Biggest audio hoaxes


Often when people discuss audio, they talk about "snake oil" or "hoaxes."

It's pretty typical to use the term hoax as a tactic against another who disagrees with one, or holds an unusual opinion or vouches for something which has not been verified. That's not what I mean by a "hoax." 

By "hoax" I mean an audio product or claim which has been pretty definitively disproved. Maybe not to everyone's satisfaction, but to common consensus.

So -- with that definition of hoax in mind, what are some of the biggest audiophile hoaxes you've heard of?
128x128hilde45

Showing 9 responses by millercarbon

Of course you are invited. Half an hour from SEA in Redmond on Rose Hill where the standard fare is Deschuttes Black Butte Porter with ribs. Rib eye with cabernet sauvignon on request. Come check it out.
hilde45-
@bdp24 Are the Townshend products very helpful even for those of us with concrete floors covered with a short rug? My floor feels very stable, and while I respect the idea of vibration control enough to try it, I wonder if my rig is very susceptible to the kinds of vibrations these products help to mitigate?

Concrete is just as "susceptible" as you put it. Yes even slab concrete poured on the ground. I lived in a basement like that, it was very easy to feel vibrations from one person in one room coming through the floor right under the wall into my room. If I can feel and hear it then for sure it affects the sound when amplified a hundred times.

Think of the old-times movie trick of the train robber putting his ear to the track. This works because sound travels through even something as solid as 6" thick solid steel. 

You play your speaker, it sets the concrete to vibrate, it rings, and yes it settles down very fast but for that small fraction of a second until it does it is smearing fine detail. Here, watch https://youtu.be/BOPXJDdwtk4?t=120 Solid concrete floor. See?
That's the way to do it. When you can afford Townshend the genius damping makes a huge improvement. Meantime though you get to enjoy one of the best budget bargains in audio. 

Your extra springs by the way can be used to make additional ones, simply drill 1/4" holes, they fit the springs perfectly.
no romance- In fairness, MC walks the walk and don’t forget, we all stand on the shoulders of others.

That’s for sure. Which is why I credited Rixthetrick for helping me with springs.

Truth is, and this is on the record, the minute the first person came along with a coherent argument I not only listened but was persuaded and in not time flat was adopting. Of course he did have to actually explain himself, and not with incessant smart alecky jokes and riddles but actual structured argument.

If anyone can find even one coherent post about springs from the loon please do, and I will promptly eat my hat. https://youtu.be/q-6w8nZ-0sk?t=27

Or maybe its the teacher? The record shows everything changed the minute it was clearly explained. 
Behold! http://machinadynamica.com/machina43.htm
No, wait- BEHOLD! http://machinadynamica.com/index.html

Sadly, the Morphic Message Labels are discontinued. Fortunately, your humble servant millercarbon researches these things saving you untold pain and discomfort.

Morphic fields are imaginary fields of information. What is information? You’re looking at it! Words! What’s on your CD jewel box? Words! You get the idea. Morphic Message Labels cover up the words, blocking the fields, preventing them interfering with your music.   

Yeah I know what you think but no I am not making this up. Read the Teleportation Tweak above. Sometimes called Morphic Fields, other times called Information Fields, probably called WC Fields on one of the now defunct pages. Whatever. He actually sold blank stickers to cover up words to make your CD sound better.

The best one though was also the most expensive. For $1200 he would call you on the phone, and using his magic quantum powers your music would sound better, and fast, fast as your credit card payment takes to clear.

You asked for the biggest hoax, bet you had no idea we had one this big, didya? LMAO!

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