Advice on....Snake Oil


So, I get it. You purchase something and other claim it's snake oil. Or they purchase snake oil and you lay claim to the adage. 

My one question,

What is the general consensus a reputable brand would spend considerable time, resources and finances to create a product that is or what some would call "snake oil". 

My belief is that a lot of brands (PS Audio, Isoacoustics, Audioquest) would probably better spend their time developing and creating an impact rather than making a questionable product. Any dialogue to be had or am I off base?
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Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

thyname-
Why are the Snake Oil Screechers so loud?
Nobody knows for sure but I have a theory. To be an audiophile is to have mastered a large and highly complex skill set. It requires at a minimum a basic grounding in acoustics, psycho-acoustics, electricity and electronics. This is all on top of the absolutely essential skill set of being a good listener. Being able to recognize, evaluate, and talk about what you’re hearing and to be able to do that down to the subtlest, finest degree. Finally, the cherry on top of this great big cake is the only reason its really worth doing at all is a love of music.

Well now, that’s a pretty tall order. Nobody ever really gonna get there. Being otherwise normal people some are gonna love music a lot more than physics. Some are gonna love electronics and measuring more than listening. Some are gonna just latch onto it for who knows what reason. To get girls. To live the dream of the glossy ad. Who knows?

Doesn’t matter. What matters is we all know this is true. Know it in our bones.

Well now this being the case, imagine you really want to be an audiophile, but its too hard. You can’t hear. Its too much mental effort. It costs too much. You’re too lazy to try. Whatever. Could be a lot of reasons. Doesn’t matter. Point is, its frustrating. Then you look around, see a bunch of dudes effortlessly doing it. Well, its just too much. You just can’t take it any more. You have failed, and its just not fair. On top of everything else your vocabulary is as limited as your intellect. All you can do is scream at the world: "Snake oil."
My one question,

What is the general consensus a reputable brand would spend considerable time, resources and finances to create a product that is or what some would call "snake oil".

You just described everything ever made.