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Why do Audiophiles feel the need...

Why do so many audiophiles feel the need to post opinions on gear they've never owned or had such limited experience with that their opinion is valueless to the OP? Not only here, but on other audio forums, at least 50% of the posts (and I think I'm being generous) start with: I've never heard the XYZ but...

When I was participating in an auto detailing forum, teaching myself the finer points of achieving an exquisite auto finish, if someone would ask about brand X polish, I would never see a post stating: "I've never used it, but..."

My opinion is that many people spend so much time dreaming about this stuff that they've convinced themselves they know what it actually sounds like. I know it's only a hobby, but I think a poster who asks about a specific piece of gear is better served by opinions of those with experience with that gear. Maybe it's just me. Sorry if I offended anyone.
chayro
aball
2,018 posts
 
In all the years I've been on Audiogon, this is the best thread I ever remember reading. I love it when the obvious gets talked about - it seems so novel and yet so familiar at the same time. These posts, when read one after another, make for a terrific story - a fundamental one at that. It's one that everyone can relate to in some way. It is a question and an answer, in one. Too funny.

Arthur
ajackson1
156 posts
 
Audiogon is not a military camp where precision is required. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't see why folks stress over issues like this. It’s just human nature to try and help even if it does not address the issue. I enjoy reading other’s opinions even if it does not pertain to the issue being addressed. Relax folks relax, there are more important issues to stress over.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Marc no; it's not just you. And this phenomenon (opining in ignorance) is hardly limited to the fundamental hardware per se. Some examples...

"I have never experimented with upgrade AC cords, interconnects, speaker cables, line conditioning, dedicated AC circuits, fuses, NOS tubes, but undoubtedly they all sound the same".

"I never sampled various racks, shelving, cones, footers, contact cleaners, record washes, static neutralizers, room conditioning, but undoubtedly they all sound the same".

"I have never tried x,y,z, because how could that possibly make any difference at all? It can't because I said so".

And I always like to sum it all up with my standard rebuttal: "All Doubting Thomas's sound the same".
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
look at this issue another way.

i would say it is not sufficient to own a component and provide an opinion.

here is my dilemma:

suppose one configures a stereo system. after , say, one year, can one describe the sound of the amplifier ?

one listens to the stereo system which contains the amplifier.

how does one ascertain the contribution of the amp to the sound of the stereo system ?

at best, if one introduces another amplifier, one can compare the difference in the sound of the stereo system when listening through each amp. such an explanation does not tell you definitively the sound of the original amp.

what i am saying is that one can compare the sound of two components in the context of a stereo system, without knowing what a particular component sounds like.
moonguy
148 posts
 
Great topic. My beleif is that if you haven't used it , you don't have an opinion.I get a chuckle out of people voicing opinions on equipment and acessories that they have never heard, let alone used in their systems, what a joke!!
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