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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


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geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
glupson
Michael Green!

>>>>>Well, it’s not you. That much is clear. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Speaking of Tuning blocks has anyone experimented with Mpingo discs? I have. A lot. Now, I don’t know whether you classify a Mpingo disc as a tune or a tweak but it is without question one of the most amazing devices in the history of audio. The reason you find so many folks who report negative results with these smallish 1 1/2” ebony discs is because it often requires a lot of trial and error to find a location where the sound jumps up very noticeably. In many locations, even some locations where you’d think it would definitely work, it doesn’t. In some locations it can hurt the sound. With care many Mpingo discs can fit into a room. 

One reason the Mpingo disc is so tricky is because it’s very directional. It’s directional top to bottom and the around the azimuth, as the disc is rotated. You can also get a sense of how powerfully these hardwoods by leaning a one foot plank of ebony or almost any type of hardwood up against the wall and observing how just one plank affects the sound. It’s like with crystals. Which, incidentally, one of which is placed surreptitiously inside a Mpingo disc. 😳
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Interesting.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,588 posts
 
Geoff, Have you ever tried discs made out of other types of wood instead of Mpingo discs?  How about other shapes and sizes?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Glad you asked. I was going to say before that I have been using many types of wood for like forever. For my first iso stand I used cherry, oak, maple, and Baltic birch for the strength member. For the next iso stand Promethane I used mostly maple but also Baltic birch for the plates. I also experimented with a range of hardwoods to gauge their effects on the sound, like the foot long planks against the wall. I think the next thing that happened after than was I discovered crystals. 😬 of course others have experimented with various woods, e.g., Shakti Halographs, Myrtle wood blocks, and I can’t recall the dude’s name who roamed CES back in the day demonstrating his contraption made of many different types of wood. There are also other Shun Mook devices that employ ebony other than Mpingo, but the idea is the same - highly resonant wood that exhibits directionality. Spatial Kit, Diamond Resonators, Shun Mook record weight. Sugar Cubes from Franck Tchang are also wood.

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