Upgraded to Audio Note J - and other musings.

[Woochifer]

As for Harman they have in fact done tests that according to them reveals that some journalists chose the S26 JBL over B&W 601's. And Toole conducted it - go read up - it was all nice and vague and done over short listening per usual - and plenty of weasel words like most of us chose the S26 on most tracks - not everyone and not on every clip - the S26 has a nice spike around the 1-2khz range - of course that is not mentioned as to why people chose the speaker in the short listening session. I assume this is the original 601 which was not a very good speaker really, but hey the implication works for Harman so whatever. Of course everything coming out of their research will put their speakers in the best light.

Yeah, and the DM601s have got their own anomalies and deviations. Having heard both speakers before, I can easily see the JBL S26 beating out the 601 in a listening test. I found the 601 inferior to both the 303 and the 602, and the S26 probably the most tonally balanced speakers I've ever heard from JBL.

But, where does Harman post those results in their marketing materials or their white papers like you accuse them of doing? I did look it up, it's not there. A test like you describe was done years ago, and was part of a tour and demonstration for a group of audio professionals and journalists of Harman's new acoustically controlled blind test room and quick-change platform setup. I've never seen Harman ever post those results, even though they worked in their favor. I've read one article about that demo from a journalist who was there (and that sounds like what you're referring to), and from the sound of things it was more an informal demonstration of the methodology than a scientifically valid comparison. BTW, Toole was not the one who setup that demo comparison, so there goes that.

So frankly I am uninterested in what the white paper thumpers are on about. I'll just say that I am not surprised AT ALL that other posters preferred the $550.00 AX TWO to the N805 at $2k.and this ilk. Frankly, after listening to AN it's pretty tough to buy into what companies like Paradigm, Energy and PSB put on their web-sites - sorry it's my opinion and that opinion - however others may disagree and hey there will be those - my opinion is a preference and to my ear those three are in Tee Ball playing AN's who would be the New York Yankees. Some of them make good speakers The N805 is very good - but...

Just a fancy way of saying that you don't know what you're talking about when you accuse Harman of posting those white papers as biased marketing pieces, and equating them to what Bose does with their marketing? If you're so uninterested in Harman's "white paper thumpers" then why bring them up and accuse them of marketing "alla [sic] Bose"? If you actually read those papers, then you might realize that they are excellent resources and refrain from making baseless remarks that you can't back up. Before you go into an accusatorial tirade, try reading them first. Worst thing that can happen is that you actually learn something.

Frankly - I really don't care - you folks want to be skeptical that is fine by me - you said you had other priorities than 2 channel no problem there. It's your money buy whatever you wish. AN will be to you just another one of those quaint little high end makers who tinker with old gear - know nothing of acoustics and charge too high a price and snowed everyone into buying - fine you all can believe that if you wish - no skin off my nose.

It's not your love of all things Audio Note that I'm pointing out, it's the way that you generalize that to mean that everything they do is the gospel way, and every other approach is worthless marketing-driven junk. If you're happy with what you own, fine be happy. Just don't try to convince people who made different decisions than yourself that their preferences are formed by marketing, short-term wow factor, and stats rather than a well informed knowledge of their own preferences.

AN sure does not need me or anyone or themselves advertising their products. They sell just fine to people who simply listen to music. Why advertise when your product sells itself? - No need for white paper links - no need for product literature - no need to buy advertising space - No need to advertise a famouns name who uses your speakers - the only thing you need to do is put your speaker/product up against the other guy's speakers and let people listen. Simple approach.

Yah, a product will just sell itself, and a business will just run itself too. I got news for you. Audio Note DOES advertise! They DO engage in marketing and selling! They DO post stuff about their approach! Kinda sucks that they operate just like any other profit-driven business, eh?

Be happy with whatever you want to own - so will I and we'll leave it there - everyone is happy with their choice - I no longer care about being right - I will follow 925011 well stated and simple response. I have a feeling I'm going to be quoted yet again in this thread - please just be happy with your choice - go on about the science and the white papers and the history of stereo and transistors versus tubes and the relative costs blather blather. I would buy into it - if to me the sound supported it - to some of you it does great - enjoy.

The only reason I brought up the white papers and the relative costs is because you were going on about how all things past were about quality and service, and now it's all about profits and disposability. And I'm just lending perspective to some of your more questionable rants. I brought up the Harman white papers because you seem to have this thing about attacking them as entirely marketing driven and equating them with Bose. And if you think that inflation adjusting the costs and doing real dollar comparisons is nothing more than blather, then I'm sure that approach will fly just fine in an econ course.