ESP MusicCord

[JAUQO III-X]

If it's too late to return it, you can send it to me. I'll pay postage.

 

[silky smoove]

I know this has been said already, but what would be the gains associated with using this cable for my computer? Would it run more efficiently? Would the size of the hard drive increase slightly? More RAM?

What if I used this for the flat screen in my living room? Would the picture be more clear? Would it have a slightly higher resolution?

My point is that the power cable in both of the above examples, and in musical instrument amplifiers is serving the same function. The MusicCord is boasting benefits gained for MI gear, but since the function is the same, shouldn't the same benefit be seen/heard/felt with anything it's plugged into? Why aren't they marketing this for other types of products? Are they implying that the power cord for a bass amp is doing someting different than the power cord for a computer?

EDIT: I should note that I have not gone to the website to see if they are in fact making the claims I joked about above.

 

[fokof]

Does these IEC cables still delivers their magic when plugged in a 50' electric extension ?

Or in a power bar ?

Or in a "power conditioner" ?

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

If you had one and used it over a long period of time, like I have, this would increase the reliability that your experience is stable and not affected by factors such as expectation or excitement.

No, the reliability of a comparison is better when the comparing can be done immediately. The more time elapses between comparing A and B, the more likely you'll misremember what the previous one sounded like.

The only reviewer, Jimmy, who found no effect did not use the cable more than a few times, and not on any gig. It is more likely that his experience was biased than mine.

No, it's less likely to be biased based on his more immediate comparisons. If he were comparing what his rig sounded like now with the magic cable with what it sounded like last week with the regular one, it might satisfy your desire for lengthiness but it would make comparisons less reliable.

Some "high-end" cable companies have gotten around this by insisting that their wire requires being "burned in" to be of maximal effectiveness. That way, if you compare what your system sounds like with one cable and then with another, you're supposedly not making a valid comparison because the "high end" one hasn't burned in, and maybe won't be burned in until after the money-back guarantee period ends.

The manufacturer recommends the PRO version for bassists.

I'm sure they do.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I know this has been said already, but what would be the gains associated with using this cable for my computer? Would it run more efficiently? Would the size of the hard drive increase slightly? More RAM?

What if I used this for the flat screen in my living room? Would the picture be more clear? Would it have a slightly higher resolution?

My point is that the power cable in both of the above examples, and in musical instrument amplifiers is serving the same function. The MusicCord is boasting benefits gained for MI gear, but since the function is the same, shouldn't the same benefit be seen/heard/felt with anything it's plugged into? Why aren't they marketing this for other types of products? Are they implying that the power cord for a bass amp is doing someting than the power cord for a computer?

EDIT: I should note that I have not gone to the website to see if they are in fact making the claims I joked about above.

In a nutshell, the claims are that the MusicCord with it's larger effective gauge can supply the power more readily than a "normal" power cord which gives an impact on the tone of the amp. The counter claim is that standard power cord is sufficient to supply current needed by the amp and the MusicCord is overkill.

 

[Febs]

The only reviewer, Jimmy, who found no effect did not use the cable more than a few times, and not on any gig.

So the effects of this power cable are only audible on gigs?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Does these IEC cables still delivers their magic when plugged in a 50' electric extension ?

Or in a power bar ?

Or in a "power conditioner" ?

No, it's a passive device.

 

[Febs]

No, it's a passive device.

It's still a passive device when plugged directly into a wall outlet. How is it that it works when plugged into a wall outlet but not when plugged into an extension cord?

 

[Spencer!]

If you purchased it. You should send it back for a refund.

I didn't purchase it, nor would I have. I approached it as unbiased as possible, and I thought I heard a difference at first. A blind test proved me wrong.

 

[Febs]

I notice that ESP has some audio samples available for download here:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Do those of you who hear differences when using these power cords also hear differences between the samples posted on that page?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It's still a passive device when plugged directly into a wall outlet. How is it that it works when plugged into a wall outlet but not when plugged into an extension cord?

