Has anyone, either a dealer or an experienced friend come over to your place and provide some constructive(or negative) critism to the choice of cables in your system? If yes, how would you deal with it? Recently I have a guy who came over and he was pretty vocal on the cables in my system. Although the choice of words were quite unpleasant, I just brushed him off in a friendly manner since I am an open-minded person. I was just wondering how one would react in these kind of situations.
I dont like negative critism,so those who did that to my syetem and my cables,I suspended them in coming to my house till they realize they are wrong.Real friends they should not hurt your feeling..By the way I finally FIRED THEM THOUGH..Good example is TVAD who gave me a tip about my speakers positioning..very good guy.
Add me to the list of those who've gotten grief over their cables. In my case it's been from my "technically knowledgeable" friends, one in particular.
"Why the fire hoses? Gonna get bigger sound that way? (snicker)" This was one of several jabs from someone I gave speaker cables that by his own admission improved the sound of his system. I reminded him of "the gift", then suggested in a friendly fashion that since cables made no difference he could return the ones I had given him. Surely zip cord would be as good? He stammered out a response equivalent to "that was different" and the subject hasn't come up again, though he does chime in from time to time on power cords.
It probably goes without saying that naysayers rarely change their tune. But it is possible to alter the frequency...
again, you have made my case. if one criticizes, without a sound basis, ignore it. when you can't tell what's going on, there is no sound basis to criticize. this will not stop people from criticizing anything.
04-22-09: Mrtennis it is also a fact that it is difficult to evaluate the contribution of cable to the overall sound of a stereo system. there are too many vriables.
Hi Mrtennis, Try posting this in every threads in the cable forum. It would be interesting to see what responses you would get.
Again, you missed the point. I have not disputed your argument as it is not within the context of the point of discussion.
Mrtennis, first you said it's a silly question to ask due to the fact that it is impossible to evaluate the sound of a particular cable when listening to a system. Secondly you questioned about the posting of this seemingly petty issue.
Firstly, please take note that I am not asking about the evaluation of sonic character of cables. I am asking whether anyone had experienced the same, whether their cables(or equipment) have been criticized. Why I am getting so "exercised" by the criticism? Again you are coming up with your own suppositions which have proven to be quite synonymous with your style, just like you have been advocating panel speakers over cone speakers in other threads. I just thought of posting this one since I have never seen a similar thread discussing on this topic and felt the responses may be interesting, hence the question which in your mind is a waste of time and space.
Give it a rest, especially with your continuous preaching on the superiority of panel speakers over box speakers. Now I realize how some responses have come by to your numerous comments that you can differentiate between panel and cone speakers 9 out of 10 times blindfolded. One of them being "a mouth-gag is a better idea than blindfold" may have been appropriate.
why get so exercised over criticism ? it's mind over matter when someone criticizes your cable or your entire stereo system. if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
Just tell them to bring over the cables they like best A/B them if its a dealer just ask him to lend them to you.Every system sounds best with the right cables the sound is a personel thing.I think people should mind there own business unless they can let you hear better cables in your system!!
Oscar44, I see that you are a relatively new member here, but from my experiences, Virtual Dynamics has a very strong following. In fact some feel shy to say anything bad about Virtual Dynamics in my experiences.
Personally, I feel that VD cables/cords offer many positive attributes, however I find others that fit my tastes better for the long term. I still keep some VD cords for fun and excitment.
I find many people get annoyed with power cords that seem out of the ordinary in terms of design and (particularly) price. Virtual Dynamics cables seem to be a magnet for such comments.....especially from those who don't own or sell them. While it's a PITA to have to take cables in and out to show people the differences, it's often the only way to move them beyond knee-jerk dismissals, but then, it's not your job to educate a dealer.
Hard to believe that a guest would have the nerve to vocally criticize your system. I also believe that you don't have to start a thread and solicit others' feedback -- tell him to go to hell.
Nsgarch - I have the same experience. My AZ Satori Shotgun look like two barrels of the shotgun about an inch thick each and woven patterns on the outside reflects the light. Friends don't even comment (bad sign - they already think I'm crazy).
Shinytoys...too bad many a sales person doesn't actually practice the manner suggested in dealing with others. Once in a blue moon I run across a tactful sales person in the audio community...once in a blue moon ain't good enough if they expect to stay afloat in this market
When we were on the sales floor, only an inexperienced bafoon would open his mouth in a negative manner and criticize your gear. It's completely counter productive. Why would anyone try and knock the wheels out from under a prospective new client. It's all about how you work and relate to people, and it's all sales, not just electronics. Make the client feel well about his or her past decisions. It's only common sense, a seasoned professional in the sales arena knows this basic common rule...
And by the way...Your cable choices blow, you're bald, and your feet smell...my work is done here :)
Cabling is all about synergy. IMO there are no good or bad cables; it's what works well with your hardware and what appeals to your sonic preferences. Also, what you're willing to spend to get there. Yes I've had those who can't comprehend the expenditures and others who ridicule but who cares? They're clueless regarding what it takes to tune a rig. I was among them at one time myself, but have learned a lot from y'all here on The Gon. Cabling makes or breaks the system, no matter the quality of your componentry.
