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RE: Audiophile phenomenon?

"The home audio sector based on "flat earth" (scientifically wrong) beliefs that appeared in the mainstream after the 60s/70s stereo boom. It is very unusual in being focussed on a technical home consumer device where the followers reject the technical performance of the device in favour of all sorts of "flat earth" beliefs...".

The WHAT??? I've been active in the hobby from the 60's to the present and you know, I'm not sure what you are talking about. I'm not convinced that we are anymore scientifically wrong than we ever were. If anything I think we are more savvy.

If by "technical performance" you mean the specifications... well, they are OK as far as they go. They simply don't go far enough to tell remotely the whole story. Never did, still don't. So if part of the "audiophile phenomenon" means not relying solely upon specifications, a better phrase would be "audiophile wisdom".

I've seen several technological shifts.
-Tubes replaced by transistors.
-Acoustic suspension speakers.
-Thiele-Small (boom boxes strike back).
-Digital audio via the CD.
-The waxing and waning of multi-channel audio.

And a couple of consumer shifts...
-Acceptance of cables as a component.
-Concern about power line quality
Or let me put it a little more pointedly: being willing to spend time and money on cables and filtering to partially compensate for poorly specified, and implemented equipment.

Of course there were a whole bunch more that could be counted, especially if you lump in media shifts. I've gone from 78's to downloaded Hi-Res digital through about every format you can think of. No, I didn't do El-cassette. But it was so close, when I went in to buy one they were out of stock, and I changed my mind by the time more came in... Whew! But you know, they sounded good.

From my perspective, I simply am not seeing the "flat earth" thinking that you are so concerned about. Sure, here on AA where the entry threshold is about three sigma out, there is some strange and interesting thinking. But you have to seek it out, it's not mainstream. And it may be right...

Regards, Rick




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