Blocking the propaganda


I have a friend who lives in the boondocks who is without question the foremost expert in this Country on a certain vintage turntable. I will leave the particulars out so as to avoid making him the focus of this discussion or letting someone else figure out who I am talking about. He said something to me recently that I always knew on a certain level but have not seen "transparently" until his comment. His statement is this; "audio magazines including Stereophile are useful for birdcages and if you run out of toilet paper and nothing else". This was in the context of discussing Mike Fremer's preference for 9" arms. I have concluded that he is absolutely correct, but only for those who have the guts to really dive into audio with open eyes and willing to expend the effort to focus all of their attention and for lack of a better word, devotion, to figuring out the truth for themselves. This person I speak of has unquestionably done that. He has engineered his own products that make his turntable of choice as good as it can get. He thinks outside the box. Convention or "accepted thought" mean nothing to him. The analogy that comes to mind is wine. I know of many who will not buy a wine unless some critic has given it a 90 or above. When someone points out how silly it is to rely on published numbers from someone they don't know, they claim that they rely on experts and numerical ratings because they lack the patience, time and resources to taste wine options for themselves. What it boils down to is intellectual laziness. I intend to filter out 100% of what I read in magazines and even audio boards as absolutely unreliable. I have no doubt that I will fall short, but it is a lofty goal nonetheless. We all ought to forge our own trail(s) with sweat and effort and open minds and avoid laziness. Apologies to those who don't appreciate sermons. 
128x128fsonicsmith
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There are a couple of large threads praising that speaker here on Audiogon. Are all those people fools or propagandists?And one example does not make any case for anything anyway..
I don't have the patience or ability to tolerate straw man BS. I didn't so much as insinuate that we-myself included naturally-are fools for reading and relying upon the critics. And your use of "propagandists" is a misplaced. But please don't throw me a grenade, I like you sir. Sorry if I hit a nerve. 
For whatever type of sound and gear you prefer, there are usually one or two reviewers (usually old guys) who can help you reach the endzone. For example, Dick Olsher for flea weight tube gear. Why re-invent the wheel, when someone else with good ears and expertise has devoted a lifetime to getting at the truth?

Audio magazines are like car magazines and so on. Who can rush out to buy the latest Porsche or Lambo because they might be 0.2s faster in the 0-100kph, or that Top Gear drives them.

These are a read because we are interested in the hobby. It is not that we are being forced to purchase anything but what is on display in the magazine.

Those that object to a speaker thread should also complain about the multitude of "tweaks" blatantly advertised in this forum.

Is this forum a form of "magazine" that we all contribute to?

Aren't we all critics, in what we read here? There is certainly a very wide spread view on all subjects audio, and more. That is what makes these forums/threads so interesting. We see far more of each person by what is written, and how it is written.

That to me is just communicating on a like subject, audio. And by doing so we are learning from others, if we choose to or not. This forum is very much DIY, and magazines are an extension of this hobby. No one is forcing magazine on anyone else.

Some get away with advertising a product by way of this forum. I for one objected strongly against is because it was not in the spirit of this forum. The Moderators of the forum decide what is OK or NOT. I was howled down and called a Troll, Naysayer and worse.

Now, I just accept what people write/post. I can like it or lump it. No one is forcing me to buy anything or change my opinion on anything.

I am in charge of that. I repeat, I am in charge if what I accept on this or any other forum or magazine.

fsonicsmith, Thank you for informing us that you intend to ignore anything we might post. I don’t know why you needed to inform us of that, but thanks anyway. Now get your lazy a** out of here and start learning audio from the ground up, and no, we don’t want to know what, if anything, you learn.  Apologies to anyone who doesn't appreciate the truth.