Post by JulfGlad to hear. Just like Archimago, I too started out as a "real
audiophile" years ago, believing all the voodoo and folklore basically
based on "if everybody keeps saying it, it must be true". Fortunately an
engineering education helped me to "go out and find for yourself". What
also helped was coming across, and helping to debunk some of the
non-audiophile-related cults, superstitions and outright frauds. A very
educating experience aboout the gullibility of the human mind - and the
ways that gets exploited.
I think that the "I too was once a true kool-aid drinking audiophile" is
pretty much the norm for must of the regular posters on this forum and
that is why many of us express such strong feelings when we encounter
suspect audiophile claims. Remember there are no greater zealots than
converts.
My move away from swallowing audiophile voodoo hook, line and sinker
started when I moved into computer based digital audio. What I was
experiencing on a daily basis when playing digital music and what was
being claimed in the audiophile press were less and less in alignment.
Many things being claimed, from on the fly flac to wav conversions
degrading the sound (note: never any mention of alac to wav conversions
- I wonder why ;)), to high end digital cables "sounding" better, ran
counter to my own first hand experiences and from very well established
scientific theories and laws.
So as the effects of kool-aid wore off I became more and more of a
selective nonbeliever. I say "selective" since many audiophile
principles, especially those based on good scientific theories, are
still completely valid and their application often results in better
sounding equipment. However the high end audio press' outright refusal
to submit any of their unscientific claims to any kind of scientifically
valid testing has only served to strengthen my anti-audiophile feelings.
As it was things were not looking good for the audiophile side of things
and then I started to "follow the money" and the audiophile cause was
completely lost.
While the lofty and stated goal of of high end audio is to provide "good
sound", there is another more important goal at work, which is to sell
product and which I am in no way against. However in the pursuit of
selling product there is a need to make any given product appear more
desirable than other similar products and we barraged with silly
marketing claims. At one time the audio press was willing to debunk many
of these claims but those days are now long gone. It is now up to the
consumer to try and gather some truthful information and make educated
buying decisions. Thanks to people like Archimago we are now able to
directly refute many of the more outrageous audiophile claims and put
our buying power on the side of proven and truthful claims.
Living Rm: Transporter-SimAudio pre/power amps-Vandersteen 3A Sign. &
sub
Home Theater: Touch-Marantz HTR-Energy Veritas 2.1 & Linn sub
Computer Rm: Touch-Headroom Desktop w/DAC-Aragon amp-Energy Veritas 2.1
& Energy sub
Bedroom: Touch-HR Desktop w/DAC-Audio Refinement amp-Energy Veritas 2.0
Guest Rm: Duet-Sony soundbar
Garage: SB3-JVC compact system
Controls: iPeng; SB Controller; Moose & Muso
Server: SBS on dedicated windows 7 computer w/2 Drobos
'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/)
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