whatsbestforum - what's going on
I thought I could reduce my presence here and participate elsewhere so I registered on this site called whatsbestforum. First it looked harmless. I did not read the about section.
I made one comment, a speaker recommendation - did not name or mention anyone - just posted a link to a speaker site and I was immediately banned. The site went into an endless loop, with the you are banned message. I can't log off or view anything, the only way I can view it is if I start another private browser. On top of that, a few hours later, the message changed to "Your IP address has been banned." Like I am some kind of criminal to be kept away with a restraining order and pepper spray.
I wonder if it's an exclusive site or a cult, and if anyone from here is a successful member over there. The about us section is truly disturbing. I am not taking it personally, but it does bother me of course.
Getting banned from the pathetic forum known as WBF was one of the best things that has happened to me in years. The forum morphed into a soap box for its owners who think they know a ton more about audio and music than they do. To that, there are always the same actors arguing amongst themselves and initiating threads that are nothing more than exercises in total boredom. There are so many better forums to belong to, including this one. |
I listened to the Clarisys at The Show in Costa Mesa this last weekend along with many others. If I had the money in my pocket and was there to buy, I would have left with a pair of Piega Coax loudspeakers. By far my favorite of all I listened to at the show. Of course, the 90k system that was running them did have a little to do with it. J Sikora turntable and phono stage, Lyra cartridge, Air Tight amp and pre amp, Luna and Shunyata cables.
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Yes, the Accuphase A-300 are monoblocks, and double down all the way to 1 ohm. The Minuets are 4.25 ohms with the neodymium magnets according to the Clarisys website. So the Accuphase A-300 monoblocks would be putting out about 235 watts into the 4.25 ohm Minuets. I have not heard these speakers at all. I’ve just read everything I can find about them and apparently they are awesome if the articles aren’t hyping them. |
I have seen and read about some amazing systems on What’s Best Forum. The only site whose users give Mike Lavigne some competition in all-out no-holds-barred achievements in home listening rooms. The squabbles there are similarly elevated. The horn people vs the planar people have gone some rounds, and I learned a lot just reading the back and forth. I’m just a box lady myself. Since I retired I have tried a taste of some other speaker technologies, but so far only a single-driver speaker by Omega with a low-powered tube amp by Alan Eaton sounds as good to me as my Audio Physics with BAT tube monoblocks. The guys on What’s Best Forum are way way beyond my knowledge and experience, but I enjoy their perspectives. |
@chrisoshea that's reasonable, when can we start? |
Thanks for taking time to describe your Minuets. I'm two thousand miles away from the speakers at Suncoast Audio, so actually hearing them is a big challenge. But I've read everything I can find and my gut feeling is that the Clarisys is the best. They seem overpriced, overbuilt, but looks like the best design for a planar magnetic speakers. ~Thanks for the information! |
unclewilbur, I actually don’t have the Coda amps. I am using the Michi 8 mono blocks. As to the Clarisys speakers, they are the best I have ever owned or quite frankly any that I have heard. That is Wilson, Focal, Magnepan, Martin Logan and many others. I can only imagine what their top-of-the-line sound like. (and the size, weight, cost, yikes!) To me, they have all the sound quality of the best box speakers with the soundstage of Planers. Surprising, the bass is very powerful. But I still use subs at 45hz at a low level. As to the price, yes, they were more expensive than I wanted to pay. I was able to trade in my Focal’s and negotiated a good overall deal delivered price. ozzy |
I read your story about Clarisys speakers and Coda amps. I'd like to know what you think about the Clarisys speakers now that you've had them for a while. Do you think they're worth the high price? Are they the best planar magnetic speakers? Do you like the amps? My dream system is Clarisys Minuets, and Accuphase A-300 monoblocks. What do you think?
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Only got banned from one site, the Leben Facebook site because the owner of Leben told me he had a kit to make the old 600 into the new version. The guy that runs the site, and I think imports to the US got prickly about it. Probably couldn’t afford 20 year scotch is people started updating instead of buying new? |
WBF like all “social media” sites have problems with folks not being respectful or thoughtful with their comments. There are some really well informed members and unlike Agon they rarely get negative on gear because of its price. My main complaint with the site is it’s heavy handed censorship on things that are often very harmless comments. I also felt there was way too much “protection” of dealers and support for manufacturers who advertised on the site. It often feels like one big advertisement rather than audiophiles simply discussing gear and ideas. OMO |
I too have been banned. I innocently, or so I thought, created an alternative name because I could not post under my previous Username, or I forgot my password, or something like that. I understand that I violated their terms but it was unintentional. Coincidentally, prior to seeing this thread, I just sent an email asking to be reinstated because I do think it's a very valuable source of information. |
The site owner Ron is VERY touchy about anything that deviates from his opinion. I posted something a couple of years back that got huge traction. But he didn’t like the discussion. He even baied me with a challenge to my argument which I happily agreed to. His response. He banned me. What a pathetic hypocrite. |
Treitz3 — “The use of VPN’s and multiple accounts when registering will result in an instant and automatic ban”.