Your example was fire hose -> garden hose -> fire hose. The second fire hose will get no more "juice" than the garden hose can supply.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

In a nutshell, the claims are that the MusicCord with it's larger effective gauge can supply the power more readily than a "normal" power cord which gives an impact on the tone of the amp.

The cord doesn't supply power; the electrical utility does. The power cord just passes the current through for several feet of the overall path.

What is the wire gauge and length of the ESP cord?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I notice that ESP has some audio samples available for download here:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Do those of you who hear differences when using these power cords also hear differences between the samples posted on that page?

In this example I think the stock cord sounds better, but I'm listening with far less than ideal headphones.

 

[Febs]

Your example was fire hose -> garden hose -> fire hose. The second fire hose will get no more "juice" than the garden hose can supply.

I see. So let's say I were to buy one of these power cords. If I were to plug it directly into the wall and measure the voltage, and then plug it into a 50 extension cord and measure the voltage, I should expect to see a decrease?

 

[JimmyM]

Your example was fire hose -> garden hose -> fire hose. The second fire hose will get no more "juice" than the garden hose can supply.

Electricity ain't water, and does not follow the same rules for conductivity as water. But let's assume that it does...the garden hose is in your walls and everybody's walls.

I honestly don't know why we're arguing this. The science on it is absolute. Hey, God bless everyone who says they can tell a difference, and I'm absolutely sure you believe it with all your heart, but the scientific reasoning on why it can't work as advertised is 100% absolute, and my extremely fair tests yesterday only confirmed what the scientists have said all along.

If you truly believe that this cord works, then you would have no problem submitting yourself to a blind test like I did. I would think those who bought one would have done this first thing as it's dead simple to do. But so far, the only ones I've seen who have done that are Spencer and me. So if you believe in it that much, take an hour and set up a blind test. If you don't, then you are acting on total faith and ignoring science, which I so don't get.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

If some can hear a difference and some cant. Why not just leave it at that.

It's not like the power cord is causing either parties to go out and take a life.


At the end of the day the debate is still being a positive for the company.

 

[fokof]

BTW, I'm using the higher end PRO version, did you get that or the cheaper one?

lol , that's a good one !!
Almost spitted my coffee over my CPU!



( I heard they are preparing the "Über-duper Model" this year wich is better than the Pro version , it will be only 2000$ )

 

[JimmyM]

I didn't say it didn't change the tone, I said it usually doesn't make it sound "better".

That's a judgment call, and while diminishing returns do play into it, there is a point where it absolutely can sound better, though some might prefer the sound of the first clip with the standard cord.

But being an upright player, you should know that there is such a thing as "string engagement." That's why most people don't play upright lightly with the tippy tips of the fingers. Most of them give the strings a pretty good yank with the side of their finger because the more you engage the string, the better it sounds. It's a very well-known concept for upright, and it's the reason most upright players do it that way.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

No, the reliability of a comparison is better when the comparing can be done immediately. The more time elapses between comparing A and B, the more likely you'll misremember what the previous one sounded like.

No, it's less likely to be biased based on his more immediate comparisons. If he were comparing what his rig sounded like now with the magic cable with what it sounded like last week with the regular one, it might satisfy your desire for lengthiness but it would make comparisons less reliable.

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure. A test is considered reliable if we get the same result repeatedly.

To gauge test-retest reliability, the test is administered at different points in time. This kind of reliability is used to assess the consistency of a test across time. This type of reliability assumes that there will be no change in the quality or construct being measured (whether or not I thought the cable sounded better).

I'm pointing out that previous posters suggestions that I'm hearing a difference is due to psychological variables would be revealed by test/rest over periods of time. I can consistently distinguish the two cables not just on my first comparison of them, but after many tests with time in between. This establishes the reliability of my assessment. If it changed over time, then we could conclude that my initial testing was biased by some kind of transient state/mood.

 

[rockstarbassist]

tl;dr

but lol