View Full Version : Define the term World Class?
Is it a meaningless pile of ambiguous rubbish, or can something meaningful actually be derived from the audio journalist's term "world class'?
Well, masses?:)
Stratmangler
14-12-2014, 20:49
World class as a term is not particularly ambiguous - it's used to describe the elite, the best of the best!
Not that I read much of the drivel that passes for journalism in the audio press ;)
walpurgis
14-12-2014, 21:45
It's not as annoying as 'high end' or 'ahead of its time'.
High end is a term applied to such a lot of dross and nothing can be ahead of its time!
Apart from the proper stuff that was built 30, 40 and 50 years ago! ;)
Marco.
Firebottle
14-12-2014, 22:08
I think World Class is something that is offering first class performance, and not necessarily at an uber price.
I'd like to suggest that top Croft gear is in the 'World Class' category...........
:cool: Alan
BTH K10A
14-12-2014, 22:09
Apart from the proper stuff that was built 30, 40 and 50 years ago! ;)
Marco.
Mere whippersnappers :D
Lol - you get the idea…. All that stuff (and also what you’re referring to) was genuinely ahead of its time, and thus deserves the title of ‘world class’!
Marco.
Is it a meaningless pile of ambiguous rubbish, or can something meaningful actually be derived from the audio journalist's term "world class'?
Well, masses?:)
The world is full of talking-up products. This is another piece of hyperbole, especially when used by a vendor. There is some connotation from the word 'world' but I don't get much else from it.
Where would my DAC be without some 1920-30s triodes:D:eyebrows::lol::mental:
Criteria for world class - first accepted point. I am the master of this thread. No one can over rule me. I decide vaiid entries to this list alone.
1) Was made decades ago and is still on the top of the "perceived performance" tree today.
This is almost certainly world class. For those in search of reference quality bottom end performance, study it carefully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZX4ooRsWs
We have world class atheletes and footballers - they win races and matches or they don't - but there is a clear metric to that. For hi-fi, where people talk about equipment 'communicating the soul of the music', you can't have the same metric. So you can't have 'world class' hi-fi, unless you were to base it solely on measured performance, that is.
EDIT Highly informative video btw worth watching.
EDIT Highly informative video btw worth watching.
Nice portable TT in it too.
Word class list update
1) A component made decades ago and is still on the top of the "perceived performance" tree today.
2) Technical performance is within top 10% available in the world today for the product type (see 1).
3) Your TT spins bananas.
4) Your system drips coconut milk or emits whipped cream on large transients.
Just in case you are wondering what "yo bitch" is actually saying in that video, let me enlighten you. Whatever happened to the censors? They banned the Sex Pistols for far less years ago...:D
"My anaconda don't, my anaconda don't
My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hun
Boy toy named Troy used to live in Detroit
Big dope dealer money, he was gettin' some coins
Was in shootouts with the law, but he live in a palace
Bought me Alexander McQueen, he was keeping me stylish
Now that's real, real, real
Gun in my purse, bitch, I came dressed to kill
Who wanna go first? I had them pushing daffodils
I'm high as hell, I only took a half a pill
I'm on some dumb shit, by the way, what he say?
He can tell I ain't missing no meals
Come through and fuck him in my automobile
Let him eat it with his grills and he tellin' me to chill
And he telling me it's real, that he love my sex appeal
Say he don't like 'em boney, he want something he can grab
So I pulled up in the Jag, and I hit him with the jab like
Dun-d-d-dun-dun-d-d-dun-dun
My anaconda don't, my anaconda don't
My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hun
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
(Look at her butt)
Look at, look at, look at
Look, at her butt
This dude named Michael used to ride motorcycles
Dick bigger than a tower, I ain't talking about Eiffel's
Real country-ass nigga, let me play with his rifle
Pussy put his ass to sleep, now he calling me NyQuil
Now that bang, bang, bang
I let him hit it cause he slang cocaine
He toss my salad like his name Romaine
And when we done, I make him buy me Balmain
I'm on some dumb shit, by the way, what he say?
