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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!
128x128kenny928
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
Geez Kenny,
Why do some people feel they need a BMW M5 to get to work when a Kia Sportage will get them there just as easily? It's a marketplace. If  people want to spend thousands of dollars on speaker cables then for cripes sake let them! Are they better? Who cares? They think they are. Just because I can prove that a Kia Sportage from an engineering standpoint can get you to work the same as a BMW M5 doesn't mean there isn't a market for the M5! And whose standard are we to live by? I get tired of those who put down audiophiles based on "engineering principles". Do your research, find what works for you and go with what you can afford. It doesn't mean any one of us is right or wrong. Hopefully we're happy with our system and that's all that's required. BTW, why are you using Nordost  cables when you can get them much cheaper from Radio Shack? 
kenny928's avatar
kenny928 OP
47 posts
 
nonoise - I tried a slew of cables for free just to see what the hype was about.  Some were better than others and some were offered to me at a sweet deal because he could not get rid of them or were demo samples.  Some I passed on others I took.  I did perform a comparison with pairs and found little if any difference between some.  Example: Kimber 8TC v. Transparent Audio reference.  Old ears, maybe, but the Kimber was easy on the ears for some reason.  Also constructed my own braided pair which I still use and they sound really nice.  I am always experimenting with different equipment.  That's the fun about this hobby.  Unfortunately, this industry is akin to that of the computer industry, what's hot toady is not tomorrow.  Remember the future proof components of years past?
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,878 posts
 
kenny928, I hear ya. My forays into the cable world always had a cost limit which I believe helped to fine tune my ears as to the small differences that exists at the lower levels which it made easier to appreciate the larger differences when my wallet opened up a bit. And there is a limit to how much my wallet will open. :-)

I was lucky enough to find a large improvement by approximately doubling what I used to spend on cables. That next tier up holds lots of surprises. I rationalized it by adding up the costs of all the cable sets I've bought at those lower prices and after a minor moment of schadenfreude (with me being the victim) I took the plunge and couldn't be happier. 

I hope the Nordost work for you in the long run.

All the best,
Nonoise
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Kenny928 wrote,

"That's the fun about this hobby. Unfortunately, this industry is akin to that of the computer industry, what's hot toady is not tomorrow. Remember the future proof components of years past?"

The computer industry?  Surely you jest. Is "hot toady" some kind of Freudian slip?
kenny928's avatar
kenny928 OP
47 posts
 
nonoise - Make friends with a store owner, a drink or two will open up lots of doors when it comes to sampling product.  You may, like I have,  get to see and or assist in setting up megabuck systems in the 1% households!  When their wallets open they really open and seem to be free flowing.  Always good for me because that equates to fine single malt scotch and a cigar or two.  Schadenfreude ist nicht so gut , mein Freund
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