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Observations on Audiogon Posts

There has been something that disturbs me about the posts I see on Audiogon. I am specifically talking about the posts that ask members to make suggestion's on equipment.

Here is the problem I have. I rarely (and I mean I can count on one hand the number of times) see people post what kind of sound they are looking for. Instead people ask if such and such a piece will sound good with these other twenty pieces in their systems. What's the problem? Well, how do we know what you are looking for? Is sound-staging the most important thing to you? For some people it is. Do you like a forward aggressive sounding presentation or do you like a more laid back sound? Is musicality the most important thing to you? Do you want a system that produces accurate timbres? Knowing what you're looking for can save you thousands on equipment that doesn't fit you're criteria. It also helps us in making suggestions.

It seems to me that if more of us spent more time on what we are trying to get from our systems then on what brands we should buy we would all be a lot happier.

Just some food for thought.
nrostov
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,150 posts
 
Audiophiles make too much of the differences between how components sound. To the average concert going music lover any decent $1,500 system will sound pretty good. Yet as audiophiles some of us obsess about the truly miniscule audio differences between $1,000+ power cords. The average music lover can hear the difference, but shrugs about asks "what the big deal?" Not all sonic differences are musically significant.

There are many different motivations for people to use the forums. I've been reading them for years and find them very useful for gaining information about technical and system setup issues, but virtually worthless regarding buying decisions. If you know what to look for the virtual systems section, particularly those with picture, is invaluable.
nrostov OP
199 posts
 
Onhywy,

Actually I don't think the average music lover can hear the difference. This isn't a put down of them it's more of a sad commentary on how obsessive we are.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,150 posts
 
They can hear it. They won't use the approved audiophile language to describe it, but they can hear. As a musician friend of mine once responded when I pointed out the depth of the soundstage -- "So?" But then again, without prompting the same friend on another song described the electric guitar amp and the approximate control settings.
nrostov OP
199 posts
 
Mine can'. Maybe I need better friends.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
perhaps, we can agree on definitions so that when people seek a componet with specific attributes, it is easier to assist them.

i'll start.

warm: slight dip in the upper mid/lower treble region walong with a slight peak in the range 100 to 200 hz.

transparent: a lack of audible coloration in a frequency range. for an example, take a speaker which is so-called flat between 50 hz and 20,000 hz. if one cannot detect any distortion in the aforementioned range, the speaker would be deemed transparent. of course it is not that simple, but at least its a definition.

hopefully others will discuss other attributes and a discussion can ensue.

ultimately these definitons can reside somewhere accessible to all.
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