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John Potis - Rest in peace

Hello.

It is with a heavy heart that I come to tell the Audiogon community that John Potis has passed away last night. As I got to read his work at 6moons.com and Positive Feedback Online, I developed a strong appreciation for his reviews of high-end audio components. I came to feel he was perhaps the best writer in the high-end audio hobby currently. Not only did John exhibit the great skill of being able to balance the artistic and technical aspects of a component he was describing, he also did a bang up job in letting the reader know how it actually sounded.

He was a bull of a man, and it still seems impossible to me that the cancer took him down so quickly.

Though manufacturers/distributors and reviewers are supposed to keep a high wall between them, John and I developed a very close and deep friendship over the almost 2 years time that I came to know him. He was a devout family man, possessed a wicked sense of humor, was a great guy to hang out with, but most of all, he was a genuinely good and decent man who did his best each and every day.

Godspeed to his wife and two daughters,
Joe
trelja
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,388 posts
 
I am very sad to hear this.

I did not know John Potis other than through his product reviews on sixmoons, which were of interest to me.

However, when I was recently doing research to find the right amp to drive my Ohm speakers, I emailed John on a whim based on expertise with the products that was evident in his reviews.

He was kind and interested enough to respond both promptly and in great detail on multiple occasions and provide me his insights despite having no vested interest and not knowing me at all prior.

He seemed to be a genuinely good guy and a true professional to boot! My most sincere thoughts and condolences go out to his family!
karelfd
476 posts
 
This is so endlessly sad. It's been 761 days since the cancer demon took the person dearest to me and my deepest sympathy goes to everyone who has to go through a similar ordeal. Sincerest condolences to John's family.

Back in 2006 when I was unsure whether to buy a Stax 3030 or 4040 system or yet something else, I had mailed John asking for his expertise. I thought perhaps I'd be happy enough to receive a few lines sometime. Instead, the next day I had received detailed, personalized advice about what I would have to pay attention to and what to expect in the context of my system. Same as with Mapman, John didn't know me, he was not going to sell anything to me nor did he have any other interest but the ambition to help someone make the choice he would likely be most happy and satisfied with. Thanks John.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Sad news and a loss for everyone, God Speed.
darkmoebius
900 posts
 
I can only echo what Mapman & Karelfd have said. I also emailed Jon on a whim with audio related questions and what followed was a few kind,in-depth, responses from a man who had nothing gain from taking the time to help educate a newcomer to high-end audio.

I really enjoyed his reviews and will miss his contribution to the audio community and world at large.
trelja OP
3,223 posts
 
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences regarding John.

To me, that was just the way he was. He loved corresponding with people, and had as much time as a person requested of him, whether he knew them or not. The overarching thing, as can be clearly seen, was that he never had anything to gain from any of this. He just wanted to be as helpful as he possibly could be to a person. He had very good insight into high-end audio, and we are all the richer for being able to have him share those opinions with us.

He was just a hell of a man, and a good friend. I think this is only going to get harder for me as time goes by...
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