He can tell I ain't missing no meals
Come through and fuck him in my automobile
Let him eat it with his grills, and he telling me to chill
And he telling me it's real, that he love my sex appeal
He say he don't like 'em boney, he want something he can grab
So I pulled up in the Jag, Mayweather with the jab like
Dun-d-d-dun-dun-d-d-dun-dun
My anaconda don't, my anaconda don't
My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hun
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
(Look at her butt)
Look at, look at, look at
Look, at her butt
Little in the middle but she got much back
Little in the middle but she got much back
Little in the middle but she got much back
(Oh my God, look at her butt)
My anaconda don't, my anaconda don't
My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hun
My anaconda don't, my anaconda don't
Don't want none unless you got buns, hun
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
(Look at her butt)
Look at, look at, look at
Look, at her butt
Yeah, he love this fat ass, ha haha!
Yeah! This one is for my bitches with a fat ass in the fucking club
I said, where my fat ass big bitches in the club?
Fuck the skinny bitches! Fuck the skinny bitches in the club!
I wanna see all the big fat ass bitches in the muthafuckin' club
Fuck you if you skinny bitches, what?! Kyuh
Ha ha, ha ha
I got a big fat ass (ass, ass, ass)
Come on!"
Quality… What about ‘world class’ flatulence - superb ‘fartability’, as it were. Does that count?
Marco.
I like a bit of rap and hip hop, rap is like poetry but lets face it, this is not exactly on a par with The Wasteland, is it ;)
In my honest opinion that is a great video/pretty good song but checking out her albums on TIDAL today was a major disappointment.
Post #13 no sorry doesn't make on the "reference list":D If she farted in the video only a very small, strange minority would get off on it. Well I think so but then again...:D:)
You want to listen to some Wu Tang Clan man, you know that shit is dope:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-lpfsBR8U
Post #13 no sorry doesn't make on the "reference list":D If she farted in the video only a very small, strange minority would get off on it. Well I think so but then again...:D:)
A 'nicely tuneful’, deftly executed, fanny fart could make all the difference ;)
Marco.
You want to listen to some Wu Tang Clan man, you know that shit is dope:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-lpfsBR8U
Some serious dope required to make that shit, no question.
I can't help but feel this thread has degenerated into the bottom class realm. Next...
Anyway, Nicki? Come see me. Soon.
How different, how very different, from the home life of our own dear Queen....
'World class' means that 'it' is able to stand comparison to other items from all around the world, not just that produced more locally (in the one country).
'High end' describes a particular market. It doesn't necessarily mean high performance but much of that aspiring to exist in the High End is also aiming to do so by because of its high performance (though unfortunately not all).
Ideas can certainly be 'ahead of their time' in the sense that their value is not properly recognised until some time later. In a literal sense nothing is ahead of its time, it is by definition of its time - but such a literal interpretation is to misunderstand the intent of the phrase.
'World class' means that 'it' is able to stand comparison to other items from all around the world, not just that produced more locally (in the one country).
Nice try but can't you see the ambiguity and uselessness of such a definition? By what parameters do you make that assessment? At what price level.
The more you analyse it Mark, the more you'll realise it is a worthless statement. There is no escaping it. Only in the context of a definitive, correct, unambiguous sentence does it have any meaning. The term is rarely used that way.
Chris,
You appear to hold contempt for journalism in the audio press. What are your reasons for such a reaction?
Victor, I guess you mean me.
I've got no issue with audio journalism when it isn't spouting silly, meaningless, unqualified terms.
I do think the art of describing how something sounds in words is to some extent (quite a large one, really) a bit futile. It doesn't really work. Nonetheless I do try to do it.
The term 'world class' isn't meaningless as such though as it is now in the dictionary and so defined therein - it's pretty much the definition I gave. I appreciate that you believe it means something else but that's another issue.
The term 'world class' isn't meaningless as such though as it is now in the dictionary and so defined therein - it's pretty much the definition I gave. I appreciate that you believe it means something else but that's another issue.
