[jonnywolfet]

Is it me, or is there more talk on questionable tweaks on these forums these days?
This is a shame as a lot of the impressions and reviews i read on this site i hold in high regard (certainly much more than other info available on the net). and the few that claim huge improvements due to (insert diabolical claim here) drag the site down somewhat.

is this a case of diminishing returns to the extreme? do a few eccentrics have extraordinary hearing abilities? or are we being fed utter bull?

thank goodness for common sense.

 

[Assorted]

If somebody tells me to put wet socks around my HD650 to make it unveiled and sound like an orpheus, and if I think it sounds better, I would not have any regret or guilt.

 

[velogreg]

I agree with you and for the most part I take everything I read here with a grain of salt. As the forum grows larger more people feel comfortable posting opinions on improvements they believe they hear. I also believe a large portion of the population is susceptible to being influenced by placebo. I see it all around me all of the time but people here tend to be more vocal, credit the anonymity of e-correspondence, I don't know.

Tweaking your system is very appealing because, if it works, you invest very little money for big sonic benefits. It is an ancient marketing concept. Usually the tiny investments don't work and if you totaled up all the money spent on all these unsuccessful experiments, you would have been better off purchasing outright a better source /cdp or headphones.

 

[cotdt]

i agree, A/B switch testing should be done for listening comparisons. auditory memory is no longer accurate after some period of time.

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnywolfet /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is it me, or is there more talk on questionable tweaks on these forums these days?

I don't know if there's more, but you're not the only on that finds some of the claims a little iffy.

But it's a slippery slope with no space for a clear line. Even though I don't believe in "tweaks" per se, I don't see how it degrades forums.

We're all big boys and girls here. In other words, anyone reading about a tweak can decide for themselves whether to believe it or not.

 

[milkpowder]

My dad insists it makes a difference

 

[Brian_the_King]

Ohhhh snap!
You guys have that kind of dough for gear, but you can't buy some plastic or glass cable risers?
hehe, looks like a lot of effort went into placing those cups, though.

 

[ecclesand]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia /img/forum/go_quote.gif Studies have shown that the consumption of pretzels and scotch can increase perceived soundstage. [size=xx-small]And cause explosive diarreah.[/size]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlendaleViper /img/forum/go_quote.gif This thread is making my nipples raw.

Explosive diarreah and raw nipples...finally folks in this forum are discussing pertinent issues!!!

I think some tweaks are good and some are B.S.....but then again, I'm just saying this so Jude doesn't delete my post!

 

[Patrick82]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnywolfet /img/forum/go_quote.gif is this a case of diminishing returns to the extreme? do a few eccentrics have extraordinary hearing abilities? or are we being fed utter bull? thank goodness for common sense.

With my first 2 upgrades (soundcard and amp) I couldn't hear a difference while others could. That makes my hearing worse than the average audiophile. With my 3rd upgrade (from HD590 to K501) I made myself believe there was a difference so I wouldn't get disappointed again. With the 4th and 5th upgrade I did the same, then I just kept on going!

I have made myself believe tweaking gives huge improvements because then I have something to do all day. I have also made myself believe that my blind tests really happened, but it's all in my mind.

EDIT: Nevermind, I just found my blind test video and realized it was all real!

 

[fatcat28037]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif My dad insists it makes a difference

I love it! I own stock in Dixie Cup!

 

[Illah]

Damn your wide pictures stretching out threads and forcing horizontal scrolling...damn them to hell!

This reminds me of a a SIG (special interest group) in Mensa called 'ordinary Mensans' or something to that effect. Their manifesto is basically something along the lines of, "We are Mensan's who are normal, and aren't overly impressed with our own intelligence or ability to memorize mountains of useless facts and trivia."

Basically, you can be smart without being a smart ass.

I find myself in the same place in the audio world. At some point you really have to draw a line. Even if I had millions of dollars I wouldn't go any further down the audio path. My system dominates anyone I'm likely to ever meet in day to day life. It's already excessive. I don't need 15 different cans or magical power cables.

I think most crazy tweaks are well intentioned, but taken to the extremes of reason. I think good cables can improve sound over the RCAs that came with your VCR from 1987, but I don't think $500 cables will do a thing better than $50 cables. I think room acoustics do matter, but if you go nuts soundproofing and turn your room into a dark box with equipment all over the place with a lone chair in the middle you're a freak who probably doesn't have many friends

--Illah

 

[aaronylee]

Wow maybe I should try that...

You know in medicine, we use Randomized control double blind placebo trials for this kind of thing. Maybe the meets should include a study like that at every meet...

Science at its best.

 

[feh1325]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif My dad insists it makes a difference

you should make em cups made from ERS paper
then you'd be in business

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatcat28037 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I love it! I own stock in Dixie Cup!

Are you sure that it is Dixie Cup? It may be a different brand with different damping characteristics or a little higher off-set from the floor.

 

[Fitz]

Do you still need the ERS paper on the Magix levitation feet now that the K1000 cable is wrapped in ERS paper?