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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!
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kenny928 OP
47 posts
 
Whart - If it generates thought and meaningful discussion I will walk through the gates of hell.  At least, or I hope it will make those think.  As for painting with a broad brush, please forgive, as I know that there are quality products out there that forego the hype and the product proves itself time and time again.
wlutke
717 posts
 
My garage system is Bottlehead SETs, Bottlehead pre and phono pre, AH! cd, Thorens TT and Madisound BK-16s with Mirage sub. So it’s a "kick butt" little tube system. What interconnects I use make little audible difference so I use sub $200 IC’s. In the house there is a Very Nice tube/SS system that, with those same interconnects, is a real price/performance disaster that only just competes with the SET gear. But with its current combination of Nordost Valhalla 2, Tyr 2 and Frey 2, it soundly (ha!) spanks the SET gear from the first note.
I eventually learned to be wary of logic/physics based assumptions in audio, keep an open mind and go with what works. After all, it’s physics now saying that, at the quantum level, the property of matter changes when it knows you are looking at it. Swear by the Almighty, look this one up. Maybe physics changes when it knows it’s being listened to as well.
kenny928's avatar
kenny928 OP
47 posts
 
Wlute - I tend to trust the ears as well and try not to let other factors get in the way.  That is why I try to go in w/o being influenced before an audition.  There were some items that when sampled made my ears bleed or felt like they were going to.  Some of the equipment that I had my heart set on disappointed me when tested and others gave me that feeling of pure joy.  I have to agree with you that for some strange reason Nordost cables makes my tube system sing!  Yes, Physics at the quantum level acts like that gopher game when being observed, you know, the one where you try to smack the gopher with the mallet as it sticks its head out of the hole?  Strange how that works, eh?  (Spending too much time in Canada!)
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czarivey
5,740 posts
 
Kenny928 you're minority because
Most of business structures in USA is designed for dummies and idiots here who take beliefs and training over learning. 
Fool the dummy and get one's money -- that's the best way to get profit.
More dummies better economy LOL.

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