As a 30-yr tech industry veteran, all I can say is what a great idea….lets vilify VPN’s (one of today’s most basic and necessary privacy/security tools that not enough people use)…let’s force people to forego their primary privacy/security tools because we’re so bad at security management. Let’s make it ILLEGAL to use that tool on our little audio platform. Hire a different IT Director than whoever you have today and get with the 21st century. Jeezus, just utterly ridiculous. |
“That is not the case and it is an incorrect assumption, @jwillox Thank you for the follow-up 👍 |
All, so we do not take up more space on AudioGon, we will be implementing a new system (along with an appropriate email address) to contact the WBF, for cases that have been outlined in this thread. Tom |
The sideways bend this thread took into non resolving snake oil and psycho acoustic whatever illustrates the difference in the culture of the two cites. I enjoy and learn from both. Fewer personal insults or endlessly redundant posts on WBF and more focus on more expensive gear. But people can post what they want, or at least what the moderators allow, so all good. I'll admit though, that I don't understand the need to post messages completely unrelated to the topic of the thread-you could always start a new thread-but each to their own, its an internet forum. As Lincoln said, the world will little note nor long remember what we say here. Except for the part about cables. Glad the login issues were resolved. |
IMO speaks volumes how a WBF moderator reached out to you here and set things right. Keep in mind i believe Tammy is an asset to this site as well. i don’t post much anywhere…. the gulf grows wider by the day. @whart and a few ( some passed Almarg comes to mind… are my heroes… i’m stuck on Boogie Street…. |
Non resolving, in that context, was a perfectly acceptable use of the term. People owning a system which is not particularly high resolution, or non resolving, can be forgiven for not understanding or even believing how one component or cable can be distinct in its improvement or worsening of the sound. “I can’t hear a difference” or “I can’t hear it in my system” is understandable. “I can’t hear it so therefore no one else can” is not. I was in a high end dealer in Denver listening to early Wilson Watt/Puppies on Levinson gear with a Wadia CD front end. Quite high resolving for its time. Sounded pretty good and drew a small crowd. The salesman said he didn’t think the speaker cable was doing the system justice so he substituted what was actually a less expensive cable. Damn. The sound just expanded, much wider and deeper soundstage, greater low level detail, it was just flat better in general. I heard a gasp from a gentleman behind me and noticed his eyes as big as saucers. He said “I never believed in all that crap but man, that is obvious!! |
@whart well you still contribute a lot here, and a lot of value, hopefully you aren't burnt out and done with this forum. It's definitely a mixed bag of fun and frustration but so is life, we just have to be wise about it. A few options - if existed - would make it so much more peaceful though, filter option for one... |
@ozzy62 I agree, almost all of your post make want to not be on this site. Which is why I registered over there. It's fascinating how you poison a lot of harmless threads and turn them into petty bar fights. You be you, never change and enjoy whatever is left from this audiogon forum thing.
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For the record, @treitz3 was able to get my account activated. Thanks so much for doing this. Turns out that I've been a member since 2018. |
Each forum has its own culture. And it evolves over time. You find your place. I’ve probably been here the longest among the audio-related fora I joined, but don’t post as much these days. I know quite a few folks from WBF. Common base is a shared love of music, though it often comes out as a gear quest, since our respective tastes in music differ. There are still some long time members here, I think I started posting in around 2006, when I made the transition from ’stats to horns. And I think there is a burn-out factor after a while, not meant as a diss to anybody here, but at a certain point, you’ve covered the ground, the "latest and greatest" is not always the answer and at least in my case, I have a variety of interests, as I’m sure many here do, that keep me occupied since I’m no longer in "gear acquisition mode." |
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@foggyus91 I will write it the 4th time: my link was not to a product site or any site that benefits from visitors, monetarily or in any manner.
But I do understand that my first post including a link, any link raised a flag and resulted in scrutiny. |
My 'system', POS as some may discern, 'resolves enough' for me to 'resolve' between my aided ears into my rather 'over-resolved' greyed matter..... Didn't even know WTB as a forum existed..... ...'scuse, 'resolution' that some can enjoy. Not a 'hater', don't get me wrong. Just can't get erected over it.....happy enough when I wake to one... ;) Carry on...J |
When a system/room must be described by acoustics concepts and their parameters, i never see the word "resolving" which is more linked to digital files format than acoustics....
I dont want "a resolving system" so much as a natural timbre sounding one... And timbre experience is more complex than just purchasing a "resolving " piece of gear... |
