Are you as OCD as this audiophile?

Few minutes watching that  vid and can relate to Mikey.   Whats not to relate to?   We all have our bit of fascination or compulsive idiosyncrasies or just plain are into what makes it all tick or sound better or sound worse.  Its what this is all about or why would those who are here be here at least in part if not fully immersed or partly immersed?  Its often said its not about the equipment but about the music.  But it certainly is about the equipment just as much as it is about the music.   How could it not be?    If one is  listening via a boombox then well,,  that's  another realm and its not about how good the music could be and thats ok if it makes you happy.     I had to give up my analog FM listening  via vintage hi end tuner restored w/rooftop rotatable antenna    because I moved out of the bay area up north and have to subsist  on internet FM for my favorite stations  and if it wasnt for the quality ancillary equipment I wouldnt hear this basically mp3? internet as good as I do..   The equipment comes to the rescue.   While I play other formats I am quite often on FM and there is a lot out there.  I got a kick out of his reference to Coda and the Metrum.  I have a Metrum entry level DAC .   I will go back and see what else Mikey has to say.    

Mike had been around for quite a while, starting with his joining Alvin of Vinshine Audio for distribution of Alvin's line of gear. I have their Kinki integrated and enjoy watching some of Mike's videos and have spoken to him, personally, as well.

Why is it that the same trolls always show up with their negative waves?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AEj3LA2vSo&frags=pl%2Cwn

All the best,
Nonoise

Hey Mikey,
I enjoy your videos. I hope you continue doing it.

This dude has his panties all in a wad about the equipment and what it might say about him.  He needs to pause and occasionally just listen to the music.

use to be.  wiser and richer now.  just enjoying the music.

"STUNAD"?? That’s my middle name(favorite form of self-deprecation). Where does that leave them?   Orecchiegats, maybe? Probably, mostly Dunning-Kruger Effected. Easily overlooked, but- detrimental to the advancement of the art/science of sound.

I guess AudioGon deleted or censored my post with the funny as sht LG story I wonder why..

LOL, dude, you just took the cake, I got nothing.. Bravo ! Friggin Muddah n Faddah..  forgot about Bruddah..

Lord knows why we must address something silly like making a mistake with a word, or the ever looming "hustle" accusation.

Rodmann you nailed it bud.. NEMA code 5-15( in case anyone wants to talk about fact), has a wider neutral blade than the hot. In fact, the Furutech NCF GTX-D duplex receptacles I use are made following code , which provisions for a wider blade at Neutral to keep proper polarity. I am pointing out how silly it is for them to provision for it on the top of the line receptacle, then follow up with a plug that does not have a wider blade on that side. By virtue of the blade being wider, default dictates more surface area on that blade. So the plug I made maximizes every bit of that neutral clamping interface. If you knew how little of your "audiophile" plug blade makes contact inside the duplex receptacle, you may want to invent a better one.  That design was clearly not made by and OCD Audiophile, it was made for TV;s and Vacuum cleaners and blenders and whatnot.. Nema Code 5-20 (20 amp) looks nothing like what was in my hand as its Neutral is rotated 90 degrees so its horizontal.  Why Ive got to explain this in defense is the stupid part of this hobby.

Next, someone else posted this and he was positive and supportive, then I see, as usual in these forums, some other guys that in case they forgot are part of our group of audiophiles, decide to farm for inaccuracy to snuff any good spirit or enthusiasm, and replace with condemnation and accusation. How this seems like the right thing to do for these people is beyond me. So I come in to back my bro up..( Bruddah.. From anudda.. you get it)  Now its conspiracy to do what ? promote my channel ? I post it loud and clear in every one of my advertisements here. This is a website where people sell and talk about HiFi.. God forbid I should offer a possible resource. This website is built for promotoon. Did I mention I did not link my site ?

