Do you think audiophiles are the most gullible hobbyists

You're not particularly good at anything except obfuscation. 

Uh, I'm pretty sure I'm not very good at obfuscation, either.  I can't even pronounce it. 

Audiophile the most gullible?  some yes, some no, depends on how seriously you look at the cable business imho.

One reason why Denmark has one the happiest population is because they consume more fresh, pure, home-grown marijuana and because they listen to Dynaudio, gamut, and B&O.

I'm sure Switzerland is very relieved. 

Geoff, it appears you found rankings for tourist satisfaction by country.  

taters, Sounds about right to me, I've seen a dozen or so well done studies in last decade that show the USA in the 20's .

I believe what geoff said, but my hunch his cable provider is based on Mars .

Uh, oh. I'm getting a bad feeling again. 

I’m not particularly good at making watches or milking cows so I guess as far as becoming a Swiss citizen goes I’m out.

One assumes the folks in Denmark are especially happy when the temperature gets above freezing. On the other hand, free sex along with everything else free might explain the very high number of smiles.

It's indeed gullible and foolish! Typical audiophile. 

Looking on the bright side Switzerland does make a helluva good cough drop.  Ri-co-la!  Naturally soothing relief that lasts. :-)

Geoff is likely the expert on gullible audiophiles. I envision him salivating over this topic.  Unfortunately as a result one cannot take his answers seriously.

Look at Mopman, mopping up the floor with the Kaitmeister.  Ouch!

I hope he wrings all the grease and dirt out of the mop.

Andy the hammer steps up to the plate.  But just gets a lot of air.

We'll let the readers decide that boy.

Andy, what are you, like twelve years old?

Which is 5 years past the engineering principles of your products.

geoffkait2,683 posts01-22-2016 7:29amAndy, what are you, like twelve years old?

Looks like you haven't reached that age yet. Get off computer and finish your breakfast getting cold...

Mopman.

That is funny! Sometimes I also become madman. Mops are more useful I suppose, so thanks.

Geoff is a funny guy and I truly mean that. Next thing to work on would be a conscience to go along with it.

We all have room for improvements.

Czarivey, at least I have real breakfast, not cheap vodka and potato chips.

A conscience?  Interesting.

Sorry geoffkait, I only indulge premium cognac

Speaking of Cognac, have you seen the movie Soul Plane? Funny movie with a scene involving Cognac and a blind man.

If you think audiophiles are gullible here’s a news flash. These hobbys make audiophiles look like a upper management meeting of the Skeptics Society.

DUCT TAPE ART

EXTREME IRONING

FORK BENDING

FINGERNAIL AND/OR TOENAIL COLLECTION

CONDOM COLLECTION

BEDHEAD DOCUMENTATION

CRAYON CARVING

EATING INANIMATE OBJECTS

It depends. If everyone has had a true audio logic hearing test and demonstrated perfect (human) hearing profiles and is under 30 years of age, then perhaps there is justification for spending thousands of dollars on cables, capacitors, power cords, etc. OTOH, if one has spent hours in rock concerts, and constantly wearing in-ear headphones, and is over 50, then it becomes pretty speculative as to whether there is placebo value or actual perception going on. I'm personally happy with my placebo audio improvements. The system sounds great!!

Wow, here is an emotionally charged issue!  Still, I will wade in.  Audiophiles are music aficionados, and chase an elusive quest . . . to be able to put music on and feel as if the band (or orchestra) is right in front of you.  The fact of the matter is that that elusive goal is not only a function of the equipment, but also the room acoustics, the listener's position in the room and the listener's hearing.  So there are uncontrollable variables that are different for every situation.  A high end system will usually sound great compared to a "lower end" system, but one "high end" system might sound much better to one person in one listening room than it would sound in another.  The source material is also a factor.  One extremely well-recorded piece might sound amazing on a "high end" system, while most recordings -- which are not so great -- sound like crap because the defects in the source are more boldly displayed.  I listen to a lot of old jazz and classic rock. With few exceptions, like Dark Side of the Moon or Wish You Were Here, many of those albums were poorly recorded and a high end system painfully displays that.

The other significant issue, and one that many fall prey to, is the subjectivity of the system synergy between components and cabling and maybe even power.

Finally, when someone says that he or she is "blown away" by a new interconnect, speaker cable or even component, that probably means that the listener can hear an audible difference.  Speaking from personal experience, I believe that speaker cables make a difference.  I like some better than others in my system.  Have I been "blown away?"  No. I switched power amps when I had to get my 2 channel amp serviced.  There was definitely a difference in soundstage when I switched.

