I think I've Just Seen Absolute Proof That Audiophiles Are Insanely Gullible

Wait, where can I get that paint?

So many questions, so little time, LOL!
@tostadosunidos , I sense a DSOTM fan .. . . :)  The "holy grail" of DSOTM refers to the 1983 Japanese 1st pressing of DSOTM (matrix CP35-3017 on the CD itself) and also referred to as the "Black Triangle" version.  It was the first CD pressing of DSOTM from the master and is not only very rare (in real CD form) but reputed to be the best sounding recording.  However, as I indicated above, In the Steve Hoffman music forum, you can see the blind listening clips and results.  The differences are not huge between the many versions, but I preferred the Sony Mastersound version.  PM me if you want a copy.

@geoffkait , I respectfully disagree.  It's not extrapolating one data point, which even then is subjective.  It is discarding all of the nonsense reviews by "reviewers" and owners, and rely on tests that cannot be colored by preconceived expectations.  I am not saying that all participants in a double-blind listen will have the same conclusion, but they should.  So to me its not throwing out all of the other data as much as recognizing that some reviewer raving about how a record clamp makes all the difference in the world is BS.  This data points should be discarded.  Now, in a double-blind study, someone legitimately reached the same result, don't you agree that that would have significantly more validity?  Plus, the witches' dunking chairs were supposed to be objectively verifiable tests.  You float, you're a witch.  You sink, their bad. . .  guess you weren't a witch!  Based on a faulty premise, sure, but still objectively verifiable. :)

@agear , I peruse AudioGon all the time.  I am always surprised at some the enormously priced cables, interconnects and equipment.  However, I do know that cables sound different, and equipment sounds different -- maybe not $20K better than a $1K cable, but who knows.  But sometimes, claims are made which literally leap out at me and cry for comment because of the claims vs. cost vs the product.  If the Dalby was $700 or $1000, I wouldn't have blinked.  But $5600 US for a record clamp with the overblown claims in the ad . . . As I said before, enough is enough.  I'm not sure if you were joking about friends having them and "swearing by them," but it again proves my point that once you're committed to a purchase, it becomes fabulous and you buy into the claims.  But in a double-blind test . ..  Highly different result, I suspect.

@magnum44 , LOL! I have all of my LPs digitized and on a server.  My LP's are in storage, for that day when first editions of various LP's in mint condition become too valuable to not sell!  Not on point for this snake oil thread, but I wonder if you take a high quality rig, put an LP on and digitize it into a lossless format, shouldn't the "warm analog sound" be captured into the digital file?

Moto man wrote,

"@geoffkait , I respectfully disagree. It’s not extrapolating one data point, which even then is subjective. It is discarding all of the nonsense reviews by "reviewers" and owners, and rely on tests that cannot be colored by preconceived expectations. I am not saying that all participants in a double-blind listen will have the same conclusion, but they should. So to me its not throwing out all of the other data as much as recognizing that some reviewer raving about how a record clamp makes all the difference in the world is BS. This data points should be discarded. Now, in a double-blind study, someone legitimately reached the same result, don’t you agree that that would have significantly more validity? Plus, the witches’ dunking chairs were supposed to be objectively verifiable tests. You float, you’re a witch. You sink, their bad. . . guess you weren’t a witch! Based on a faulty premise, sure, but still objectively verifiable. :)"

Something tells me the only ones who are hot to trot to conduct double blind tests are the ones who’ve already made their minds up, you know, the died in wool skeptics. Skeptics claim these outlandish audiophile gadgets can’t pass a double blind test but never do you see a skeptic actually conduct a double blind test. What’s up with that? Isn't that putting the cart before the goat?

Cheerios

Gawd,  this is funny stuff indeed...

The bottom line for it all depends upon one's personal bottom line and how much expendable income a body can justify for anything.  

I remember buying a heavy plastic screw-on record clamp from Allied Radio, before it was bought by Radio Shack.  It cost $2, and it worked. Apparently, if Allied charged the right amount back then, they would still be in business.