Next, my story is true. I did in fact accompany the most well known Mark in our industry as his lol, yes, marketing expert and I sat in the boardroom with the CEO of LG Korea. In case you didnt notice I am calling myself out and making fun of my lack of training and college... for your entertainment. Because if you knew me, you would totally think its funny that I was in that boardroom that day.. I am so far from Corporate material its not even funny. That atmosphere makes me sick to my stomach. So the fact that I was where I was with whom I was with pretty much put me at the top level of this Industry for those few days. That is completely ridiculous and funny. I dont know a thing about marketing, I learned to sell from being a peddler. High School was as far as I could take of the institutions, so I traveled..
so yes, I am a scholastic dum dum. Stunad, Stugatts.. If anyone asks,  youcanfugeddaboudit. Im here on passion for the audio arts. Music is my religion. Conceptual design feeds my brain. My products are innovative and copy nobody. I am the living breathing OCD Hi Fi Guy, I say that to make fun of how ridiculous my thought process is when it comes to audio. I have no idea why "good enough" will just not suffice for me. So I created the youtube channel after being pestered by other industry people when they saw the degree to which I tweaked on the "little things" , so the channel is about me , personally. Has nothing to do with my companies. I simply put the video on while I;m doing my regular thing. I do not set these up or script them, I take people along for the ride if they would like to come along. Thats all this is, a regular dude trying to enjoy life like everyone else. This career found me, I am too bad at planning to ever think this out. This is clearly where I am supposed to be.  If you must classify me within the hobby to a smaller pigeonhole. I stand for the hobby of HiFi . I have patience for newbies and reassure them and share what Ive learned. I loathe corporate audio and support the little guy. Ive got no hustle or nothing to hide. I dont sugar coat things and Im direct with communication even if its uncomfortable territory . so yes, a misfit I am. But I can promise you I will create audio products that will make your listening experience easier, better, more fun, etc..

So there ya have it. I'm Mikey to my friends.  Please dont expect much , if any involvement of mine on the forums here. I stepped in to respond and let you know who I am. No Guru, no martyr. More of a smart ass clown. , as in "smart ass" not "ass clown" LOL.

See ya !

He was a modder. His fadda was a modder. His mudda was a modder. Whoa! His mudda was a modder?! 😛

Mike has a cable company Verastarr and was also a modder Hot Rod Audio Mods. 

glupson

What happened in those three deleted posts?

I think Michael Powell embarrassed himself.

Keep your suspicion at bay. I’m the OP and I have no connection to Mr OCD’s business or videos. I stumbled across him on YouTube and watched each of his videos. I wanted merely to share what I found with others. 

After all this and “meeting” him here on the forum, I’d love to meet him in person and will keep following the dude. 

@glupson- Hard telling, what happened to the other two posts.  I deleted one I started, as I wanted to watch the video, in which the neutral prong was mistakenly referred to as the, "hot".   I hadn't, and wanted to be certain I understood what was being discussed.    

rodman99999,

"I’m trying to remember the last time I saw an audio component, that was manufactured without a grounding/polarized plug,"

I am losing track of who saw what and when, but if it is of any value to anyone, I just checked my amplifier and CD player and both have uneven (polarized, I guess) plugs.

What happened in those three deleted posts?

"That’s a polarized device, but many common 15A receptacles aren’t polarized. They have the same width for both hot and neutral blades." AND- No ground. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw an audio component, that was manufactured without a grounding/polarized plug, since I owned my ST-70s and old Haflers. OR- a home built, since the 1960s, after they became CODE, without grounded/polarized outlets(and the attendant, wider neutral slot). To me(anyway), that’s, "common" and, "standard".

