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ESP MusicCord

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MultiScaleMale

MultiScaleMale

Gold Supporting Member
Jun 19, 2003
27,208
38,986
Maryland
#1
I know I'm going to get slammed for this....

On a whim I bought a ESP MusicCord, not the Pro model, just the "regular" model. It arrived very quickly via FedEX and I only had enough time for an A/B test with my daughter changing the power cords. She didn't know any of the claims for the MusicCord, so that's as close to a double blind test as I can get.

First off, it is built completely solid. It's even more robust than I would expect for the price. This is like the cables we used in the Army for tactical nukes, just prettier.

Turned my back and had her plug one in and played. Sounds good, that's the baseline. The next cord was plugged in and I immediately noticed a thicker, fuller, richer tone. Even my daughter said it sounds better. She said it shakes the house more, if I remember he exact quote. Went back to the A/B test again to see if I was imagining it, but again you could easily tell which was the MusicCord and which was the standard power cable.

Will the drunk guy in the back of the room notice? No. But if you invest in tone via basses, strings, amps, speakers, etc the MusicCord may give you that extra bit of tone that you may think is worth it. Honestly, I don't know if it means that the MusicCord is that good or if standard cords are that bad. Maybe there's room for a lot of improvement in a $50 power cord, I don't know, but I do know that the MusicCord is all it's cracked up to be.

(I used to think it was snake oil too.)

EDIT: I hate revising history so I'm not going to change the above post, but I did another A/B test last night and both myself and the people listening heard a difference. I agree with the EEs that a power cord should not make much of a difference. Scientifically, the most likely reason is that subconsciously I'm playing differently. Perhaps it's just the equivalent of a lucky rabbit's foot, but there does seem to be a difference and that difference seems to convey to others that hear a difference. Science or placebo? I don't know, all I know is there seems to be a difference that others can hear.

Let me stick with the tangibles. Firs, the cord is extremely well made and will easily outlast my trips around the Sun. If I have any problem with my rig I won't even think about checking the power cord. Second, it's like taking a puppy to the park - chick magnet, except it draws the curious, the skeptics, and everyone in between. I've had way more conversation factor from the cord than I paid for it.

I have not done a proper scientific double blind test and I won't do so. I really don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone as I'm happy with the cords and will continue to use them.

Bottom line, I'm happy. You can call me an idiot, a ripoff, etc that seems to be okay in this thread. But don't take my word for anything other than my personal opinion.
 
#6
cybersnyder said:
I just know what I hear and I was expecting to hear absolutely nothing.
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Spooky

There are medical conditions where people hear things, or voices that nobody else hears. These sounds can't be recorded either. These conditions can be diagnosed and hopefully treated. Sometimes it just harmless.

Enjoy your purchase. Myself, I believe in "modeling". I must hear things nobody else does but it can be recorded. Maybe one of the modeling companies with come out with power cable plugin models/emulation/simulation. I'd buy that. ;):ninja:
 
#7
I have no doubt that the OP heard a difference. it's been proved many times that sometimes folk hear something that is not actually there. Many times that something is because they want to hear a difference.

OP if the cable adds to the pleasure you get out of your music then use the thing and enjoy. Don't let anyone gainsay you.
 
#8
seamonkey said:
Spooky

There are medical conditions where people hear things, or voices that nobody else hears. These sounds can't be recorded either. These conditions can be diagnosed and hopefully treated. Sometimes it just harmless.

Enjoy your purchase. Myself, I believe in "modeling". I must hear things nobody else does but it can be recorded. Maybe one of the modeling companies with come out with power cable plugin models/emulation/simulation. I'd buy that. ;):ninja:
Click to expand...

It's kinda cool that you know more about the cord than I do but I am physically touching it and can hear the results but you are calling me crazy even though you have had no physical experience with it. I find that ironic. ;)
 
#9
cybersnyder said:
It's kinda cool that you know more about the cord than I do but I am physically touching it and can hear the results but you are calling me crazy even though you have had no physical experience with it. I find that ironic. ;)
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If they even came up with one little shred of evidence on a scientific level that this cord is better than a standard AC cord, I might be inclined to believe in it. But since they've been around for a couple years and have offered up nothing except Youtube vids, sorry but I take the word of the engineers on here who say it's not possible for a 6 ft. cord to negate what goes on with all the cheap AC wiring in buildings.
 
