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

I didn’t want to crap on someone’s sales thread, so I thought i’d post my amazement here. The focus of my disbelief? The "Dalby D7-Vinyl Stabilizer," which is a damn weight that screws onto the turntable spindle to hold the record securely onto the platter. Listed retail? 4000 British Pounds! (although a mag listed it at $6,800! On sale here at AudioGullible for the bargain basement price of 2500 British Pounds, or $3600 US dollars!!! Just read a few snippets of the sales ad . . .

"The D7-Vinyl Stabiliser has a sonic character that brings music to life and the ability to elevate the entire audio frequency from the veil and mechanics inherent in prerecorded music. The gains are immediate, with sweeter high frequency extension while the mid and lower registers are beautifully controlled. The soundscape is wider, higher and deeper, allowing the music to breathe more naturally."

I’m sorry, but I’m calling total BS on this. A friggin’ weight brings "music to life," "sweeter high frequency extension," "allowing the music to breathe more naturally . ." Come on. Its a modified paperweight that screws onto the platter. One can only imagine what this guy thinks about some $20K interconnects for the turntable -- the music probably writes itself! And don’t forget the amazing improvement that a $4,000 carbon fiber mat might add . . . You probably would think you were hallucinating because the music breathed so much it was oozing out of the speakers, like on some of my more memorable nights in college in the ’70’s.

Now I have never heard this amazing gift to the audiophile community, so maybe it is the audio equivalent of the Second Coming, but really? $5,800 for this? It confirms to me that there is a certain insanity/gullibility/too much money/snake oil in this so-called "hobby," (which is a hobby to customers and ridiculous business for some manufacturers). When is enough enough? What about audiophile paint, that has amazing sonic qualities to cut down reflection and make the soundstage so wide that you feel you need a new apartment? Don’t forget the audiophile couch, that is sonically neutral but promises to position your ears to "bring music to life?" OK, I’ve made my point. No offense to the seller of the snake oil, but really . . . When is enough enough?

This concludes my rant for today. :)
moto_man
moto_man OP
365 posts
 
@agear , my music system is currently Focal Diablo Utopia III’s, a Plinius SA100mk III upgraded and reconditioned power amp, a Plinius M12 upgraded and reconditioned pre, and a Naim NDX to stream music (FLAC or DSD, as available) from my server to the Plinius. I don't think that I have fallen for any snake oil charms yet, at least that I can recall, although I do remember some somewhat expansive claims about one HT pre/pro being "so much better" than my old one, but I didn't notice much of a difference, at least in sound quality.  Do MIT speaker cables count?  I was using a pair of Cardas Golden Cross cables, and replaced them with MIT 3.3's.  Although the whole "poles of articulation" that MIT uses to market its cables smells of BS, and I'm not sure if there is any bona fide technical evidence of that concept, I definitely heard a difference and liked how they sounded with the Diablo Utopias better than the Cardas, although I was not "blown away" by the improvement.

@geoffkait , LOL!
dhectorg
6 posts
 
Wow. Just, wow. And there are actually a few people here defending this ridiculous thing. Unbelievable.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 

A couple of points. People talking about audio components or the "best" version of a particular album are usually very clear that their choice is by far the best, no comparison.

Secondly, I don’t think we need a statistically valid, new prescription drug class double blind test. That’s what the "no blind test" people hide behind, saying it would be too difficult and expensive to organize, and it probably would be.

All I want and think is necessary, is for someone who thinks A blows away B, be it wire or recording or whatever, is to put on a blindfold, sit down in his own listening chair and correctly identify the amp, cable, tweak or recording that caused his jaw to hit the floor when he could see what he was listening to.

I just want to make the point that a properly designed double blind test is not needed to test audio claims.

I have always suspected that the fastest way to clear audio reviewers out of an open bar at an audio show would be to pull out some blindfolds.

don_c55
1,025 posts
 
I have what I consider to be an costly system that I built up over the years of $50K.

I think it sounds great. and has all the sound qualities described in the mags that mega buck systems claim to have.

I have been to shows that have many rooms set up with $100k and up systems.

Most all sound much worse than my home system. And store setups are the same!

WHY???

The explanation of "RICH" audiophiles, and dealers of big buck audio is

They take many days to "tune in" before they sound great.
The people setting up the systems are not familiar with the mix of different equipment.
The rooms are "Odd" sizes, and shapes.
The music is bad.
You have to sit in the sweet spot.
The power quality in the hotel is crap.

That is all crap! Period! Why can’t these systems, at the very least, sound very good???

The truth is, big buck systems are most all, "way over hyped", to anyone that is rational at all!

This is the opinion of many, many old audiophiles and all most all outsiders.

The extreme high end, which is now all that is left, will not admit this fact!

When "High End" comes up for discussion in the "real word" we are "all" idiots.

The "big buck" people that are the new majority, are responsible for that view. They use to be the minority, now they rule!

Common sense is not very common.

In the end, and it is the end. Just enjoy what "you" have!

I do not care about future generations.

Good night, and Good Bye!


moto_man OP
365 posts
 
@tomcy6 , so true!  Pull the blindfolds out and see what reviewers say about a product! That would be embarrassing indeed!  The key is that they don't know whether they are listening to the super duper best thing since sliced bread or the same $20,000 "old technology" trash that they drooled and fawned over last year.  I'd love to see that!

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