What we have here is a group of ignorant, unqualified, and misinformed self-proclaimed engineers, experts, and authorities theorizing, speculating, and supposing on what they think should be the standard for code compliant devices when it is plainly evident, demonstrated, and revealed that they are all equally unqualified, misinformed, and ignorant but we are discussing AC power distribution so its not as though safety or personal protection should be of any priority, concern, or consequence, right? What the hell invent you're own protocols, designs, and specifications people like UL don't really know what they are doing these "experts" on Audiogon know everything!!  

rodman999993,265 posts11-03-2018 1:43pm

I'm trying to understand the, " Because the receptacle he’s looking at is a 20A device. If he puts the wider blade on an otherwise 15A plug, it wouldn’t fit a common standard 15A receptacle."   Every 15A, grounded receptacle(or plug) I've seen, manufactured in the past couple decades, has had a wider slot(or prong) for the neutral

That's a polarized device, but many common 15A receptacles aren't polarized. They have the same width for both hot and neutral blades.

I’m trying to understand the, " Because the receptacle he’s looking at is a 20A device. If he puts the wider blade on an otherwise 15A plug, it wouldn’t fit a common standard 15A receptacle." Every, "standard" 15A, grounded receptacle(or plug) I’ve seen, manufactured in the past few decades, has had a wider slot(or prong) for the neutral. 20A plugs have a horizontal, neutral prong. (https://www.lowellmfg.com/wp-content/uploads/LowellPlugs.pdf

I will repeat my earlier post.

"Seeing those covers removed and exposed electronics on the floor reminded me of....."


Another Michael. Similar guru style, too. What is this becoming? The Gospel Of Michaels?

Are contacts inside the receptacles with different sizes different or it is the same with a bigger plastic hole? I thought that difference in hole sizes is to ensure it is placed in the right one, not to enhance the contact by its size. Is it both? Does anyone know that for sure, without resorting to a youtube video?

"And please ignore the ‘jerks’ who can’t seems to curb their impulses with silly comments."

Are you talking about those two mikepowellaudio's posts above? The ones about some dinner in Korea and the other one about children and squirrels?

“It would be easy to overlook if that was his only error“

Thank you Judge Judy 🤪

lalitk

I did watched the video and yes he misspoke about the neutral connection of the receptacle as live (hot)

It would be easy to overlook if that was his only error. But his elaborate explanation for why the Furutech plug didn’t have the type of neutral blade he expected (that it was a money-saving decision, and not because that’s what code specifies on a 15A plug) shows he just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Sorry.

I walked way wondering why didn’t anyone else thought about building a AC plug with uneven blade size to coincide with uneven slots on the receptacle

Simple. Because the receptacle he’s looking at is a 20A device. If he puts the wider blade on an otherwise 15A plug, it wouldn’t fit a common standard 15A receptacle.

Yet, notwithstanding all this ignorance, he pronounces:

trust me there are truths that I could share that would put me smack dab at the industries top level.

@cleeds,

Yes, I did watched the video and yes he misspoke about the neutral connection of the receptacle as live (hot).  Are you a pessimist (I hope not)? 

I am sure you know what OCD stands for? When I watched that video, I walked way wondering why didn’t anyone else thought about building a AC plug with uneven blade size to coincide with uneven slots on the receptacle so we get a firm grip and a full contact? 

lalitk

He’s an upstanding guy, very knowledgeable and been running a legitimate business for years now.

He may be a great guy. He just doesn't know what he's talking about - that's already been established. Did you review his video that I referenced?

@cleeds,

Why don’t you try and post a video, pick a topic and let’s see how you fair 😜

You, dill and rbstehno clearly don’t know Mike. He’s an upstanding guy, very knowledgeable and been running a legitimate business for years now. 

rbstehno11-03-2018 9:18am

I might be wrong here but this thread looks very suspicious ...

