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Power Cable for a Bass Amp Question

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I understand the concept but just not the asking price! Now if the cord was say....$30-$40, you may get a lot more bites IF they do what they're purported to do! I just cannot justify spending $400 for an amp and another $175 for an AC cord! I look forward to Craig's findings mainly out of curiosity.

Peace
 
I look forward to a report when you guys meet and try this stuff out over at QSC. I think a controlled experiment is well worth it.

Cable Guy, it is clear that you believe in your product and will defend it to the bitter end, but you must understand that what you are saying is contrary to current scientific thinking. This doesn't automatically mean that you are wrong, but it does place the burden of proof on you. Before you can expect all of us to believe what you say, you need to provide mathematical and/or empirical evidence to support your claim.

If you choose to use empirical evidence, then the methodology of your study must be sound. You must test in a carefully controlled manner to avoid tainting the outcome of the study. As Bob Lee stated, the outcome of the study must be overwhelming. 50% of the participants selecting your cable as better is expected based on random chance.

Please understand that our skepticism is warranted. To make the claims that you are making requires proof. If you want someone to pay $175 for a power cord, you better be able to back up your claims with solid evidence.
 
Craig, just coz someone is a pro doesn't mean they are free of preconceived notions, self-interest or any of the normal fallacies of being a human being.

I mean Sid Viscious was a pro, and let's face it Courtney Love is a pro, but I doubt they could add 2 and 2 if you know what I mean.

When all is said and done, while I admire Nathan East's success, I can't stand most of the cheese he plays.

Re:power cable, if you are able to measure 120V/60HZ at the amp end of the cable it is doing it's job. It can't add voltage and if you start adding filtering devices to alter the output it's no longer a "power" cord strictly speaking. I am trying to understand exactly what changes from input to output on the Tara cables.


I know a girl named Tara, she's cool, yeah, that must be it...
 
Originally posted by The Cable Guy

Let me ask... how do you get someone to part with a large sum of money for something that they're skeptical of to begin with? You prove to them it works. That's what we've been doing for sixteen years.

Does your proof strategy involve removing data and graphs from your websites technical papers and deleting any mention of the competition from independent magazine reviews?

Invalid Link Removed
 
The problem, Craig, is that there is nothing in a power amp (or other gear) that is sensitive to the type of power cord. The power cord cannot correct anything--it can only conduct AC between the outlet and the amp.

That is hardly a demanding task, despite the allegations aimed at non-technical wallets.

I've yet to see an "expert" justification of fancy cables; they're always devoid of technical explanations.

IMHO, wire is a commodity.
 
You say your customers influence everybody over here, well big boys like MM could care less about a cable, moreso that he wouldn't even bring an instrumental cable to gigs, he'd borrow it, that's not what makes the groove happen.

It's another thing though when a cable is properly made so as to extend its longevity in a constant application process, like gigs rehearsals etc., I'd pay 25$ for that kind of a cable, just to make sure it won't die on me in the middle of some funk.

I just got a custom made cable with Neutrik connectors for 20$, I like it more than a Monster that I have, and I wouldn't spend any more money on that **** cause it's just a rip-off for a musician who's trying to make some living.
 
Originally posted by jdombrow
All of you who are sure that power cords CANNOT make ANY difference in the sound or performance of an amplifier, can you provide absolute scientific proof to support this?

You cannot prove a null argument; you can only cite the lack of supporting evidence. For example, you cannot prove that the Abominable Snowman does not exist, only that those who insist it does haven't presented satisfactory evidence that it does. The burden of proof lies on the extraordinary or implausible argument--in this case, that special cables will somehow improve performance.

Do you know PRECISELY what happens to an audio signal as it travels through the signal chain?

Yes, why? There is a whole engineering discipline devoted to audio and signals. Even a professional society devoted to it: www.aes.org

Is it possible that poorly filtered AC coming in to the amplifier is affecting the audio signal in some way?

Would not the solution, then, be to filter the AC, either in the amp (it should if it's well-designed) or in some sort of outboard filter? A power cord won't filter anything unless it has some substantial reactive componentry--i.e., inductance and capacitance--built into it. And a power cord is hardly the ideal place to hang some capacitors and inductors.
 
Sheesh! I'm no electrical engineer and can't spout endless streams of data to support my beliefs. Hell, if I could "hear" a spec, I'd be buying all Peavey gear and be done with it. With that rationale, all 500 watt amps would sound the same, wouldn't they? Two amps rated the exact same... flat from 20hz - 20khz... one's a switching supply and one's chock full of fat-ass caps. Why don't they sound the same? They measure the same, after all. So, if you hear a difference, but cannot measure it, you're measuring the wrong things.

I use the best instrument on earth designed to evaluate sound... my ears. And so should you.

And that's all I'm asking.. to just listen first. If you don't hear a difference, don't buy 'em. It's as simple as that.

By the way, I've been performing A/B blind tests for seven years and have sold thousands of cables to very skeptical musicians along the way. My track record speaks for itself as well as our user list. Enough said.

Peace.
 
Originally posted by The Cable Guy
And that's all I'm asking.. to just listen first. If you don't hear a difference, don't buy 'em. It's as simple as that.

By the way, I've been performing A/B blind tests for seven years and have sold thousands of cables to very skeptical musicians along the way. My track record speaks for itself as well as our user list. Enough said.

Peace.

Word! :cool:
 
Originally posted by The Cable Guy
[BI use the best instrument on earth designed to evaluate sound... my ears. And so should you.
By the way, I've been performing A/B blind tests for seven years and have sold thousands of cables to very skeptical musicians along the way. My track record speaks for itself as well as our user list. Enough said.
[/B]

Human hearing is highly accurate but not precise.

With your blind test data, have you considered publishing a paper for the Audio Engineering Society?
 
Originally posted by Craig Garfinkel
Um...no he doesn't. Not in my case. It just has to greatly improve the tone, as is claimed.

I appreciate that rigor, Craig.

In most cases, though, simply making the customer think the tone is improved is sufficient. After all, there is a natural human tendency to think that if you change one thing, even something immaterial, that change will have a detectable effect.

It's even human nature to detect differences where none exist. Here's something to try: pour some wine from the same into two or more glasses. Bring in a friend or relative to compare them, but don't let on at all that it's the same wine. Many people--maybe most--will have no difficulty discerning different flavors and characteristics among the glasses of wine. Oenophiles may tend to be the most susceptible. ;)
 
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