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#11
JimmyM said:
I take the word of the engineers on here who say it's not possible for a 6 ft. cord to negate what goes on with all the cheap AC wiring in buildings.
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Not to mention the cable to the street service, then back to the distribution point, and from there sometimes hundreds of miles to the power plant.
 
#12
Ethan Winer on this ESP chord from the YouTube video "It's a power cord, it's a power chord, let me say it again: it's a power chord. Audio doesn't travel through it, and it's connected to 400 ft of other power chords, Romex that's in your walls..."

Come on believers - measure and record one. Every few months we see these threads and no proof except ear-witness testimony from somebody who bought one, or were given one for review.
 
#13
We spend hundreds of dollars changing to the newest flavor cab or amp (except Jimmy M. who's too cheap to change:)) So what's the big deal about a $50 cord?? If he thinks it sounds better, THEN IT DOES. He's the ONLY one he has to please!
 
#14
Obviously I cant tell the op he didn't hear any difference. I wasn't there. But, knowing even the little that I do about amp design, power filtering and residential ac distribution - it definitely makes the op's claims hard to swallow.

I think the following statement is most likely erroneous, however:

"I just know what I hear and I was expecting to hear absolutely nothing."

What on earth would compel a consumer to spend 500% more for an item if they honestly didn't expect any difference?


There was an interesting thread a couple months ago by Bongomania. He bought an expensive "premium' instrument cable & swore he heard a difference. Being the objectively minded individual that he though (and recognizing the potential for psychosomatic influence, etc...) he invested time and significant resources into attempting to confirm his initial knee-jerk reaction and conclusions. In the end, a lot was learned by everybody on both sides of the 'ultra premium cable' debate!

Until there's any hard data & better than invested (i.e., you spent the money & are naturally predisposed to hear something), subjective anecdotal evidence- I don't think that many of us are going to be convinced.
 
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#15
JimmyM said:
If they even came up with one little shred of evidence on a scientific level that this cord is better than a standard AC cord, I might be inclined to believe in it. But since they've been around for a couple years and have offered up nothing except Youtube vids, sorry but I take the word of the engineers on here who say it's not possible for a 6 ft. cord to negate what goes on with all the cheap AC wiring in buildings.
Click to expand...

Jimmy, if you want to try it, I'll send it to you for a test spin. It was a curiosity thing for me. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's more that this cable is awesome or regular cables really suck.
 
#17
seamonkey said:
Ethan Winer on this ESP chord from the YouTube video "It's a power cord, it's a power chord, let me say it again: it's a power chord. Audio doesn't travel through it, and it's connected to 400 ft of other power chords, Romex that's in your walls..."

Come on believers - measure and record one. Every few months we see these threads and no proof except ear-witness testimony from somebody who bought one, or were given one for review.
Click to expand...

First off, I don't have audio recording gear. My iPhone won't do any justice to any audio source. Secondly, I don't care enough to convince you. Lastly, there are "power chords" root and fifth and "power cords" copper that conducts electricity. Surely we can agree on that.
 
#18
You are absolutely correct that cables sound different. My wife can tell the difference, shouldn't a musician. All you people who swear there is no difference need to really try it for yourselves.
I can't believe the rude comments.
 
#20
I agree with what Jimmy said, in that not only is the audio signal not passing through it, but there are also hundreds of metres of electrical cabling (with much higher currents passing through them as well, or at least I think it's current) that the power has to come through before it reaches your amp. My experiences with power supplies is that the quality of the wiring in the building you're in will have a much higher impact on the quality of the power you get than what power cable or multi-box you use.

Also, I've heard that bad power can simply damage your amplifier (if it's bad enough), rather than good power supply somehow enhancing audio quality. That's why some amp manufacturers put power protection systems in their amps (such as Genz Benz). If this power cable myth was true, don't you think they'd just issue higher quality power cables with their amps rather than spending thousands of dollars developing more effective power protection systems? Not to mention the increased production cost of putting those systems in the amps. Don't you think they'd be smart enough to save money that way?
 
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