ESP MusicCord

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I'm not religious at all, so you're wrong.

Except you're in the magic cable religion--you believe in some extraordinary and unlikely things without proof.

Please don't discount science. Your amp is technological, and how and why it works is technical, not metaphysical. If it does something, there's a reason, and the exotic looks of a power cord won't change that. The power cord would have to actually change the amp's behavior in a way that is impossible for a power cord to act for it to affect your amp in the way you report. However, that same change in perception can be synthesized in the brain without any actual technical change in the amp--i.e., it's psychological.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

Oh, and to be clear, I'm a pro musician (it pays my mortgage), I'm finishing an MA in counseling psych (soft science), and I'm into contemplative spirituality0. I study meditation with a Buddhist monk who is a mathematician and scientist, if that's confusing or helpful somehow!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Except you're in the magic cable religion--you believe in some extraordinary and unlikely things without proof.

Please don't discount science. Your amp is technological, and how and why it works is technical, not metaphysical. If it does something, there's a reason, and the exotic looks of a power cord won't change that. The power cord would have to actually change the amp's behavior in a way that is impossible for a power cord to act for it to affect your amp in the way you report. However, that same change in perception can be synthesized in the brain without any actual technical change in the amp--i.e., it's psychological.

Thank you.

 

[Febs]

Just did it about 5 more times, running about and down a 4 octave scale on a six string bass and switching cords quickly.

It sounds different. We are both 100% that it was changing, and both of us preferred the ESP.

Would you agree with me that a better design for this experiment would be to have someone else switch the cables so that you aren't aware which cable you are playing? Given your professional training, I'm sure you can understand that the potential for observer-expectancy bias is a serious flaw in the test as you have constructed it.

In terms of the ABX test I mentioned to cybersnyder, I wasn't referring to the Michael Rhodes clips. I was referring to the samples provided by ESP on this page:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You can do an ABX test using foobar2000 and the ABX comparator plug-in that is available on the plug-ins page. To install the plug-in, download it and copy the .dll file into the foobar/components folder. Then select the two files you want to compare and go to "utilities --> ABX" option. You could also use the PCABX software that someone linked to earlier in the thread. Decide in advance how many trials you want to do. You should probably do at least 12.

 

[scotch]

I think folks like JimmyM, QSCBob, Bongomania, myself, etc. could accept the following hypothetical statement:

"When I use the ESP MusicCord, my amp sounds louder & clearer to me." -anonymous musician

What we have a much harder time swallowing is the following hypothetical statement:

"My ESP MusicCord employs revolutionary technology which directly makes my amplifier sound louder & clearer." -anonymous musician


Does that make more sense to everyone? Just trying to help...

I don't think any of us need a degree in anything to see the difference between these statements- on either side of the debate.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

Thank you.

Now that the engineer has diagnosed you, I suggest you come see me for some cognitive behavioral therapy so we can restructure your irrational beliefs in your magic cable.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I think folks like JimmyM, QSCBob, Bongomania, myself, etc. could accept the following hypothetical statement:

"When I use the ESP MusicCord, my amp sounds louder & clearer to me." -anonymous musician

What we have a much harder time swallowing is the following hypothetical statement:

"My ESP MusicCord employs revolutionary technology which directly makes my amplifier sound louder & clearer." -anonymous musician


Does that make more sense to everyone? Just trying to help...

I don't think any of us need a degree in anything to see the difference between these statements- on either side of the debate.

+1 Good post.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Now that the engineer has diagnosed you, I suggest you come see me for some cognitive behavioral therapy so we can restructure your irrational beliefs in your magic cable.

I would be very afraid in what you might find. Heh.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

So the ESP power cord as depicted in the illustration is 14 AWG, and if it's 10 ft long its round-trip resistance is 51.5 mΩ. If you draw 10A of current through it, the cord will produce an AC voltage drop of 0.52V.

Compare that to a 10 ft 16 AWG cord, with a round-trip resistance of 81.9 mΩ: 0.82V. Or a 6 ft 16 AWG cord, at 49.1 mΩ: 0.49V

So a 10 ft ESP cable would have electrical performance roughly equal to that of a 6 ft 16 AWG power cord.

That could be an interesting comparison.

 

[BadJazz]

So the ESP power cord as depicted in the illustration is 14 AWG, and if it's 10 ft long its round-trip resistance is 51.5 mΩ. If you draw 10A of current through it, the cord will produce an AC voltage drop of 0.52V.

