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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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michaelgreenaudio OP
1,019 posts
 

Very cool to see Roger Modjeski posting on Audiogon!

I've owned several of Roger's products and was one of his dealers many moons ago. We as well featured Roger's products at some of our Trade Show rooms.

Would be great to see more designers up on this forum. I told Audiogon there's no need for this thread as more designers post on the forum. If that happened (designers posting here) the trolls would eventually find somewhere else to play.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

And for those wanting to visit me on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1764861045

wcfeil
464 posts
 
I’d visit you but opted to cut my toenails instead. 
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uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Happy Thanksgiving to you too MG!

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michaelgreenaudio OP
1,019 posts
 


So Folks, take a look at this thread

http://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/the-future-of-audio-amplification

This is the latest example of "Talk but not Walk?".

Several of us are talking about different types of amplifiers and our experiences. There’s a lot of good sharing, and then there is " " (who has been called out on this many times) making statements without actually "doing" the experience side of things. I don’t see anyone minding that folks have differing opinions based on what they know has happened for them, but as you can see we pretty much all questioned " " about making statements as fact when, in fact, he has zero or limited experience with the topic.

Why fake it?

In a hobby of doing and gentlemen exchanging ideas there are those that "fake" knowledge making statements like "snake oil" when that’s the furthest from the truth. Shouting "snake oil" is only you raising the flag "you have no experience" in most cases, or the alternative you can’t hear the results of change isn’t it? That’s certainly the flag that raises for me. If you haven’t walked why talk?

I don’t think anyone here mind "benchers" (hobbyist who are into the testing more then the listening). Some of us are benchers, some are theorist, some collectors of equipment brands, some casual listeners, and some more serious. Some are even just here wasting time as they have stated on this thread. But the OP here is why, in any of these cases, fake it? Why act like you know something when you haven’t explored it for yourself?

The other part is, why get upset? We should hand out pins and bumper stickers "don’t get too close Angry Audiophile on board".

Michael Green

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