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The $199 power cable

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#82
Hey...it turns out that Michael Griffen from Essential Sound (the maker of these cables) is going to be at a Detroit bass players photoshoot I'm going to be at. He said he was bringing samples and would answer questions........so, I'll be starting another thread on this, but going to grab a host other technical questions for him to answer.
I also asked if he himself would be willing to do a blind test of the cable.
So I'll ask a few of our local "braintrust" to help me with some parameters for it. If he is willing.....
 
#83
Be sure the "local brain trust" know how a double-blind test works. I've seen way too many posts from generally smart guys where the way they did the test was (bluntly) a waste of everyone's time.

In the thread I linked earlier, what I did was a "single blind" test, and it's informative but not conclusive.

If he's not willing to do a properly-conducted double-blind test, then please let us know that too.
 
#86
I purchased one. Like all of the other high end power cables I've auditioned (working in the hifi industry), some costing >25x what the ESP cost, it doesn't sound any different than a standard IEC cable. I also did thorough electrical and audio tests of the cable against a standard IEC and found absolutely no empirical evidence that the cable has any effect on the behaviour of an amplifier. I returned it. ESP provided quick and friendly service and the construction of the cable is beyond reproach.

I had planned to post the results but I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to do a proper write-up. Perhaps it's time to dust that off.
 
#88
BagelBruin said:
What they don't advertise is that this power cable will get you laid. Well worth the cost IMO.
Click to expand...

It'll only get you laid by audiophiles though. And anyone who's seen an audiophile knows that that isn't something you want to advertise....
 
#90
Mark Reccord said:
I purchased one. Like all of the other high end power cables I've auditioned (working in the hifi industry), some costing >25x what the ESP cost...
Click to expand...
A $5000 POWER CORD???? Ye gods!!! Are people really that gullible, or do they have so much money that they have to find creative ways of parting with it? Get me in touch with those people!!!

...this car comes fully equipped with factory air conditioned air from our fully equipped factory air conditioned factory!

-Ralph Spoilsport, Spoilsport Motors (Firesign Theatre)
 
#91
MikeBass said:
Hey...it turns out that Michael Griffen from Essential Sound (the maker of these cables) is going to be at a Detroit bass players photoshoot I'm going to be at. He said he was bringing samples and would answer questions........so, I'll be starting another thread on this, but going to grab a host other technical questions for him to answer.
I also asked if he himself would be willing to do a blind test of the cable.
So I'll ask a few of our local "braintrust" to help me with some parameters for it. If he is willing.....
Click to expand...

Their claims could be easily dismissed if the guys at Bass Gear magazine would test the performance of an amplifier with a generic IEC cord vs. the ESP. But why would they want to waste their time with that?
 
#93
JAUQO III-X said:
Bassist Ralph Armstrong interviews Michael Griffin, owner and founder of Essential Sound Products.

Starting at the 1.32 mark.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]



And for those who do not know who Ralphe Armstrong is. Do some research.










I'm an ESP power cord endorser.
Click to expand...

Funny stuff.....:rollno:
the "interview" that is....

Here's the thing, from what I gather, he's using "twisted pairs". In a VERY general description, a twisted pair cable will help reduce RF. IF ONLY you are using the pos/neg twisted together. NOT the same (pos/pos) twisted together.
In an AC power cable makes zero difference.
And also, again being very general, taking smaller gauge wire and doubling them to a common point equates to the exact same as using the equivalent larger single conductor with no added gain in the transmission of power. In flexibility yes, but not in conduction/transmission of AC.

In a typical power supply you have a transformer, rectifier and a filter (but not as a "filter as you think).
If there is anything in the way of "dirty power" it gets dumped right then and there, unless the circuit is pathetically designed- which I can assure you, would not be able to handle the voltage that would be used in an amp of any sort- or really for anything else.

