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ESP MusicCord

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#221
JimmyM said:
OK, I know you're all really excited to hear my thoughts :p so here's what I've found so far:

Using my Micro VR and switching between the ESP cord and the cheap computer AC cord I tote with the Micro VR, and plugged in two basses...my Guitar Factory 5 with EMG PJ's and rounds, and my 76 Precision with a Fender CS P and Dimarzio Ultrajazz J with flats. This was not a scientific test...this was just a test of initial impressions. I switched between them several times, trying to pick up nuances of which one was better. As God as my witness, I could not tell a difference between the two cables.

My wife is about to help me do a blind test...I shall report the results upon completion. But so far, I'm underwhelmed with anything except build quality. It's a really nice cable but I'm not impressed so far. Sorry.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your honest review.
 
#223
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
If you ABXed it you probably would find that it sounds the same.

Sorry, but it's just a power cord. That's all. No magic.
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Bob, I think you should try the cable out sometime. I mean... Even if it makes no sense for it to work, maybe there is such a thing as magic ;)

I was talking to a friend of mine who was trained as an electric engineer in the Navy and who currently builds guitars and does repair work on amps, cables, etc. He laughed when I mentioned this cable. A lot.

I don't doubt that they do make it out of quality components. I by no means have an education in electronics but I know that an amp will not accept any more power than it needs... If an amp accepted more power than it needs to operate, wouldn't it just sort of break? So... Just what is the cable allegedly doing? That said, I have not tried the cable, nor do I have much interest in trying it because I cannot justify spending that much money for something so inexpensive to make (just like I wouldn't buy Vector/Cutco knives).

Would you buy a $5,000 dollar wing for your car because they told you it would go faster? No, that's not what they're designed for. (at least I hope you wouldn't). A lot of people do it though... That's sort of what I equate this whole concept to.
 
#224
I would rather set up a double blind test for someone else, maybe a believer in the magic power cord. That would be more interesting to me than trying a power cord, which is about as appealing as checking the validity of horoscopes.
 
#227
Yea. I was being sort of sarcastic and cynical. That's just how I do things.

I'm really interested in hearing recordings of both of the cables back to back with no indication as to which is which. Then again, I would guess people would say that the recordings weren't done correctly because "oh em gee it has to work, it was super expensive."

EDIT: Also, someone record the same power cable twice and say one is the MusicCord. That would be REALLY interesting.
 
#228
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
I would rather set up a double blind test for someone else, maybe a believer in the magic power cord. That would be more interesting to me than trying a power cord, which is about as appealing as checking the validity of horoscopes.
Click to expand...

Bob, in the interest of being open minded, why wouldn't you at least hear it? I'm sure your ears are great.
 
#232
OK, my wife just did a blind test with me using the Micro VR, the same two cables, and a different bass...my seafoam green PJ with rounds and DiMarzio Model PJ's. We did a test where I had to guess which one she plugged in. I could not see or hear what she was doing, and I never once looked at the amp, although I did have my ear cocked to it, of course. I did my utmost to be as impartial and honest in this test as possible, and hand to God, I could not tell which one she was using at any time, and I in no way falsified the results.

She switched out a total of 12 times. I guessed correctly 4 times and wrong 8 times. I'm sure it's only because I had the regular cable and not the Pro model ;) Sorry...the guy makes the same claims about both of them, so it's fair game.

I'm going to do one more test with the SVT and two of these 210AV cabs stacked. I refuse to subject my beautiful vintage SVT to turning on and off several times in a row to do a blind test, but I'll do it a couple times just to give you all my impressions of it through a high end tube amp. And just so nobody thinks I'm pulling shenanigans or using tubes warming up as an excuse, I'll use the ESP second.
 
#235
cybersnyder said:
Just curious about the higher current amp because I didn't hear any difference with a lower power amp.
Click to expand...

I was with some friends and we went back and forth with a Genz Shuttle, I think it was a 600W head? Either way, there was what we all agreed was a detectable effect. But only at higher volumes, and not really noticeable with thump.

And while we all couldn't agree about whether the effect was even enough to worry about in a practice space, we could agree that paying full price for one of these was bloody silly because there was no way in any reality anyone would really notice it in the audience.

Of course, not scientific. But neither is the advertisements for these cords. Which tells me that the placebo effect mentioned above may be all we were hearing.
 
#238
There's an even more expensive version? Hahahaha... Is the assumption now that the pro model does all the things that the standard doesn't? What exactly are the advantages of one over the other? ...beyond what they already don't do above standard cables... See what I did there?[/QUOTE said:
There top of the line cord sells for $999.99. Should we put you down for two? You'll save 10%


The Essence Reference Power Cord
Quantity in Basket: None
Code: Essence_Cord

Price: $999.99

Buy 2+ And Save An Additional 10%

Shipping Weight: 3.00 pounds
Click to expand...
 
#239
If you like the cable, for whatever reason, I say go for it. It sounds like it's well built, and one less thing to worry about on a gig.

As yet another engineer here on the forum, I can tell you the theory behind these things is pure BS. The other engineers here on the forum appear to have a closed mind, but if you understand the science behind the cable, there really is no other conclusion. It would be like somebody buying a perpetual motion machine, and telling you how great it was. It may appear to work, but you can call BS without even seeing it.
 
#240
Robin Ruscio said:
Bob, in the interest of being open minded, why wouldn't you at least hear it? I'm sure your ears are great.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it's a fine power cord and it acts just like a power cord should because it's a power cord. What else is there? It's not open-minded to reject knowledge.

I'd rather set up an ABX (i.e., double blind) test for someone who believes it has hidden powers beyond that of a power cord. Would you want to do one? It's different from A/B. With an A/B test you know what you're listening to. Anyone can convince themselves they hear a difference even when nothing changes. But with ABX you don't know which one--A or B--is X, and you can only rely on sound by comparing X to A and B.
 
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