Biggest audio hoaxes

@hilde45 Hopefully not flogging a dead horse but for $32, you can try the Nobsound springs to get an idea of how it sounds. 

A lot of people walk the walk. Most just don’t continually boast about it unless someone asks or they have something to sell which is normal. 

@noromance Good suggestion. I'll probably do that!

@mapman It’s just part of the charm of the man. We know. He knows. It’s all good.

@noromance

It’s all good.

Kindly speak for yourself.

I can't answer this question without upsetting tweakers.  So many things don't work as claimed, cannot work as claimed, and or make things worse. It will just turn into a p--sing contest to even mention them.

@oregonpapa ,
Hi, Frank.
Yes, geoffkait has been banned. For how long and if it is permanent, I do not know.

no romance- In fairness, MC walks the walk and don’t forget, we all stand on the shoulders of others.

That’s for sure. Which is why I credited Rixthetrick for helping me with springs.

Truth is, and this is on the record, the minute the first person came along with a coherent argument I not only listened but was persuaded and in not time flat was adopting. Of course he did have to actually explain himself, and not with incessant smart alecky jokes and riddles but actual structured argument.

If anyone can find even one coherent post about springs from the loon please do, and I will promptly eat my hat. https://youtu.be/q-6w8nZ-0sk?t=27

Probably not in context with the entire thread but thanks to some of our regulars I picked up a set of Nobsound Springs. Initially tried under sub, and now my CD 6006 Marantz. Improved clarity of voices, instruments, soundstage. Will be getting some more! Would try Townsends but too much for me to swing as just ramped up what I have over last 3 years.... 

That's the way to do it. When you can afford Townshend the genius damping makes a huge improvement. Meantime though you get to enjoy one of the best budget bargains in audio. 

Your extra springs by the way can be used to make additional ones, simply drill 1/4" holes, they fit the springs perfectly.

"Geoffkait,
can you please explain how the super stiff springs can effectively prevent taps, bumps, and vibrations from subwoofer?"

"The subwoofer puts out what maybe 20Hz if you’re lucky. So the iso system doesn’t actually have to be too heroic for subwoofers. The resonant frequency of the iso system for the sub would only have to be what about 8 or 10 Hz to be effective at 20Hz and above? The idea of course is to prevent subwoofer cabinet resonance to feed back to the rest of the system via the floor. The Super Stiff Springs will provide between 2 and 4 Hz resonant frequency for the isolating system depending on total mass on springs. So, let’s say your subwoofer weighs 100 lbs. For the lowest resonant frequency of the system you would use three Super Stiff Springs but since the subwoofer’s lowest frequencies aren’t really an issue - as they are for components when seismic vibrations are involved - four springs are recommended under the subwoofer for stability. You still have to isolate the rest of the components from seismic, subways, footfall and tap, i.e., all sources of structureborne vibration. But by isolating the sub you eliminate one big contributor to structural vibration in the room."

"If anyone can find even one coherent post about springs from the loon please do, and I will promptly eat my hat."

Anyone reading what geoffkait wrote find it incoherent? 

While you're eating your hat, it may taste better with a big side of crow.

Just an FYI, I mic'd my extra Nobsound springs and they are 0.355 to 0.360 inch in diameter.

Deleted as it is more accurate this way.

05-17-2021 11:30pmThe Beatles and the "Paul is Dead" hoax!

Maybe if they were talking about his creativity...

I hate to be rude but his creativity is best described as an expletive!

It's amazing how the other three managed to make this stuff sound reasonable. 

Deleted because what I wrote was sort of dumb.

I may have to take my statement back and say what he wrote was more coherent than I first thought. Thank you for calling me out on it. 

No worries. Your candor is refreshing and appreciated. Since my rebuttals are no longer relevant, I shall delete them as well.

Link? 

It's All Good.    Happy Listening!

MC, that does appear to be a coherent explanation from Geoff.  He wasn't always just full of (admittedly pretty funny) snark.  Do you get to pick the hat you eat?

All those scams pale in comparison with by far with the two greatest perpetrated by Bose. #1 is the Bose 901 direct/ reflecting bogosity, all versions.
#2 are Bose noise canceling headphones. In this case it's not that the technolgy doesn't work, it does, but that the R&D was paid for by you, the US taxpayer, to the tune of over $100 M dollars. Bose received a DoD contract to develop noise canceling technology, and after failing to deliver any usable device or technology the DoD pulled the plug. The $100M written off.

