Expensive Snake Oil!

[lbpesq]

This is perhaps the single most absurd "improve your sound" product I've ever seen.  (And I'll bet someone is going to tell me how it really does work).

The MusicCord.  Replaces the cord that goes from your amp to the wall socket.  The base model is only $200, while you can get a Pro model for $250.

https://www.essentialsound.com/category/PRO.html

What's next, new amp replacement knobs that "improve your sound"?  A replacement handle that "improves sound"?  A $75 pair of socks that "improves your sound"?  Do people really buy this stuff?

Bill, tgo

[bazzer]

After seeing This Is Spinal Tap in the early '80's, I built a few guitars and put on volume knobs that went to 11.

[mica]

The hi-hi power cords are even spendier, $2500. Dad says there's an $8K on for your tube amp!

[gtrguy]

I like the Victor Wooten signature cord! For us car buffs maybe they'll make some signature Lucas Prince of Darkness wire?

[JimmyJ]

I remember when Monster Cable brought out a line of very expensive high-end guitar cables in the mid-80s.  I was working with Lee Ritenour at the time and they gave him a couple (yes, that's how many Artists operate).  I think he didn't like them because they were impractically heavy - thicker than our original Belden 4-conductor Series cables.  So he gave me one and I made a few patch cords out of it.  Difficult to solder because the individual strands were lacquer coated.    Too large for a standard 1/4" connector shell so that had to be modified.    Etc... 

But I was trying to drink the kool-aid because of my audiophile leanings at that time.  I think it's possible that a cable's specific materials, construction and insulating material might make the most difference with a high-impedance source like a standard passive guitar.  Not as critical when the source is lo-z or a line-level signal. 

Well, Monster Cable showed their hand completely when they followed this up by introducing specific "Rock" cables and different formula cables for "Jazz" and "Country".  OMG people!  And that was the end of my belief in the fairy-dust.  Idiots.

It's tough to think an $8000 power cable for your tube amp wouldn't lead to rewiring your house and maybe trying to get bigger cable put in by your utility provider - all the way to the power plant.  I'm sure that would improve my sound!

Jimmy J

[garyhead]

Well, I Did have to put in a dedicated 10AWG power line to my stereo. The lights would dim to the kick drum and Bass lines on the stereo.  The Tice power conditioners did reduce the noise floor too.

[lbpesq]

Sounds like a light show!  Why fix it?

hehehehe

Bill, tgo

[cozmik_cowboy]

You know, just yesterday I was thinking about gold-plated connectors.  Yes, gold is an excellent conductor - but it's only conducting to the steel it's plated onto........

And I will slide these power cords (not to be confused with power chords) into the "Yes, Guitar Players Will Buy Anything" file.

Peter  (who won't go into the use of gold-plated connectors in non-permanent applications, and the softness of gold)

[peoplechipper]

years ago I got some high-end speaker cables and connector cables from my work (actually a spool of cable and ends so I had to make the connector cables) and they honestly made my stereo sound much better, and it was good to begin with...bigger wire can pass signal with less resistance, etc. but, yes, there is a limit and don't be stupid about it...Tony.

[lbpesq]

At least with speaker and patch cables there is signal passing through the wire.  There is a reasonable theory that the size/composition of the cable can improve sound.   But the power cord on the back of the amp?  No signal passing through that.   I could imagine a cord that has a built-in power conditioner/surge protector, but it would make more sense and cost less to use a regular power conditioner/surge protector that allowed multiple units to plug into it.  And  one can certainly get thicker power cable for less than $200, not that there’s any need for it.

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

i played a christmas time gigs some years back where the band had to plug into the same extension cable as all the flashing lights. All through the gig we were getting clicks buzzes and crackling through our rigs. Next day, I bought an extension lead with a surge protector and power conditioner built into it's plugboard. No more crackling. That was the only reason the sound was better. I still use that same lead now.

[cozmik_cowboy]

And a fun historical note in re the thread title: 
In the 19th century, the palliative qualities of snake oil were widely recognized; the pejorative "snake oil salesman" was devised to excoriate those selling cures that purported to contain snake oil but, in fact, did not.


Peter (who does, in fact, have a whole head full of useless but interesting knowledge.......)

[BeenDown139]

that's a lot of colledge words, son!

🗿

[peoplechipper]

included in the stuff I got was a Furutech outlet; put a Furutech plug into it and you instantly you have the best electrical connection ever...like sex...

[sonicus]

I have been a member of an internet forum called the AMPEX list for quite a few years that consists of users, owners, and audio engineers whom use and maintain AMPEX tape recorders ,I own several (AG440B&C/AG350,etc). The purpose of this " Ampex Club " is to aid and support each other with technical inquiries and issues that have relevance of our ageing machines. We have members whom are truly golden sources of complex technical knowledge of electronics and the electromechanical specialities of this equipment .
"EXPENSIVE SNAKE OIL" per se ,has also been one of our topics of discussion such as such power cables mentioned here at the Alembic Club . As well, those high-priced" Oxygen free copper wire speaker interconnects” costing far, far too much. Some folks refer to the purchase and promotion of such questionably deceptive practice as " Audio Phoolery",and the purchasers as " Audio Phools" .
That said, there is a consensus that the use of 10 & 12 gauge extension power cables (OSHA required in some cases) VS smaller gauges is reasonable and prudent practice, with the addition of a quality surge /RFI filtering protector.  A GFI /ground fault interruptor circuit for outside use SHALL be added. All such power cords and devices are standard hardware store stock, that are available at reasonable pricing.