Hi Trelja - Thanks for the challenge; I like a good argument. It would be easily to get into a shouting match with you, but I think theres too much hostility in the world already, and I dont want to add any more. So Ill try to keep it civil.
What would you like to know about me? Heres all you should need to know for your next salvo. Im probably not as smart as I think I am, but I hope Im smarter than I sometimes act. Admittedly over-educated, but I dont use this against others (some of the smartest people Ive met never had the chance to go to college). I spend most of my time working on ecological problems, but I feel were now losing the battle, and the world looks pretty dark to me these days. Music helps.
I dont work for any audio-related dealer or manufacturer. Never have, probably never will. No relationships with anyone in the audio business either (though Ive made a few friends on Audiogon I hope). I dont get any "endorsement" freebies, deals, or discounts on audio gear from any dealers or manufacturers. Never have, probably never will. I buy all my gear new or used just like many of the other people here. My average income is less than $20k a year; always has been since I got my first job pumping gas at $2/hour. Not a trust-fund baby. Still paying off student loans. At my urging, my parents have been spending what little prospect I have of an inheritance. Never owned a new car or a house. Probably never will. Not impressed by money; detest greed and waste. Impressed by good music and other things sublime or beautiful (including a clever idea or a good argument). Spend most of my spare change on music. Not a saint; make my share of mistakes (including a few whoppers). Not afraid to admit I'm wrong.
Been an audiophile since mid 1970s. Still have my original top-of-the-line Akai 8-track player/recorder (boxed up now with a bunch of old tapes) and Nakamichi RX-505 cassette deck (sees occasional use and remains enjoyable). I dont profess to know more than you or anyone else here; Ive actually learned quite a bit at Audiogon (even a little from you). I think everyone has something positive to contribute, even if they dont always say things I can agree with. I think every audio product on the market (well almost every one) has some merit when used in the right system or with the right recordings or by the right listener. I think people should be nice to each other. I try to set a positive example. I like Audiogon because there are some genuinely classy and intelligent people here -- a really interesting and diverse community of folks; most everyone is respectful and interested in learning more; a quantum leap above the other sites, Id say. I think you (and a few others) could be more polite in the way you present some of your opinions on Audiogon. But I know I cant control that. I will nevertheless continue to give the occasional nudge. Too bad if that chaps you or seems condescending (probably is - no apologies).
From your line of questioning, you probably think Im pissed at you for criticizing certain products in your post Trelja in NY. Actually not the case though. I cant say what you did or didnt hear at the NY show, and it was never my point to debate you on that. For instance, I own Talon speakers and completely disagreed with your characterization of them, but I didnt try to dispute what you say you heard because I couldnt go to the show to hear that system in that room for myself. (If youd like to engage in a debate on this product, Im ready and willing, but Talon products can readily defend themselves when auditioned in a proper setting.) If you read my NY post again, I think youll see I didnt actually defend Talon or any other manufacturers at the NY show. If some manufacturers didnt set up their systems properly to show their gear in a favorable light, they deserve some criticism. In your NY show thread, a few people criticized some of the same products you did, and even though I didnt agree with some of what they said either, I didnt have a problem with their remarks because they generally allowed for the possibility that room set-up or other factors may have contributed to what they heard. My problem with your NY review was that you didnt allow for such possibilities (except, as I recall, for saying some products other than Talon were played too loud). This seemed unfair and lacking in objectivity, and I said so. I know Im flogging a dead horse with this -- asked and answered -- but you wanted me to put it all out on the table, so here it is again.
In addition, when I read your post about the NY show, I also recalled the very harsh comments you made about Michael Fremer in this Reviewing the Reviewers thread. Your NY show review therefore struck me as being extremely hypocritical, as did your scathing remarks about Fremer. I singularly detest hypocrisy (sometimes guilty of it myself, but at least I try very hard to avoid it). It always eats away at me until it boils over and I have to say something about it.
So I vented. And I did so knowing this would subject me to retaliatory attacks from you and a few others like you. I didnt hide behind the rating system; I did what I think all others here should do -- when somethings bothering them, spit it out in the most polite way they can. What I said apparently bothered a few people, and they said so. Good for them. Their comments didnt hurt me (I expected some backlash), though it did compel me to carefully re-examine my remarks in the context of their statements. After doing so, I still feel comfortable with what I said and how I said it. If I didnt, Id offer you and the others an apology. But I think I'm right on this one, so I stand by what I've said, with no reservations or regrets, and youll therefore get no apology from me.
The instant thread asked for reviews of the reviewers. I think my remarks about you (and a few other Audiogoners) fall within the scope of this topic. When criticizing someone else, youve gotta be prepared to reap what you sew. Doesnt feel so good when youre on the receiving end, does it? Nonetheless, I dont think I was overly hostile or mean-spirited in what Ive said thus far. (Other than using the word hypocrisy and mentioning that youve lost my respect, the only mean words I directed at you were your own, and even then, I found more polite substitutes to use.) I also tried to add some levity to my remarks (bad analogies and good ironies are always good for a laugh). Finally, I tried to provide an example of how someone can disagree and even criticize without being mean or vicious. Again, I dont expect you to follow the example -- you can keep saying whatever you want to say in whatever way you want to say it. But maybe someone else will hear what Im trying to say, and perhaps this will make Audiogon a slightly less antagonistic place for those who are put-off by libelous, slanderous, or disparaging comments like some of yours. (For those of you out there who actually enjoy reading vitriolic attacks, I might suggest getting some counseling or watching some pro-wrestling or daytime talk-shows to address that craving. Music is supposed to be fun, not hostile.)
Trelja - if you have any other questions about me or about why I said what I did, Ill be glad to see if I can provide some more answers for you. However, I dont think any more explanation will resolve this controversy, and I think were now trying to squeeze water out of a stone. So if it's OK with you, I'd prefer to get back to music. But, by all means, keep blasting away if that'll do it for you.
Don