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Hype, Hyperbole and high price!

Okay, I understand that this site has to make money by having advertisers, but cheese and crackers, the claims that are made are just laughable if not down right criminal!  Before I attended an engineering university I too was duped into buying expensive wires and such.  Now, armed with an engineering and physics background, I can see through the BS claims made.  I try and not let it get in the way of my enjoyment of good quality stereo equipment, but when a salesman tries to sell me something based on testimonials, hype and hyperbole, I tell him politely my background and then ask him a series of questions which leaves him dumbfounded. 

Such crap as directional wires - (I used to work for both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman) and trust me, if we had to test the miles of wires for directionality in every piece of equipment built...well you get the gist.

I have friends that are audio snobs and although they argue with me (Basically buyer's remorse) they know that what I say is true and end the conversation.  Oh well, I suppose I will continue to get a headache when I read said claims.

Sigh!
kenny928

Showing 15 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
It seems  many are conditioned these days to accept being lied to.    It's very sad.  
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
A little knowledge and recognizing extreme uncompromising views goes a long way for cutting through the bs and there is plenty of that whenever there is money to be made by easily fooling people.  

It's  called common sense.  

The best things seldom come easy.  ⚖
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 

Must say you are very reliable always popping up when Summoned. 

🐢
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Well this thread is very entertaining and somewhat informative at least in the sense of demonstrating how narrow minded, insecure,  and uncompromising both sides of any controversial issue can be.

At least for those who might be sitting on the fence which I suspect is most people.

The truth usually does lie somewhere in the middle.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
" I like your new avatar, by the way. I’m just guessing but is that supposed to be you and Batman? Or the Teletubbies? "

Its whatever you think it is.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 

Obviously those who’ve been around and know the system need no warnings.

Its those trying to learn still that might appreciate hearing the old news discussed again.

Maybe idealistic young folks with technical knowledge might make things better in the future if able to withstand the constant pressure to just accept things the way they are.

I’m trying to look at this from the perspective of an intelligent young engineering student or engineer who does not have money to burn (yet hopefully) who wants to cut through all the malarkey and have the best system they can for whatever they can afford. That was me almost 40 years ago.  I fell for a lot of gimmicks back then as part of my pursuit on a limited budget and feel foolish in hindsight.

Maybe if the travesty of many colleges (not all) putting students into deep debt immediately just to get a college education (some would say the equivalent of a high school degree years ago) is addressed they might be able to afford expensive items of questionable value sooner. I’m not holding my breath on that one though.....

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Its a good topic.  How about addressing that and calling a cease fire on all personal attacks or judgements.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 

The unwritten law seems to be that it is OK for marketers to exaggerate.    Its all part of the game.   Right or wrong, it helps keep goods flowing and our economy going.  


But its never Ok to outright lie.   At some point when vendors cross the border too far, they might get caught and penalized legally.   Usually it has to involve some harm to the buyer beyond just convincing them to spend their money on said product. 

Since most audio products are luxuries that as far as I know cause no harm, well that's what one has to deal with.

Engineering backgrounds certainly help.  Education should always be applauded not denigrated.   But there is usually two sides to any story.


Its all a game.   Some play it more honestly than others.

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
I occasionally transform into Madman, especially when the nonsense or propaganda detector goes off, but I do try to resist.

I do believe that value is in the eye of the buyer and that knowledge and understanding is always the best ticket.

Knowledge and understanding of people as well as technology. The listener is perhaps the most important component in any system for determining results. Most of the rest comes down to a few fundamental principles to follow to get good results and the rest is mostly personal opinion and preference, including how to best tweak and how much one spends or on what.

I consider overemphasizing the tweaks or fine tuning before addressing the fundamentals to be an exercise in futility to be avoided at all costs. i tend to disregard anything said about any tweak or fine tuning unless put into context relative to the primary factors that determine results prior. Put the horse before the cart as they say.   Anything otherwise will be a never-ending blind chase that benefits the vendors only.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Geoff have fun jibing.  Me no play.  Just stay on topic.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Geoff, those teletubbies would kick your invincible butt!  Don't think otherwise. :^)
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
There is no doubt that all wires do not sound the same although many may sound more similar than different. There are basic electronic principles that alone explain why. Plus I actually hear differences in certain cases. Just avoid cheap wires and try designs that are significantly different for best shot at hearing. Some uber expensive wires are surely good as well but value there is often questionable for me. If those are one's thing then more power to you.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 

’Look, let me give you some advice while we’re or least I am on the subject. If you want to be somebody and be a big star in the eyes of the Naysayers and Pseudo Skeptics and other assorted tweakaphobes, obviously something to which you aspire. Contact Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency or even AES or NASA or whoever you think the proper authorities are and report my Teleportation Tweak, the Super Intelligent Chip, Brilliant Pebbles, the Particle Accelerator, Dark Matter and/or the Quantum Temple Bell and explain to them how upset you are and that I’ve broken some unspoken rules of marketing or product naming conventions and that I’ve broken actual Laws of Science or Physics or whatever and that even though you’re not exactly sure what those laws are, there must certainly be some!
"


Geoff hate to break the news but nobody really cares about your products as evidenced by the lack of buzz.

Its simply not all about you.


Now back on topic...


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 

I always seem to like Orvis for clothes and of course there is always Nordstrom. Would be cool to see a Nordstrom electronics and hifi department.

Lots of good quality stuff available via amazon of course not everything is a gem.

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Not all engineers are created equal plus they are also just human and not perfect so that's why results will vary.  
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