Audio nonsense


In this wonderful world of audio that we journey through folks selling stuff have sometimes been inventive in what they claim. In your trip down this road what sticks out as the most ludicrous thing you’ve seen someone try to sell? 
 

I can point to 2 things. When I first saw a Tice clock in a store I thought it was a gag. Next- Peter Belt. 

128x128zavato

@fundsgon I think you’re onto something with the SonicAir idea…Perhaps if the air was charged someone could develop a magnetic containment system, or sell an audiophile line of hyperbaric chambers—could be a big hit with the alpine skiing crowd.

I don't post much here and don't really care how much money people choose to spend on their systems.  

I'm now at the age where I just want to listen to good sounding music as much as I can without fussing too much over my gear.

Some things I just don't think are worth the time or money to even try.  I won't name those things at the risk of insulting some folks or starting a flame war.  That's just me.  Yes, I could be missing out on some worthwhile tweaks but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it either.

I don't really get why someone, myself included, would spend thousands of dollars on cables that have all this engineering going into them, quality materials, shielding, dielectrics, connectors, etc. etc.  Then, you have the need to stick little gemstones or some kind of disc on these expensive cables to make them sound better when they're supposed to great on their own.  After all, that's what we paid all that for in the first place. 

Maybe the cable companies should supply their cables with the little discs or gemstones and tell the buyer that they could try using their cables with or without.  

Also, if you buy a set of expensive speaker cables the company should put a disclaimer on the packaging that says: These cables will sound their best if the are suspended off the floor.  

 

@perkri

I can recommend a good audiologist and maybe even a psychiatrist if you are hearing things....

Anyone on this forum over about 35-40 years of age should have some humility and not claim and pretend they can hear things even a dog cannot hear.

No wonder 99% of the time almost everyone claiming to be an audiophile fails double blind tests.

Once and for all. What you think you are hearing is NOT an improvement, it is simply NOT there. It is in your mind.

Interesting that out of hundreds of these gimmicky snake oil products, noone ever claims that it made the sound worse. Funny....

 

 

@nicktheknife - you obviously don’t know the rules here,

I don’t really get why someone, myself included, would spend thousands of dollars on cables that have all this engineering going into them, quality materials, shielding, dielectrics, connectors, etc. etc. Then, you have the need to stick little gemstones or some kind of disc on these expensive cables to make them sound better when they’re supposed to great on their own. After all, that’s what we paid all that for in the first place.

You are not supposed to tell the emperor he is not wearing clothes,

Maybe the cable companies should supply their cables with the little discs or gemstones and tell the buyer that they could try using their cables with or without.

being too logical is also a problem, try and improve.

@cakyol 

 

Aww. Thanks! That’s very kind of you to offer. Much appreciated. But I will respectfully pass. Given the attitudes you present, I suspect any referrals you my have would be a waste of time. I would be asking for a refund if I were you as your psychiatrist has clearly  not been helping you much.

I wonder, have you ever built any audio gear? I have, a lot of it. And I take issue when people tell me what I can and can not hear. I have a friend, who also builds and modifies gear. He will make an adjustment and then will present the changes to me, every time,it’s a blind test. And yes, every time, I can identify which piece has had the change made. And I’m not just talking about a value of a capacitor for instance, but rather two different brands of capacitors of the exact same value placed in the crossovers of two identical speakers. Yup. 100% of the time I’m able to spot the difference and identify which speaker has been changed. Now, how would I know that if I can’t see what has been done inside if not for the fact I can hear it? 

Riddle me that genius…

Perhaps, you should spend some time and learn how to listen to the sound presented by a piece of gear.

I reserve judgement on something until I’ve heard it. I gather you approach things with a closed mind and prefer to jump to conclusions about what works and what doesn’t?

So arrogant to presume what someone else’s skill set is.