Are audiophiles therefore gullible for chasing that difference?  Probably not.  However, is that difference worth $10,000 more, $20,000 more or $50,000?  I guess that depends on how much money you have to blow and what you listen to.  I am comfortable shelling out $2k for a 2 channel preamp, but is a $5K preamp that much better?  When I have more disposable income, I am more willing to chase minor improvements.  So its more a question of willingness to blow money to chase those marginal improvements than gullibility.  

That all being said, its impossible to rely on one audiophile's opinion versus another.  The true test of whether something is worth shelling out the cash for is how it sounds in your system to YOUR ears.  That concludes this rant . . . :)

One responder mentioned "Snake Oil" long ago in the old west there was this item sold and people bought it because it worked! It was mineral water and hot pepper extract it helped as a pain killer just as hot peppers do today, the only thing false was the name, there was no snake related product in it. Because of the deceptive advertising it acquired the bad name.
Trust your own ears, does the audio product sound better... or just different?
In terms of very popular long standing audio products, millions of audiophiles couldn't be wrong.

Geoffkait,

I've got a display case containing 500 vintage condoms that begs to disagree.

Geoff, the plural of hobby is hobbies not hobbys.
Another example, which is much closer to home, the plural of phony is phonies.

Audiophiles are certainly NOT gullible. There is always hard science driving every product's marketing campaigns and every audio purchase. For example, everyone knows that spending hundreds of dollars to lift your speaker cables off the floor improves their sound quality, but ONLY if you support them on blocks made from rare, exotic and costly woods. Also, maple wood for shelving that has been air dried (not kiln dried) produces a better sound; and it's not a contradiction to say that shelves should not resonate AND that they have their own unique sound. And cables really ARE directional in terms of electrical flow. Who can argue with such logic?

Good catch, Andy.  The plural of goofball is goofballs.  Get it?  :-)

You would know but that still doesn't explain your command, or lack, of proper grammar.
A phony is a phony.
Get it?

I know you are but what am I? And it still doesn't explain why you’re a goofball.

Oh look, the third grade I'm rubber-you're glue stuff. Clever.
You should have been cast in Deliverance the way you squeal.
On second thought that was you. I'm just not sure which end of yours is which.
End of lesson.

Andy wrote,

"Oh look, the third grade I’m rubber-you’re glue stuff."

Speaking of glue have you been sniffing some?

I suspect gentle readers here are capable of deciding who’s actually doing all the squealing like a pig. But getting back to the original question as to whether audiophiles are the most gullible folks around, I suggest if an audiophile suspects foul play or suspects someone is taking advantage of him, or is feeling a little naive and vulnerable Lol perhaps with the cost of electronics or cables or the efficacy of some new high tech widget, who knows, then it’s incumbent on that person to satisfy his skepticism and curiosity and head to the library or go on line, Google is your friend. Sometimes the most difficult question can be answered rather rapidly. Of course the impossibly difficult questions take a little bit longer. Lol

You're a phony Geoff and so are your products.
Magic Pebbles, Colored Dots, Teleportation Tweaks. 
Seriously?
End of lesson. 

Fortunately I’ve never been one to pay much attention to angry foaming at the mouth wannabees. Now it really is the end of the discussion.

Or is it? I'm betting there will be more whining and bleating.

I visit Switzerland every year. I have yet to see a "happy" Swiss citizen. Try greeting a Swiss stranger with a smile. No eye contact whatsoever, and the greeter is treated as if invisible. I would not live in Switzerland if it were given to me.

Tarp38, what you say is so and is in the culture  of all the loosely
Germanic cultures both in German speaking countries and Scandinavian countries .
BUT , the reason is friendship is treated FAR more serious in these lands and holds many more obligations .
As a  Finnish friend of mine said, "Americans are warm on the outside and cold on the inside , Finns the opposite " .
From my years living in Germany I think he was spot on.
In general, what we consider a close friend would be thought of as an acquaintance .Took me 4-5 years to get used to but in the end I think it makes for a deeper life .

Schubert what you describe is pretty commonplace with many more insular or ethnically or religiously Affiliated groups in USA or any where I suspect.  Smaller groups with more in common tend to be closer.   It is a nice thing I agree.  USA is more a big melting pot with many groups and affiliations and beliefs.    It's a blessing that such diverse groups can get along together at all.  Does not happen in many places maybe nowhere on the same scale.   USA has little other than its diversity and acceptance of many groups to distinguish it.  

Actually Andrew, it was Ned Beatty who was doing the squealing, not Burt.

Yep Ned not Burt. 

Burt like a man took a beating and hardly uttered a sound.   

Right, and Burt shot an arrow through the offending redneck’s chest. "It's a center shot."

Check out golf clubs

can't overcome a bad swing

pay big money to play a game

Speak for yourself  I'm not.

Geoff, living in New England we get happy when the temp gets above freezing too. As far as free sex goes however, the Puritan conservatives censor art, nevermind allowing sex, at any cost.