Golden Ears Fail Again

[musicoverall]

I see a problem with the experiment. Because your mood may change from one day to the next, your choices can be more a result of variations in how you feel than differences in the cables. This could result in the test having a negative bias. If you decide to go ahead with the experiment, I recommend that you ask your friend to try to make the cable switches random -- his using coin flips should be good enough. You don't want have to deal with the possibility that he is trying to throw you a curve by using the same cable all 13 days, or giving you say 7 consecutive days of Cable A followed by 6 days of Cable B, when you assumed random switching at the start of testing.

The sonic differences should come through regardless of my mood, I would think.

Coin flips are determining which cables are used when. I won't know which cables were used on which days until the test is over.

[Mash]

in trying to enlighten those who may simply be foolish.

Why do I write "those who may simply be foolish"?

Because "those who may simply be foolish" would not only be wasting their wealth on illusions. If they actually hold responsible positions in knowlege-based professions in Science, Engineering, IM and so forth which are NOT a part of the Mystical Audio Industry, if they discuss at their workplace the pseudoscience we read here they risk loosing all credibility with their peers. And once you have lost credibility with your peers in a knowlege-based profession, your career is over. Your superiors will simply find a way to "farm you out" or otherwise get rid of you. I sense that you already know this, and are trying to warn those who simply "will not get it".

Roger Russel, head of McIntosh Labs, has a wonderful site on speaker wires that not only relates the scientific information and tests but also presents the political marketing reality. It is well worth a careful read by one and all. Even "those who may simply be foolish".
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

[E-Stat]

Roger Russel, head of McIntosh Labs...

Uh, no. According to his website he was the "former director of acoustic research at McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. and originator of the McIntosh loudspeakers."

... that not only relates the scientific information and tests...

Tell me, which of the "tests" do you find most significant?

rw

[theaudiohobby]

in trying to enlighten those who may simply be foolish.

Why do I write "those who may simply be foolish"?

urm...some of RobotCzar's posts firmly places him in the same group, RobotCzar himself is a layman who is simply holding the opposite end of the audiophile myth. The precariousness of his position was brilliantly illustrated by Quagmire a while back in this excerpt

As part of his introductory speach he make the statement, "...there are no absolutes". From the back of the room, a hand is raised. The professor, looking a little bit bothered that someone had nerve to interrupt his speach reluctantly acknowledges the student. "Yes, what is it?" he says. The student stands up and asks, "I just wanted to know, sir... did you mean that last statement, absolutely?".

[markw]

urm...some of RobotCzar's posts firmly places him in the same group, RobotCzar himself is a layman who is simply holding the opposite end of the audiophile myth. The precariousness of his position was brilliantly illustrated by Quagmire a while back in this excerpt

Believe me, you wouldn't know if you were talking to someone with engineering experience. You've proved that already.

Now, as far as being a "layman" goes, there are quite a few "laymen" who are quite knowlwdgable in many areas.

Robo has come through many times with good, solid knowledge when it comes down to solid facts and explaining things. After you dismal showing on that decibles vs hearing thread in speakers last week, you proved you really aren't up to snuff in either theory or practal experience.

Your main contribution seems to be calling into question others advice, most times with no basis nor backup infornmation as to WHY you question it. Your usual snipe and scurry as evidenced here. You snidely point out what doesn't suit your beliefs (sometimes incorrect, but that's another story) in a condesending manner as if to insuniate that you know better and then scurry away without saying anything to clarify your position. This was evidenced by your incursion imto my discussion in the speakers forum as well.

Now, if you disagree with something then feel free to join in and express (intelligently) why you think what you do. Of course, you may meet with some people who may not agree with you and you might have to defend your statements on an adult level with some real, solid facts and /or evidence but hey, that's what this forum is about. This is an adult swim, kid. Just the facts, ma'm. No jolly snipe and runs allowed.

Simply throwing in childish snipes and running simply makes me think you are simply a poser with nothing of value to offer. Simply pointing fingers and snickering is a child's trick.

Now, would you care to explain why your belief that Robo is a laymen is a problem or how what he's saying is incorrect and should be ignored? If I didn't know any better I'd almost say that you are jealous that others can disagree and yet still carry on a deep, meaningful conversation based on facts and with civility and respect for each others position.