Agreed. And at least some of the time, he clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. In this video of his, he confuses the neutral connection of an AC receptacle with the hot, and criticizes a Furutech plug because it doesn’t have the type of blade he thinks it should, without ever realizing he’s confusing a 15A plug with a 20A plug. So while I appreciate that the guy has passion, and I appreciate his enthusiasm for the Raspberry Pi that he discusses in another video, he’s simply not authoritative. That would be excusable but for the fact that he portrays himself as expert:

Ive looked at the way fresh blood comes into the hobby and they are met by tons of confusing rhetoric and unfriendly hubris ... trust me there are truths that I could share that would put me smack dab at the industries top level ... I’m not there to promote myself as much as I am to find truth in this ocean of BS ... I got sick of self proclaimed "reviewers" that have no rig nor any manufacturing nor industry experience at all ... I’ll have a direct sale e commerce site where I’ll sell things that are innovative ... I know the dirty laundry and Ive seen the inner hustles ...

And this guy who doesn't know the difference been a 15A connector and a 20A connector says he is building AC distribution boxes for his "clients."

Yep, correct. He has excellent AudiogoN feedback.
https://www.mikepowellaudio.com/

I might be wrong here but this thread looks very suspicious,  a link of a video is promoted here of a guy stating here are the best dacs available, then the owner of an audio store (Mike Powell’s Audio) who happens to be the same guy in the video. Mike’s reply here states that he is honest and he tells it like it is, which all he is stating that his findings in the video are in fact the truth and you should go to his store and buy of them.
Suspicious? 

Keep going OCD HiFi...we totally dig your enthusiasm and passion. I am bit of tweaker myself so I can relate to your videos.

As I recall, every time my Dad bought me a toy it peaked my curiosity; what’s inside, how does it move or works. Seeing those exposed crossovers and components reminded me of my childhood. BTW, I still take a peek inside everytime I purchase a component 😬

Let’s continue to explore and learn. That’s what makes this hobby so much fun. 

And please ignore the ‘jerks’ who can’t seems to curb their impulses with silly comments.

Richier, I'm sure youve got some amazing resources and things I do not. Perhaps children. I see happy families with well raised children and its my reminder that all is OK in the world. I thought everyone said enjoy the music.. yeah happy listening does not match OCD boy so much..How about.. "feed the squirrel !" lol you know, hes the one thats running stuff when I'm stuttering and talking to people without looking at them since I'm making a change inside a piece of gear.. I think we can all relate.. right ? Any of you that  have high quality sorted rig, love it, no issues with it at all but still come here to AG to browse for things youve never owned yet, just to see how good the "deals" are, is totally feeding the squirrel at that point. Especially if youve never owned a TT but are in the cartridge section.  And no matter what absolutely, they may as well call it "feed the squirrel" section is Tweaks.. if you even read them for fun, youre feeding the squirrel... in fact you skip the squirrel feed and are now feeding him Birthday Cake and RC Cola. Careful, hes got cymbals all around the attic up there, too much birthday Cake and hes gonna haul ass around the room smacking all the cymbals in random order. youre kinda locked in until he chills out and sometimes it takes a while..   Yep, "feed the squirrel" it is ! and Richier 31, youre responsible.. Thanks man!

Feed the squirrel !

#Me To

I am happy with myself but I wish that I have the recources that OCD Hi-fi Guy has. To make a business out of my passion is an on going proces so who knows. 

If so,  I would have a house full of different equipment because couriosity drives this cat. I would probably share the experiments and knowledge I gain to. 

So , I am happy that OCD share this adventures on You-tube. I have Subscribed to his channel and enjoy every new video. 

Happy listening (that look to much  like a copy cat ;-) 

Enjoy the music or Peace is maybe more original. 

?????????

Seeing those covers removed and exposed electronics on the floor reminded me of.....

We (audiophiles) need guys like the OCD Hi-Fi guy to keep the industry alive.

Some people flip their gizzard. To each his own. 

I talked to this guy about equipment. 
Super knowledgable and kind. I subscribe to his channel. He reviews great equipment. Some I can afford and others I most definitely can’t. It seems to me that he has fun at his own expense and really enjoys music. Cheers ocd hi-if guy. Btw- still waiting on that kinki/coda shoot out. 
I’m in need for a new integrated. 

