Opinions of using ferrite chokes around power cables

[Rutger]

This question I dont have any answer for, I havent experimented much on this yet.
Do you think the sound can get more musical using ferrite chokes on AC power cables ?
I can see that the Klimax DS has a big ferrite choke right before the SMPS , and the sound from this unit is very musical.

Is is beneficial to put ferrite chokes on AC power cables from other maufacturers, such as Lejonklou or naim ? On pre and poweramps ?

[lejonklou]

Ferrites are useful passive components, I use them in all of my products. When positioned before, inside or directly after the power supply, they are part of the whole of the power supply design.

There’s no harm in experimenting with them externally on power cords and you will most certainly hear a change in how the music is reproduced. If you achieve a musical improvement, I’d say the power supply was incorrectly designed.

There was a debate about that big ferrite on Linn DS players (a similar one is also used on Källa) years back, as some German retailer was claimed to be removing it for his customers. This annoyed me a lot from a theoretical standpoint, as I was certain it was there for a good reason and I don’t think retailers should be modifying equipment internally in that manner.

When I was the UK the same year, I was present when a KDS was demonstrated with and without this ferrite in place. I thought its removal made the music chaotic and uncontrolled, and so did most people in the room. At least one guy preferred the music without the ferrite, as he felt it became more energetic and alive. I agreed with the energetic part, but the music suffered and I frankly found it unbearably noisy.

[Arjen]

I experienced with ferrite when I had rather moderate cables some years ago. I found them soundwise useful for powercables, for interlinks and speakercables too. I left them out after upgrading my cables. Only the speakercabels still wears ferrite chokes. I could not change them for they are partly running in my floor, so I had to tweak in some ways with the ferrites still on for better sound.
So for higher graded cables I don’t think extra ferrite is useful. But for the little money of ferrite you can have a try.

[Sopper]

The use of ferrites is imo trial and error
There seems to be no “golden rule”

[Rutger]

Now I have done a lot of experiment with ferrite chokes , both on digital and analog equipment.

It seems that in some cases the sound really gets better with chokes around power cables to digital sources, streamers and routers , but one has to try and evaluate every equipment tested. The sound can also get slightly worse with ferrite chokes put on some equipment in the system. I didnt find a power amp that benefited having ferrite chokes on the power cable - but I guess there are exceptions.
Its interesting that the sound really changes ( for good or bad ) using ferrite chokes.

Thanks for all the input and experience in this thread.