AC power is horribly inconsistent. A big challenge is controlling DC voltage "ripple".
Unlike DC from a battery, DC derived from an AC power source is pulsed (based on the wave form of AC). From a battery it's constant- no pulse.
So, unless the cable is able to regulate the current, all it's doing is filtering out RF. And with out a circuit of some type it's not doing a thing.

I worked for one of the largest manufacturers of custom cable assemblies from everything from Ferrari to robots to audio cable to transatlantic cable.
We actually twisted raw copper into strands and jacketed the cable as well.....i know enough about cable/EE to have an intelligent discussion on this (ME with a heavy background in EE).
I presented this to arguably some of the best EE's around and they kinda all said the same thing.....:rollno:

And to be completely honest, when LDS got one in, I was very very interested.
Then we tried it. Over and over.

To the guys that own them. If you hear a difference great (i reference my tag line by my screen name).
But you can't argue the common principals of flowing electrons in this.
And BTW, his "water" analogy as antidotal as it is, doesn't apply here. If I hooked up a fire hose to the end of my garden hose, you'll get nothing more than what my garden hose supplies.
Same would be as if I took 50 McDonalds straws and hooked them up to my garden hose.

It will be interesting to at least talk intelligently to him on this and get some accurate information from the "inventor" himself.
 
#95
MikeBass said:
Funny stuff.....:rollno:
the "interview" that is....

Here's the thing, from what I gather, he's using "twisted pairs". In a VERY general description, a twisted pair cable will help reduce RF. IF ONLY you are using the pos/neg twisted together. NOT the same (pos/pos) twisted together.
In an AC power cable makes zero difference.
And also, again being very general, taking smaller gauge wire and doubling them to a common point equates to the exact same as using the equivalent larger single conductor with no added gain in the transmission of power. In flexibility yes, but not in conduction/transmission of AC.

In a typical power supply you have a transformer, rectifier and a filter (but not as a "filter as you think).
If there is anything in the way of "dirty power" it gets dumped right then and there, unless the circuit is pathetically designed- which I can assure you, would not be able to handle the voltage that would be used in an amp of any sort- or really for anything else.

AC power is horribly inconsistent. A big challenge is controlling DC voltage "ripple".
Unlike DC from a battery, DC derived from an AC power source is pulsed (based on the wave form of AC). From a battery it's constant- no pulse.
So, unless the cable is able to regulate the current, all it's doing is filtering out RF. And with out a circuit of some type it's not doing a thing.

I worked for one of the largest manufacturers of custom cable assemblies from everything from Ferrari to robots to audio cable to transatlantic cable.
We actually twisted raw copper into strands and jacketed the cable as well.....i know enough about cable/EE to have an intelligent discussion on this (ME with a heavy background in EE).
I presented this to arguably some of the best EE's around and they kinda all said the same thing.....:rollno:

And to be completely honest, when LDS got one in, I was very very interested.
Then we tried it. Over and over.

To the guys that own them. If you hear a difference great (i reference my tag line by my screen name).
But you can't argue the common principals of flowing electrons in this.
And BTW, his "water" analogy as antidotal as it is, doesn't apply here. If I hooked up a fire hose to the end of my garden hose, you'll get nothing more than what my garden hose supplies.
Same would be as if I took 50 McDonalds straws and hooked them up to my garden hose.

It will be interesting to at least talk intelligently to him on this and get some accurate information from the "inventor" himself.
Click to expand...
I guess I never got to the interview part :rollno: Just the music, which I enjoyed very much :hyper: :bassist:

The Ralphe Armstrong Show UDetroit Live 11/11/11 06:21PM, Tonight
 
#97
bongomania said:
I tried it, I tested it, I helped others test it, it's nothing but a ripoff.
Click to expand...

I know its a complete rip-off and now that Bongo says he has tested it and it IS a joke, I just want to see the company fail. I can't believe, even if it did work, that any company could charge $200 for a power cable. And that a bassist would actually attach his/her name to such nonsense.
 
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