Thanks for the support guys, Truly If I am not doing something involved with my favorite hobby which is HiFi, thats when I'm uncomfortable. If I'm stressed, I can actually go sit at my workbench and calm down. I try to creat great things for us to use and make this hobby great rather than something daunting or confusing. Ive looked at the way fresh blood comes into the hobby and they are met by tons of confusing rhetoric and unfriendly hubris. I chose to share that I am a regular guy, trust me there are truths that I could share that would put me smack dab at the industries top level. but those things are not whats real.. whats real is I'm a regular guy with an Audio Habit and I'm all or none with it just like I am with nearly everything my whole life  and I actually do this stuff every day. Yeah I get burnt out sometimes so a take a few days off. But when I think of myself and the unrealistic standards I have for Audio and how I rationalize it in my head, its comical to me. I'm a typical humanoid with all my defects. So I choose to make fun of myself and the "Ocd HiFi " neuroses that we can all relate to a little bit. I juke and rant and I'm speaking as if we are good buddies. I'm not hiding anything. I dont show myself much because I'm not there to promote myself as much as I am to find truth in this ocean of BS, compare things real time and not speak about anything I'm not actually doing and showing you. I am an industry guy. I got sick of self proclaimed "reviewers" that have no rig nor any manufacturing nor industry experience at all. I tell it like I see it. None of these companies pays me, so I can say what I see and not have to abide by rules or plug the guys advertising on my blog or whatever. Shortly, I'll have a direct sale e commerce site where I'll sell things that are innovative as well as a fair price, not using the current HiFi market for reference of "fair" pricing. It takes an industry guy to do this rather than a new person. I know the dirty laundry and Ive seen the inner hustles.. So I know I dont follow the normal rules, and I'm rough around the edges, But I'm on YT to provide good content not just stammering away talking in really official tone..lol, so I hope you enjoy it and thanks again those chiming in support, I chose to involve everyone at the party, and build positivity around HiFi which in case you have not noticed is laughed at by not only regular people, but by the guys that actually produce the music. I say at the very least we can admit we are nuts, and have a blast with it !!
Cheers !Mikey

That was great I had no idea what he was talking about but I liked it. “A proper crossover or a mess.” Ya!  I think I’ll subscribe ocdhifiguy. I can relate somewhat sometimes I give people a glazed over face when I get going

Some people flip their fuses for fun.   Not that there's anything wrong with that....

Outside of having tubed main amps, speaking more about what’s new inside my equipment and using a TL woofer system; that could be me. Well, I just converted from an Acoustat/Maggie/planar worshipper(1980 ’til now), to a Emerald Physics lover, also.   Then there's, HMMMM.... never mind(we're not alike, at all)!

In the end, all that matters is you push the ON button and MUSIC happens!

I like what he is doing. I feel I can learn a lot. I respect him for sharing his passion.

I am loathe to throw stones as I certainly can obsess like any other audiophile.

That said, no I'm not OCD as that guy...at least not in the same direction.
And when I see the super tweaky lengths many audiophiles go to in their system I'm glad I'm not THAT obsessed with every aspect of my system.
It would drive me nuts.

But I have to be clear: that is not a judgement of other audiophiles that do go all out, like the guy in the video.  That is only an expression of my own personal values.  I just wouldn't like to be that tweaky. 

BUT...if someone else ENJOYS the time spent tweaking everything possible, then that's what matters to him, and good for him for having fun.  The guy in the video seems happy, so I would not judge his time mis-spent in that regard. 

I thouroughly enjoy OCD’s passion. And it’s nice to see and hear someone talk about this stuff like he does. Also, he makes me laugh in the sense that I know I am nerding it up by getting excited to see him explain his dedicated wiring or DAC shootout. I learned a few things on the way too. 

I like how he gets pumped on the lead in to explore a subject. Ain’t that what this is about?

keep going Sir OCD!! 

Men's feet should never be on display in public.