Pro-Audio Engineers Comment On How MusicCord Improves Clarity, And Reduces Noise & Listening Fatigue

"Recently, I had been considering changing the speakers, or the amplifier, in my home system. I wasn't sure and I had grown dissatisfied with the sounds that I was hearing, when listening at home.

Fortunately, a friend in the music industry blindly gave me a MusicCord-PRO cable with the instruction: "plug it in to your power amplifier, try it out and let me know what you think." That evening I exchanged the MusicCord-PRO for the regular IEC power cable, not knowing what to expect. Immediately, I heard my audio system being given a new lease on life. Suddenly and dramatically, the imaging was solid, the transients were sweeter, the bass was tighter and, overall, the general impression, now, was a feeling of greater musicality. All of this improvement came from simply changing out the power cable! Unbelievable! I found myself listening to music in my home for hours at a stretch; something that I hadn't done in my home for a long, long time. The MusicCord-PRO has made all the difference. Now, that's what friends are for!

If the MusicCord-PRO could make such a dramatic improvement to my home system, what change in performance could I expect if I were to use them with my studio monitors? I've had my head buried in one pair of monitors for twenty-five years and I feel that I have a good idea of what they sound like. Upon switching out the typical IEC power cable for the MusicCord-PRO, the kick now had 'bounce,' the bass had 'thump,' and the brass had a silkiness that I knew was in my recording, but I could never fully appreciate. I feel that my clients and I are now hearing more of the detail that's been coming in the microphones for all these years.

I'm solidly convinced that for studio monitors MusicCord-PRO is the new standard power cord to make your recordings sound the way you intended."

"Extracting the cables from their high quality storage bags reveal a hefty, nicely finished cable wrapped in a cool black mesh jacket with a heavy duty IEC connector and a hospital grade 3 prong plug.

My primary monitoring system consist of a pair of Genelec 1032A's and a single Genelec 7070A subwoofer. The power cables in use where the stock cables that came with the system.

First, I listened with the standard stock cables using listening materials that I use all the time as my reference. After a good listen, I then switched to the MusicCord-PRO power cords, first off in the right Genelec speaker, I have always heard a slight hum originating from the power supply, which I believed to be a problem with the supply, well when I inserted the MusicCord-PRO power cord the hum disappeared, which tells me the stock power cord was the cause and a testament to the solid engineering and build quality of the MusicCord-PRO power cords.

When the music started I could immediately tell a difference over the stock cords. The sub(woofer) bass was tighter and had better pitch definition - not sounding flabby like it did previously. The soundstage and imaging where definitely improved by the benefit of the lowered noise floor, as I could hear deeper into mixes. You wouldn't think a power cable could make this big of a difference, but compared to the stock cables that manufacturers supply with their equipment, the difference is night and day. I am definitely going to pay closer attention to the quality of power cables from now on.

In studios, accessories like power cords are often overlooked, but if you are serious about your work, you should definitely consider MusicCord-PRO power cords."

"I'm a skeptic when it comes to this sort of thing, but technically savvy engineers I respect suggested I try a MusicCord-PRO for myself. Like most professional sound engineers, I know how easy it is to for the mind to play tricks on the ear, but the difference in sound before and after connecting my McIntosh MC252 power amp to the wall outlet with a MusicCord-PRO was too great to shrug off. The amp now sounds like it had training weights removed. I had been living with artifacts that didn't need to be there.

To check my sanity, I loaned a MusicCord-PRO to a fellow mastering engineer to try at his facility, and to a mixing engineer client to try on his audiophile Mark Levinson system at home. I asked each to install the cord and let me know if they heard anything, being careful not preface either request with my own opinion. Both engineers reported back with exactly the same impressions and enthusiasm I had experienced.

I don't have the EE knowledge to know why this product works so well, but it's a permanent part of my rig now and my system has never sounded better."

"The biggest improvements for me were the clarity, and elimination of harshness in the midrange. When we switched to the ESP power cords, the improvements were instantly recognizable. Transients are still crisp, but without being harsh. The bass is tight and extended with the ESP power cords on my studio monitors. I can mix for hours without experiencing listening fatigue.

Similar results were experienced with our guitar amp. Notes were better defined, and the tone rounder.

The cords have improved the sound of every component we’ve used them with. You just don’t realize how much performance you’re missing from your gear until you try these cords! Besides, they even look cool! Kudos to ESP."

"In a studio setting it's very important to hear what you're doing accurately.
After installing an ESP (MusicCord-PRO) power cord on my monitor power amp, the difference was definitely noticeable. Although the clarity before-hand was excellent the after effect was better, things were clearer and the imaging was improved.

Delivering the power more efficiently does make a difference."

"After using seven of them (MusicCord-PRO) at my own Electric Love Studios for a year and with two more on the way, I can easily say that the ESP PRO cords are phenomenal in clearing up the attack, and dynamics of percussive sounds. Very low level instruments become audible in dense mixes.

I noticed that it becomes quite obvious when I switch digital clocks for example. The smearing and harshness of inferior clocks get exposed very clearly.

I also noticed the elimination of audible RF interference in guitar amps when tracking after midnight when RF gets more intense. Guitar amp tones become round and smooth. No more slight grain in transistor amp tone. My subwoofer had been sounding earth shattering with dance club depth, but very smooth.

Even 16-bit recordings sound remarkably clear when the digital tracking gear and the analog vintage mic pre’s and compressors are plugged via ESP PRO power cables. The sound of the monitors project more like in live situations in terms of perceived attack and immediacy.

In one word: Amazing!"

"The first thing I noticed was the clarity of the sound. The music is more vibrant. You can hear more detail and resolution. You don't have to raise the volume to hear the details.

Also, the listener fatigue I used to experience after long sessions in the studio has been eliminated."

Keith Jarrett's solo piano release entitled The Melody At Night With You (ECM 1675) was recorded using ESP power cords throughout. ESP power cords were used on equipment during the studio recording process. The recording was made without mixing, dubbing, compression, or any enhancements. Mr. Jarrett credits ESP power cords for helping to capture the natural resonances and overtones of the piano's acoustic cavity.

"Special Thanks to Michael Griffin of Essential Sound Products for use of E.S.P. Power Cords."