Years later, a new engineer happened across the basic research, took on the project anew, and the Bose noise canceling headphones were shortly on the market, based on the original taxpayer funded research. Bose has never reimbursed the government a single dime. Your tax dollars at work. 

I would love to have some kind of noise cancelling system for a listening room. A bit pie in the sky, but people have spent a lot for what seems a lot less plausible.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/sound-cancelling-speakers-in-bedroom-for-traffic/

"Do you get to pick the hat you eat?"

If he is a fan of Mexican, I suggest a sombrero.

#2 are Bose noise canceling headphones. In this case it’s not that the technolgy doesn’t work, it does, but that the R&D was paid for by you, the US taxpayer, to the tune of over $100 M dollars. Bose received a DoD contract to develop noise canceling technology, and after failing to deliver any usable device or technology the DoD pulled the plug. The $100M written off.

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Bose released their first noise cancelling aviation headset in 1989.

They started selling headsets to the military in 1993. Selling them, not starting R&D, but selling. The military started ordering an improved version in 1997.

Consumer noise cancelling by Bose was released in 2000.

I think we found what the hoax is here.  p.s. They employ 9,000 people and have sales of $3.5-4 billion. How much corporate, sales and income tax does that represent?

hilde45 OP1,954 posts05-18-2021 7:06amI would love to have some kind of noise cancelling system for a listening room. A bit pie in the sky, but people have spent a lot for what seems a lot less plausible.

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Not that we got it to work very well, but I have my name on a patent for an outdoor noise cancelling system for road noise.

Not that we got it to work very well, but I have my name on a patent for an outdoor noise cancelling system for road noise.

One day humans will invent advanced technology to add a silencer to yard machines. And white noise truck beepers.

I think they already have that for yard machines. It is called battery powered. I don't have any wife audio stories, but my wife will cut the lawn with our Toro electric mower.

sugabooger

Bose noise canceling headphones ... the R&D was paid for by you, the US taxpayer, to the tune of over $100 M dollars. Bose received a DoD contract to develop noise canceling technology, and after failing to deliver any usable device or technology the DoD pulled the plug. The $100M written off ... I think we found what the hoax is here. p.s. They employ 9,000 people and have sales of $3.5-4 billion.

Do have have any documentation of this "hoax"?

cleeds,


It is not my hoax to document. It was posted by someone else above. I was debunking it.

Burning in of components (over extended periods) seems to divide opinions.  Usually the people who hold the opinion that burning in of components is all nonsense or psychology at work.  Often they will quote measurements and basic principles how the component is put together and that there is no scientific proof whatsoever to give grounds for 'change or improvement in sound'.  Manufacturer's who advise burning in periods for their components is treated with total scepticism holding the view they would say that so that the new purchaser would have time to get used to the new sound, so they view this advice as a hoax and in a way a sellers trick...... 

Tice clock.

I am with stargazer3.  With the exception of speakers, and even then it is exaggerated, it is a wonderful hoax played on willing audiophiles, the whole concept of 100's of hours of burn in, especially on cables. All the suppliers are in on it and there is 0 benefit to them to admit it is a hoax. They will even charge you a premium to do it for you.  

sugabooger

... it is a wonderful hoax played on willing audiophiles, the whole concept of 100’s of hours of burn in, especially on cables. All the suppliers are in on it and there is 0 benefit to them to admit it is a hoax ...

Wow - a "wonderful hoax"!
Why don’t you file a perfect class action lawsuit and put this "wonderful hoax" to rest for once and for all?
Beware the audio guru.

Uh oh, did I touch on a sacred hoax?   Why are you not suggesting class action lawsuits for the other hoaxes mentioned. Are you in on it? Oh my my my. 

sugabooger" Why are you not suggesting class action lawsuits for the other hoaxes mentioned."

You might want to check your facts, information, and data because the evidence is clear, abundant, and overwhelming that user "cleeds" has repeatedly, frequently, and consistently called out users alleging hoax, fraud, and deception and asked why they were not pursuing legal remedies that are abundantly available in the US to extract refund, compensation, and reimbursement for losses, damages, and injury caused, created, and/or the consequence of what some hear call audio "hoaxes."