[theaudiohobby]

Believe me, you wouldn't know if you were talking to someone with engineering experience. You've proved that already.

I got to laugh here , I suppose your boo boo on the speaker board is still getting to you, get over it and move on, you were wrong pure and simple. There is no need brooding over old threads, it clouds clear judgement.

Does a preference or even knowledge of blind testing automatically indicate a knowledge of audio electronics theory. Do you join RobotCzar in saying that time domain performance and frequency domain performance measurements are audiophile myths?

I have repeatedly tried to tell you that there is no "time domain" and "frequency domain" that those concepts are made up to support the audiophile position.

[markw]

...what problems do YOU find with what he says. After all, you're the one that cast a doubtful light on his input. .and tried to use the words of two "strangers" to you in doing so.

Did you ever ask them what they meant or did you simply pick and choose words that could be taken out of context and misconstrued to mean what you wanted to imply?

*Why not confront him yourself instead of sniping him? He doesn't bite and, if you can keep up with him, which I doubt, perhaps you could learn something.

...or is this just more of your smokescreen? Why does it seem that those with the most "imnpressive" monikers that have the least to offer? Perhaps your moniker would be more appropiately "the Audio Poser"?

And, if you think you came off so clever in that other forum, feel free. It's really kinda funny. Simple sniping with nothing of substance to add. ...Just like here. Now, if you wish to show where I made my "boo boo" instead of bombarding us your trademark hyena laughing smiley faces and scurrying off with no valid rejoinder, feel free. That's what you did there, too.

..but, then again, that's what I'm saying here now, isn't it? Thanks for proving my point so succintly.

Hmmmm... on second thought, maybe "The Audio Hyena" might be more appropo.

*Oops...I see you already did and, as I suspected, could not keep up with him either. It's a biitch going up against someone who knows what they are talking about and can carry on an intellectual discourse, ain't it? Oh well, you might as well snipe if that's all you have left.

[theaudiohobby]

Read my revised post, care to answer the questions...I could always call you names but I will refrain from that and I expect you to do the same.

[RobotCzar]

Note that audiohobby does not give his own opinions, he references high end audio pundits (but he does give is snide comments). Perhaps he will share his background (as I have done in the past) so we can better judge his expertise. But, then again, we can tell he does not have any, can't we? It seems he can be classed with the other high end faithful who live here. I guess this forum is therapy for them as I speculate that they cannot get people to listen to their ramblings in real life.

Face it audiohobby, you don't konw what "time domain" and "frequency domain" means, so why do you think you can correct people about them? Don't bother trying to tell me now, you had your chance. Now, go and take the time to learn something, quit taking the easy way out or no one will ever pay attention to what you say. When you put your thoughts down in forums you expose your ignorance. Ignorance can be corrected, why get so defensive about it?

[markw]

We lined up in teams. As we approached the front of the line we were given a life saver.

The object of the game was to guess what color it was by the flavor without seeing it first.

You would think that's easy but until you've tried it, you have no idea how difficult that really is. I mean, it's most certainly doable to a great extent but you would be surprised how much our taste was influenced by the color cues.

Just a little food for thought. (yes, bad pun)

Now, on with the show. ...Move along... nothing to see here...

[theaudiohobby]

RobotCzar,

You spoke out of your arse on time domain and frequency domain performance and that was the reason you became dead silent when faced with authoritative information. As for Markw, his childish sulk in another thread where he committed a booboo similar to yours, means that you have a companion to sulk with. I know more about time domain and frequency domain performance than you do and the proof is right up in this thread where you spoke out of your arse. I repeat you are in the same boat as those that you pursue, just opposite ends, extreme opinions that are out of touch with reality.Rather than being childish and foolish, both yourself and markw should learn to accept correction, that's true learning.

[Mash]

Is this a subtle attempt to be dismissive of the presented information?

And why should I select "which of the "tests" " that I "find most significant" ?? Why do you ask this?
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

Remember, I achieved a very favorable retirement from an EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE company, with full benefits, and at a favorable age. This would not have happened if I had walked around preaching the pseudoscience I often read here. Credibility in the knowlege-based professions is key, my friend. I know many who "didn't make it".

So be as dismissive as you wish, but understand that "I got mine".

[E-Stat]

Is this a subtle attempt to be dismissive of the presented information?

I'm trying to uncover what you find to be important information.

Congratulations on the retirement.

rw