Honestly, no. I have a different problem. The friends do not leave the room, because they hear things, they never heard before. Cables are like components, they can lift a System or they can make it dull, but I don't think they will change a System completely.
What's good about OEM PC's? Nothing! Why? Two words: Underwriter's Laboratory
Now you know.
You should all be glad most manufacturers don't waste your money (and their own) by providing anything more than the minimum necessary to meet UL rules.
Don't get me wrong. OEM PC's will work - barely! Their conductor size (AWG) will be the minimum required by the power consumption of the equipment they come with. And if that equipment is digital and radiates RFI? then the cable will also be a shielded cable. EXCEPT (as required by UL) the shield will be connected to the ground conductor at both ends - a guaranteed hum antenna! .
So he's a dealer......figures. I've always found it rather amusing when dealers have told me my gear, cables, etc. are crap, and fortunately for me, they carry the "good" stuff. I especially love it when they use phrases like "blows your X away" or " kills your X".
Just shrug and laugh it off....it's cheap entertainment.
For the record, I'm not going to try his suggestions of using stock cords. That is drivel to me as well but still it is solely his opinion. In order not to end up with a heated argument, his advice entered my right ear but went out through my left.
Ryder, given your last disclosure, it would seem that you already have a pretty good idea of what to think about about that person's opinion. A dealer with strong opinions who 'strongly advocates' what he carries is, well, just that. If you believe the power cords sound better than stock, it's what you think which counts. If he is willing to back that strong opinion with a 3-week in-home demo of the ICs and SC he carries, well, that might be an interesting opportunity. If at the end you think it is worth changing, you learned something. If not, you learned something too.
What you have is a "Dear Ann Landers" situation, where Ann would say some combination of the response on the order of "Some people are rude and are just that way. If you don't like their rudeness, stay away from them." I would add, if you can make use of their opinion, why not get something from it.
Sounds like you respect these guy's opinions, seems your bound to try their suggestions.
Don't you find it odd the one guy "strongly advocates" cables he carries! Now, to be fair, perhaps he has tried many others, still....
Advocating only stock power cables is very strange to me, what makes stock power cables inherently more natural than any other power cable, this is blathering nonsense.
Thank you for all your opinions. Actually he is a dealer carrying another line of cable(interconnects and speaker cable only) which he strongly advocates. He has a strong opinion on the type of cables that are to be used for a piece of equipment that I bought from him. He told me to ditch all my power cords away and use stock cords since in his view are doing something malicious to the sound that is not in-line with the idea of natural sound reproduction(he doesn't sell power cords). I personally don't think his priority is all about making more money out of his critical remarks but more to achieving optimum sound from the equipment that he carries, and he has more than 20 years in the business which is also another passion for him. For what it's worth, the designer of the equipment himself is not a believer in cables.
Maybe I am revealing too much now but guess that is the limit that I can disclose.
Unfortunately, there are those aspiring audiophiles (and I use the term lightly) who do not hesitate to demonstrate their ignorance by criticizing ones cables before hearing them, or the system in any other configuration. If lamp cord sounds good, what is the problem? I have high dollar cables, and I have cheap stuff, and lamp cord is included. Not all high dollar stuff is good in every given situation. People who criticize cable before knowing more about a system obviously are a neophyte in their audio journey...... and hopefully they will be able to pull their head and ears out of their socket, take time to enjoy the music, have meaningful discussion with other music-philes, and have fun. Isn't that supposed to be part of all this? Jallen
In all likelihood, he is one of those people that thinks negative criticism is helpful. This is probably his style of being helpful whenever he thinks something doesn't quite measure up. I would just ignore him. I hope he is not a friend.
I've never been criticized for anything in my system because: A. Most of my friends don't know anything about hi-end audio equipment -- all they know is my system is the "best stereo I EVER heard!" B. And/or, "It's worth what?!@*"
There WAS this one exception: I have a 'theater' friend, of a certain 'persuasion' who is a true opera and musical comedy maven (what else?) He actually prides himself on his bitchy and disdainful sense of humor -- which I must admit is quick, and often drop dead funny ;-) Anyway, back in oh, must've been around the late seventies, he dropped by one day, and I had a pair of 3/4" dia. by 15' long Straightwire Maestro II speaker cables (I'd just got) stretched out together full-length across the living room carpet.
They have that beautiful silver colored woven shield under a clear jacket, if you've not seen them . . . Anyway, my friend Zale, who needs help changing a light bulb, immediately spied the cables, and starting to chuckle disapprovingly, he says, "What the hell are those?!" I replied, completely matter-of-factly, "Those are my new speaker cables."
At which point, he broke out laughing, so hard, I only barely managed to hear him say, "Oh! I thought you were sending electricity to Poland!" .
i sometimes get worried if too many people like the sound of my stereo system. if i get criticism, i figure i'm ok. let them criticize my choice of cable. it doesn't affect me one way or another.
there is a way to humor people who criticize. here is what i say:
My cables get criticized all the time by people who have not heard my system. Nothing but Gold or Silver will do for some people. Ordiniary wires seem ok to my tin ears though
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