Because you have now joined the community alleging fraud it does seem fair to inquire of you directly as to why you would not pursue the proper, proscribed, and appropriate legal remedies.

I agree, burn in the pretty crazy hoax. I've never noticed any component acquire  drastic change over certain prescribed time periods.

As I mentioned earlier I think one of the worst hoaxes in audio has been the attacks and disinformation on ABX and Other forms of blind testing . In the scientific community it meets the level  of common consensus as part of the scientific method. Audiophiles act as if it's voodoo. 

Maybe not to everyone's satisfaction, but to common consensus.

Biggest hoax >> ’wife who pokes her head into your listening room and proclaims she hears a difference when you have recently (unbeknownst to her) acquired some new component’.

You know she’s pulling wool over your head. No way in hell any wife, no matter what you say, can tell a turtle from a speaker. If she tells you otherwise, figure out the ulterior motive pronto. I would much rather prefer my wife cheats on me instead of playing with my emotions like this. 

djones51" think one of the worst hoaxes in audio has been the attacks and disinformation on ABX and Other forms of blind testing ."

It is not a fraud, deception, or hoax to challenge, question, or refute the faults and limitations of the various forms of blind testing including abx part of the problem is that what many consider hear to be a blind test may be blind but they are not scientific because they leave other variables without proper, appropriate, and necessary controls. 


The real issue for some here is that the "blind test" is part of their fundamentalist core belief system as has been noted by various other users, contributors, and writers to this forum and when you have blind faith in any entity you cannot accept criticism, fault finding or  doubt directed, attached, or aimed at the fundamentalist belief itself it is immune from questioning.

+2 djones51.   There is definitely a concerted effort to spread false information. It is similar to other industries which have been repeatedly debunked, but they still continue, many whose sales far exceed this little corner of the debunked world.


Similarly, though, those that should be most upset are the biggest proponents. Is this a misery loves company thing or an anti-authority thing

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It is not a fraud, deception, or hoax to challenge, question, or refute
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If you had stopped there, the overall validity of the post went way up.
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arafiq682 posts05-18-2021 3:36pmBiggest hoax >> ’wife who pokes her head into your listening room and proclaims she hears a difference when you have recently (unbeknownst to her) acquired some new component’.

^^^^^^^^ Today's winner ^^^^^^^^^^^

Fuses for one that cost Like $2500, and way way too much emphasis on room treatment crap to excess. You know, flying saucers on the ceiling, and weird azz stuff hanging from walls and In corners and behind speakers and between speakers and behind you and what your sitting on and of course, you must absolutely not have a coffee table or god forbid a picture frame with glass! Oh my, a TV or an equipment rack between the speakers!....I don’t know what world some of you live in, but it ain’t mine....you must have a wonderful marriage....I could go on & on but I’ll spare ya all...oh wait, we must not forget to mention those potential seismic good vibrations...everthing should be mounted on a slinky!!! Pronto! Asap!
Oh crap, almost forgot, shut off those breakers to the fridge and the ac when you are intently listening, and then forget to turn em back on....😜

It's called a dedicated audio room. You don't have one?

hilde45-

@bdp24 Are the Townshend products very helpful even for those of us with concrete floors covered with a short rug? My floor feels very stable, and while I respect the idea of vibration control enough to try it, I wonder if my rig is very susceptible to the kinds of vibrations these products help to mitigate?

Concrete is just as "susceptible" as you put it. Yes even slab concrete poured on the ground. I lived in a basement like that, it was very easy to feel vibrations from one person in one room coming through the floor right under the wall into my room. If I can feel and hear it then for sure it affects the sound when amplified a hundred times.

Think of the old-times movie trick of the train robber putting his ear to the track. This works because sound travels through even something as solid as 6" thick solid steel. 

You play your speaker, it sets the concrete to vibrate, it rings, and yes it settles down very fast but for that small fraction of a second until it does it is smearing fine detail. Here, watch https://youtu.be/BOPXJDdwtk4?t=120 Solid concrete floor. See?

The speaker is going to move on its own due to mechanical force of the drivers if not opposed dual mounting. Locking into the concrete will reduce that movement. Thanks for posting another hoax.