Compare that to a 10 ft 16 AWG cord, with a round-trip resistance of 81.9 mΩ: 0.82V. Or a 6 ft 16 AWG cord, at 49.1 mΩ: 0.49V

So a 10 ft ESP cable would have electrical performance roughly equal to that of a 6 ft 16 AWG power cord.

That could be an interesting comparison.

I'm sure you could get ESP to send you some sample cables. Since you (in case you missed it) work for QSC and all.

 

[JimmyM]

So the ESP power cord as depicted in the illustration is 14 AWG, and if it's 10 ft long its round-trip resistance is 51.5 mΩ. If you draw 10A of current through it, the cord will produce an AC voltage drop of 0.52V.

Compare that to a 10 ft 16 AWG cord, with a round-trip resistance of 81.9 mΩ: 0.82V. Or a 6 ft 16 AWG cord, at 49.1 mΩ: 0.49V

So a 10 ft ESP cable would have electrical performance roughly equal to that of a 6 ft 16 AWG power cord.

That could be an interesting comparison.

What does that mean in real world terms we know with small words?

 

[fokof]

Hogwash, it wasn't even subtle. My pianist said after I played two notes: "What did you do? Sounds deeper."

That's exactly what I mean : you didn't play the same way because "you wanted" it to sound different even if you consciously thought you played the same.

Ask any sound engineer how many times they tweak an EQ 'till satisfaction until they realised they were on the wrong channel.

The brain is a powerfull thing.

And like I said earlier in this thread , lots of people listen with their eyes ( or their VISA card )

 

[Robin Ruscio]

That could be an interesting comparison.

Bob, since we're unable to agree on the the difference I'm hearing outside of the companies claims (which you refute) and psychology (which I refute), do you have any other ideas to explain?

 

[fokof]

Just did it about 5 more times, running about and down a 4 octave scale on a six string bass and switching cords quickly.

You simply played differently.

Do that same test but with a CD track and ask an impartial 3rd person to (very rapidly) change the power cord.



EDIT: possible that your IEC of reference is defective ?

 

[JimmyM]

You simply played differently.

Do that same test but with a CD track and ask an impartial 3rd person to change the power cord.

Glad you said that...I was about to PM him to get his address so I could send a check.

 

[scotch]

Bob, since we're unable to agree on the the difference I'm hearing outside of the companies claims (which you refute) and psychology (which I refute), do you have any other ideas to explain?

Not being sarcastic (honestly): but I think I missed where you refuted that psychological factors come into play. Where was that?

 

[maevinj]

So the ESP power cord as depicted in the illustration is 14 AWG, and if it's 10 ft long its round-trip resistance is 51.5 mΩ. If you draw 10A of current through it, the cord will produce an AC voltage drop of 0.52V.

Compare that to a 10 ft 16 AWG cord, with a round-trip resistance of 81.9 mΩ: 0.82V. Or a 6 ft 16 AWG cord, at 49.1 mΩ: 0.49V

So a 10 ft ESP cable would have electrical performance roughly equal to that of a 6 ft 16 AWG power cord.

That could be an interesting comparison.

Now it sounds like we're getting somewhere!

 

[Jack]

Record the output of your bass into a computer file.

Play file through amp with regular power cord and record it (clip A)

Play file through amp with ESP power cord and record it (clip B)

Plug both clips into PCABX

Enjoy.

£1000 (or $) to anyone who can distinguish the ESP from the standard cord p<0.05 in an open and observable way.

Not even kidding.

 

[Robin Ruscio]

Not being sarcastic (honestly): but I think I missed where you refuted that psychological factors come into play. Where was that?

Here's what I'm getting on this thread:

Because said cable cannot possibly be affecting your amp the way you describe, you are unconsciously changing your playing to alter the tone, our your perception is faulty.

Both of those conclusions to not adequately explain to me a consistent experience I am and my friends have had with the cable. You cannot scream it's all psychological simply by default.

 

[JimmyM]

Here's what I'm getting on this thread:

Because said cable cannot possibly be affecting your amp the way you describe, you are unconsciously changing your playing to alter the tone, our your perception is faulty.

Both of those conclusions to not adequately explain to me a consistent experience I am and my friends have had with the cable. You cannot scream it's all psychological simply by default.

Agreed. But if the science says it's impossible and has laws to apply to it, then it's not by default, is it?