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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
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Regarding blind testing, in this particular case I would certainly expect the differences between the Dalby D7 and most other weights or clamps to be distinguishable, at least when used on most turntables. As I intimated in my post dated 2-2-2016, in fact, I would think that its 3+ pound weight would even damage many turntables, eventually if not sooner.

The real question, though, would be whether differences could be distinguished between this $6800 weight and another 3+ pound weight having similar contact area and costing say $50 or so.

Likewise, while the article I linked to about the Tice clock in my post dated 2-5-16 mentions that in "a blind test ... Frank Doris [a reviewer] was able to detect the Clock with statistical significance," as I said in that post:
I wonder if anyone who may have claimed to have heard positive results from one of these things ever went to the trouble of doing a thorough and honest comparison between the effects of the Tice Clock and the effects the $30 Radio Shack version may have had under the same circumstances.
Regards,
-- Al

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I design and sell a clock that is, while still a clock, totally unlike the Tice Clock in terms of operation, though obviously also rather outlandish - the Clever Little Clock, now in it’s third incarnation. Would you believe the CLC received a Brutus Award from Positive Feedback and (to make matters worse, so to speak) the clock, which is battery powered and can be placed anywhere in the room, underwent a blind test conducted by the reviewer and his wife? What the Clever Lil Clock illustrates so handily, hang on to your hats, is the effect of time itself on our sensory perception of the sound.
moto_man OP
363 posts
 
@geoffkait , hysterical! :) 
moto_man OP
363 posts
 
@almarg , "The real question, though, would be whether differences could be distinguished between this $6800 weight and another 3+ pound weight having similar contact area and costing say $50 or so."

You are exactly right. The question is not whether a 3 pound weight makes a difference . . . Its whether a $5800 brass and "lignum vitae" weight makes a worthwhile difference over a 3 pound $50 brass weight.  I find it highly doubtful.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Motor Man wrote,

"@almarg , "The real question, though, would be whether differences could be distinguished between this $6800 weight and another 3+ pound weight having similar contact area and costing say $50 or so."

You are exactly right. The question is not whether a 3 pound weight makes a difference . . . Its whether a $5800 brass and "lignum vitae" weight makes a worthwhile difference over a 3 pound $50 brass weight. I find it highly doubtful."

That’s pretty much the same type of thinking that motivated such nuggets as, "Wouldn't a plain brick work just as well as a VPI Brick?" or, "Why can’t you just knock off the Shun Mook Mpingo disc? How hard could it be?" Or, "there’s no way I’m paying $20K for the new Magico speakers so I’ll just make my own. How hard could it be?"
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