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


michaelgreenaudio
inna
7,923 posts
 
Not only do I burn in cables while listening I do it with analog source only. That's the first step in tuning. When I no longer hear a difference - the cables are fully burnt-in, for me. Human brain is still the most sophisticated device in known cosmos. It may change one day but not yet, thank whatever gods we might believe in.
mitch2
4,315 posts
 
I have been using a "break-in machine" (aka, cable cooker) for years.  I will now consider myself a "big picture" guy, enlightened, an early adopter, an innovator, and by association....a walker.

Elizabeth, the trick is to shoot the fish, not the barrel, hence the phrase "shooting fish in a barrel" and not "shooting barrels with fish in them". 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,249 posts
 
Right you are, analogluvr, But there’s no money to be made off one such as Kosst. He who preaches walking in truth wants following, and to his tune (pun not intentional, but.....) only. That comes at a price, of course.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,636 posts
 
When I first showed up a couple, maybe few, months ago I started receiving maybe 5 emails a week which quickly grew to over 50. You’ll notice that I left for a while. Now I’m back for 1 or 2 days and then I’ll be gone again.
Hi Michael, Would you please have a couple of the clients, or walkers, to use your term, that you connected with here post their experiences with you and tuning? Preferably someone who has some history on Audiogon, like being a member for more than one day, or having posted something here before, or having bought or sold something here.

How much do your services cost? Will you sleep on my couch or do I have to put you up at a nice hotel? How long will it take for me to be able to walk on my own? What if you take apart my components and I don’t like the results? Answers to these questions would be really helpful for anyone considering your services. Could we please get some clear, straight answers about what you are offering here and at least some ballpark figures for the cost?
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio OP
1,019 posts
 

Thank you folks! Your last few posts make it easier for me to respond.

"the big picture"

The big picture is not about Michael Green, the big picture is about making your system into a tool. What I do is break it down to 3 very basic areas of tuning. Electrical, Mechanical and Acoustical (The Audio Trilogy). TuneLand (my home) is made up of a few spaces. One the Website, two The Forum, three The physical space TuneLand, four Facebook and five the Tunees and Their Systems. Any or all of you are welcome to be a part of what we call the "Tune".

Tuning includes all the variables of audio. "Variable" is the key word because everything in audio affects everything else in audio. It's all one big giant musical instrument. How any of you or I describe tuning has value. Once you get past all the personalities, egos and talk we all have one thing in common, us & our systems. What I do or say on Audiogon has one goal, point you to the variables and give you some Tuning options for you to consider. Are they the only Tuning option? LOL Lord I hope not that would get boring and doing the hobby of listening is anything but boring.

On Audiogon, if I stick around, you'll see me come and go, there's no avoiding that. And like I did in partially answering the power cord question, I'm happy to answer any tuning question that I have the time to, either here or on the other medium I use. Please keep in mind though, I don't live here nor am I going to or have time to. I have limited time to devote to some of the sidetracks here and there's nothing I can do about that. I'm learning how to be apart of the conversations outside of the Tune, but sometimes fail miserably being pulled into meaningless and mindless trolling sidetracks that I have no business getting into, but I'm learning as I go. Some here have accused me of being one way or another, that's all good I guess, but I don't see myself as someone who wants to get off track too often, so if I come off rude it's only a matter of me prioritizing. I do apologize if I come off offensive to anyone I talk to here, it's just that I don't have the desire or time to be a true audio forum lifer. As soon as I leave here today for example, I have a stack of Tuning biz to get to.

Thanks for being patient and remember this thread isn't going anywhere and I will get to things I think I can contribute to when I can. But a lot of the other stuff doesn't interest me as much, so you will see me maybe make a couple comments but then I move on.

Michael Green

More to discover