is welded to the plugs internally, not attached with a screw or soldered – welded. And then the whole thing is sealed in a molded plug. I have searched and searched and searched – if you can find a power cord with a better made plug/connector on it – I’d like to know about it. It doesn’t matter if you buy wattgate, marinco, Oyaide, blah, blah, blah…. Gold plated, platinum plated, rhodium plated, silver plated… they all have stamped brass contacts to start with, with holes in them and wire attached with screws…maybe soldered. Now, having said and observed all this – Does it matter? Can you hear a difference? That is for each individual to decide for themselves. Remember.. hearing is a perception and partially psychoacoustic, i.e. if you "think" you hear it - then you do - period - end of debate.
I plan to try one of Steve’s and one of Cullen Cables to see how they sound or “if” they sound. I also have one of Wire World’s Electra 5’s, which I bought out of curiosity, since its wire and braid design is “different” than most others, just to see if it did in fact sound different. I haven’t had time to actually A/B it to anything yet, as too many other things have been changing in my system recently. I’ve got to get my system settled in and become familiar with the systems normal sound before I can get down and do any comparing of the minutiae of power cords. This is my .02 cents on the power cord subject…