What is wrong with audiophiles?


Something that has happened countless times happened again last night. Ordinary people over for a party listening to some music easily hear things audiophiles argue endlessly don't even exist. Oh, its worse even than that- they not only easily hear but are stunned and amazed at what they hear. Its absolutely clearly obvious this is not anything they ever were expecting, not anything they can explain- and also is not anything they can deny. Because its so freaking obvious! Happens every time. Then I come on here and read one after another not only saying its impossible, but actually ridiculing people for the audacity of reporting on the existence of reality.

What is wrong with audiophiles?

Okay, concrete examples. Easy demos done last night. Cable Elevators, little ceramic insulators, raise cables off the floor. There's four holding each speaker cable up off the floor. Removed them one by one while playing music. Then replaced them. Music playing the whole time. First one came out, instant the cable goes on the floor the guy in the sweet spot says, "OH! WTF!?!?!"

Yeah. Just one. One by one, sound stage just collapses. Put em back, image depth returns.

Another one? Okay.

Element CTS cables have Active Shielding, another easy demo. Unplug, plug back in. Only takes a few seconds. Tuning bullets. Same thing. These are all very easy to demo while the music is playing without interruption. This kills like I don' know how many birds with one stone. Auditory memory? Zero. Change happens real time. Double blind? What could be more double blind than you don't know? Because nobody, not me, not the listener, not one single person in the room, knows exactly when to expect to hear a change- or what change to expect, or even if there would be any change to hear at all. Heck, even I have never sat there while someone did this so even I did not know it was possible to hear just one, or that the change would happen not when the Cable Elevator was removed but when the cable went down on the floor.

We're talking real experience here people. No armchair theorizing. What real people really hear in real time playing real music in a real room.

I could go on. People who get the point will get the point. People who ridicule- ALWAYS without ever bothering to try and hear for themselves!- will continue to hate and argue.

What is wrong with audiophiles?

Something almost all audiophiles insist on, its like Dogma 101, you absolutely always must play the same "revealing" track over and over again. Well, I never do this. Used to. Realized pretty quickly though just how boring it is. Ask yourself, which is easier to concentrate on- something new and interesting? Or something repetitive and boring? You know the answer. Its silly even to argue. Every single person in my experience hears just fine without boring them to tears playing the same thing over and over again. Only audiophiles subject themselves to such counterproductive tedium.

What is wrong with audiophiles????
128x128millercarbon

Showing 14 responses by thyname

I think @millercarbon you are wasting your time with this. Internet is full of strange characters. Don’t pay attention. Ignore them. Hold on to your real friends, those who appreciate and value the hobby. Learn from each other. Ignore the rest. You will simply alienate yourself, and waste precious time if you pay attention to the “slayers or snake oil” types. 
LOL!!! it looks like nobody can make a claim (read: share his/her own experience) about any audio component, unless he/she can:

1 - Show detailed measurements on said components. Including proof / validation of the instruments used in the measurements, 

and

2 - Show proof of scientifically controlled, ABX test, with a large enough pool of people to have any statistical meaning

If not, every claim is null and void! LOL!!!!
OK --- I'll bite. You are here to teach, right? I don't see any willingness to learn since you joined a few days ago. it's an audio forum, right? About audio and music as a hobby

What's your personal recommended speaker? Amp? DAC? Preamp? And how did you pick them? 

Better yet, why don't you post your system (list and pictures) under Audiogon Systems so that we can see and learn from you.
thyname, One Simple Question: Why does this not happen?

How do you know it never happened?

Most importantly: if something does not convince you, don't buy it. As simple as that. It's a free market. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to buy something.

Finally, my point was about "the making claims" part. If people cannot "do a double blind controlled demonstration (administered by a non-biased 3rd party)" test, then they are not allowed to express any opinion on something they own and enjoy? Why? Then why all audio hobbyists even discuss, and share with each other what they enjoy (including yourself)? What is the point? It's a hobby for God's sake! What's your agenda?
If you subscribe to the idea that getting cables off the floor reduces BOTH static electric charge AND floor-borne vibration then wouldn’t suspending the cables and power cords from the ceiling be better than ANY cable elevator?

That would be a terribly ugly looking room
Would it be uglier than your in-laws sitting there taking up half the living room?
LOL!!! Very funny. Agreed!
“‘’ atdavid, you sure are a nosey f%@*$er. And quite creepy“”

No s@&*%t, you just realized that now? That’s what this guy does, full time. It’s his job. Every single Facebook group and audio forum. He has mastered the art of trolling. Can’t beat him I am afraid 
@millercabon: you keep addressing to "audiophiles". Please realize that what you are talking to, and debating with, are not audiophiles. They are anti-audiophiles. They are in a mission.

Just ask them to show you their system. You will see....
I met Mark at CAF earlier this month. He had a small booth and was selling his book and a number of what looked to be DVDs. He also had seminars and presentations which I did not have time to attend. I am not very clear what he does for a living. Can’t be the book alone
Nope! No blind test (with certificate proof), no validity. Your experience is null and void and cannot be relied upon 😉
  • For the last months, I reach my audiophile goal, with my homemade room treatment, and low cost homemade tweaks, and now I not only like Haydn quatuors but I love them

But but but.... did you do a quick scientifically controlled ABX test before and after? How do you know ears are not playing tricks with you? 😂🤭
All good, valid points Ivan. What I personally don’t understand is the tendency and urge the non-audiophiles have in posting to all audio related groups and forums
Yeah.... but I seriously doubt your significant other nonaudiophile would spend all her/his time in the audiophile forums denouncing stuff as snake oil