2. tech-talk
  3. 135904-110926

Talk but not walk?

Hi Guys

This isn't meant to start a fight, but it is important to on lookers. As a qualifier, I have my own audio forum where we report on audio issues as we empirically test them. It helps us short cut on theories and developing methods of listening. We have a wide range of systems and they are all over the world adding their experiences to the mix. Some are engineers, some are artist and others are audiophiles both new and old. One question I am almost always asked while I am visiting other forums, from some of my members and also members of the forum I am visiting is, why do so many HEA hobbyist talk theory without any, or very limited, empirical testing or experience?

I have been around empirical testing labs since I was a kid, and one thing that is certain is, you can always tell if someone is talking without walking. Right now on this forum there are easily 20 threads going on where folks are talking theory and there is absolutely no doubt to any of us who have actually done the testing needed, that the guy talking has never done the actual empirical testing themselves. I've seen this happen with HEA reviewers and designers and a ton of hobbyist. My question is this, why?

You would think that this hobby would be about listening and experience, so why are there so many myths created and why, in this hobby in particular, do people claim they know something without ever experimenting or being part of a team of empirical science folks. It's not that hard to setup a real empirical testing ground, so why don't we see this happen?

I'm not asking for peoples credentials, and I'm not asking to be trolled, I'm simply asking why talk and not walk? In many ways HEA is on pause while the rest of audio innovation is moving forward. I'm also not asking you guys to defend HEA, we've all heard it been there done it. What I'm asking is a very simple question in a hobby that is suppose to be based on "doing", why fake it?

thanks, be polite

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net


128x128michaelgreenaudio
glupson
7,842 posts
 
geoffkait,

I am confused. There is no road, there is no path?

@amg56

As the bumper sticker on the back of the 18 wheeler 🚛 lumbering up the narrow winding mountain road read, I may be slow but I’m ahead of you.
From your explanation, it is a bliss not to be a true audiophile, whatever that "true audiophile" means. What I meant that it is trivial indeed was that passions get inflamed out of proportion. This thread read as a life-or-death topic and not as some hobby.
jf47t
116 posts
 

Hope you guys had a meaningful holiday.

Michael was playing classical chamber music most of the day and of course said I could come by anytime. When I did the music that was playing was featuring the flute. I believe it was flute, violin, viola and cello with a sprinkling of harpsicord but the flute was taking the lead for sure. MG said "what would you like to hear differently" and I replied that it would be nice if the other instruments moved more forward and present or is that the way the recording was done? "the playback can be almost anyway you want it to be, the content is all there" he said. Michael looked through a drawer of blocks and picked out 4. He placed them underneath the crossover and immediately the flute moved 2 feet back into the mix and mellowed and the strings became fuller featuring the mid and bottom tone of the instruments more. He said give it about an hour to fill in but I was already happy with the change. I went about my day and called to see if MG had moved on from that recording he said no he wanted to see where the settling ended up. I popped in upstairs to give a quick listen. I stayed for the whole recording hunting for the flute solo it wasn't there. All the instruments were now feeding off of each other with equal presence. I have to admit I asked MG if he had switched recordings "nope just let it settle in after the mechanical change". That was another WOW moment for me.

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
glupson
geoffkait,

I am confused. There is no road, there is no path?

>>>>Eggs ackly! No path. No road. No Nirvana. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Geoffkait: “As the bumper sticker on the back of the 18 wheeler 🚛 lumbering up the narrow winding mountain road read, I may be slow but I’m ahead of you.”

From your explanation, it is a bliss not to be a true audiophile, whatever that "true audiophile" means. What I meant that it is trivial indeed was that passions get inflamed out of proportion. This thread read as a life-or-death topic and not as some hobby.

>>>>Now I think you’re getting it. Being a “true audiophile” is not all peaches 🍑 and cream 🐄. As the sign in offices of days gone by used to say, “If you’re not going crazy you don’t understand the situation.” Contentment is for cows. 🐄 Happiness is for clowns. 🤡 True audiophiles know what “true audiophile” means. Follow?
Post removed 
amg56's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
amg56
887 posts
 
@geoffkait Don't insult me with your pseudo intelligence. You have no idea who i am or what my system is. Your presumption is way off the mark. I choose not to grandiose myself with blather that you carry on with.
More to discover