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Biggest audio hoaxes

Often when people discuss audio, they talk about "snake oil" or "hoaxes."

It's pretty typical to use the term hoax as a tactic against another who disagrees with one, or holds an unusual opinion or vouches for something which has not been verified. That's not what I mean by a "hoax." 

By "hoax" I mean an audio product or claim which has been pretty definitively disproved. Maybe not to everyone's satisfaction, but to common consensus.

So -- with that definition of hoax in mind, what are some of the biggest audiophile hoaxes you've heard of?
128x128hilde45
sugabooger
89 posts
 
cleeds,


It is not my hoax to document. It was posted by someone else above. I was debunking it.
stargazer3's avatar
stargazer3
135 posts
 
Burning in of components (over extended periods) seems to divide opinions.  Usually the people who hold the opinion that burning in of components is all nonsense or psychology at work.  Often they will quote measurements and basic principles how the component is put together and that there is no scientific proof whatsoever to give grounds for 'change or improvement in sound'.  Manufacturer's who advise burning in periods for their components is treated with total scepticism holding the view they would say that so that the new purchaser would have time to get used to the new sound, so they view this advice as a hoax and in a way a sellers trick...... 
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Tice clock.
Post removed 
sugabooger
89 posts
 
I am with stargazer3.  With the exception of speakers, and even then it is exaggerated, it is a wonderful hoax played on willing audiophiles, the whole concept of 100's of hours of burn in, especially on cables. All the suppliers are in on it and there is 0 benefit to them to admit it is a hoax. They will even charge you a premium to do it for you.  
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