The dictionary definition you gave is not the context in which it gets used in hi-fi journalism though, which I think is the point being made.
Is it not? Could you give an example or two please?
Thank you (User 211) Justin for your response. I get confused when the reviewers describe the sound as 'neutral' and what is the difference between 'timbre' and 'tonal colour'?
However my original post on this thread was directed at 'Stratmangler' who signs of as Chris. He was the first post to reply to this Thread.
Victor
The dictionary definition you gave is not the context in which it gets used in hi-fi journalism though, which I think is the point being made.
Correct.
Well I'm sure I've seen it used in the context I've described so without reference to a specific example there isn't much more that can be said. Essentially it's most used as a bit of colourful hyperbole.
[QUOTE=User211;604270]. Yeh, of course my old Civic is comparable to a Bugatti Veron ... it compares quite badly, unfortunately.
It probably compares quite well for fuel economy and insurance group though....every cloud and all that.
In pedant mode, the one that bugs me is 'comparable to', as in 'this amplifier is comparable to a Krell'. Yeh, of course my old Civic is comparable to a Bugatti Veron ... it compares quite badly, unfortunately.
:lol:
awkwardbydesign
22-12-2014, 16:59
Thank you (User 211) Justin for your response. I get confused when the reviewers describe the sound as 'neutral' and what is the difference between 'timbre' and 'tonal colour'?
However my original post on this thread was directed at 'Stratmangler' who signs of as Chris. He was the first post to reply to this Thread.
Victor
If you click on "Reply With Quote" instead of "Reply", you can avoid this confusion. As I just did.
And "tonal colour" adds another word; important to journalists who get paid by the word. :lol:
Any particular reason someone (not me) has edited my original post this morning? Not that it matters ...
Any particular reason someone (not me) has edited my original post this morning? Not that it matters ...
What has happened is your first sentence has been removed: "In pedant mode, the one that bugs me is 'comparable to', as in 'this amplifier is comparable to a Krell'." Macca edited it but the reasons why have not been stated.
Stratmangler
23-12-2014, 00:23
Chris,
You appear to hold contempt for journalism in the audio press. What are your reasons for such a reaction?
I find it strange that someone's views are held in esteem simply because their views are to be found in print.
On rare occasions I have met the person concerned, heard the equipment they have commented on, and agreed or not, but on the whole it's not the case.
And when you've got comments like "I can hear the difference between WAV and FLAC playback" being bandied about it really hacks me off!
Get the processes and setup right and the distinction between the file types becomes insignificant.
Of far more importance to me is the opinion of folk I know, have heard their systems, and understand their preferences.
Going to the DIY events (Owston specifically for me) is a great experience socially, and from an audio perspective a real eye and ear opener.
What has happened is your first sentence has been removed: "In pedant mode, the one that bugs me is 'comparable to', as in 'this amplifier is comparable to a Krell'." Macca edited it but the reasons why have not been stated.
Oops sorry about that Peter it wasn't intentional I was just meaning to quote you, I must have pressed the wrong button. Apologies.
walpurgis
23-12-2014, 10:03
Naughty Macca. :lol:
I find it strange that someone's views are held in esteem simply because their views are to be found in print.
On rare occasions I have met the person concerned, heard the equipment they have commented on, and agreed or not, but on the whole it's not the case.
And when you've got comments like "I can hear the difference between WAV and FLAC playback" being bandied about it really hacks me off!
Get the processes and setup right and the distinction between the file types becomes insignificant.
Of far more importance to me is the opinion of folk I know, have heard their systems, and understand their preferences.
Going to the DIY events (Owston specifically for me) is a great experience socially, and from an audio perspective a real eye and ear opener.
Thank you for your reply.
Victor
Point of view is subjective to what you have experienced a friend of mine owns a lambo but tells me it is terrible to drive and all things considered hes right but it is still an awesome car even if the turning circle is terrible the steering is heavy and the clutch requires body builders legs, it is still beautiful and fast really really fast. So when it comes to hifi if a peice of kit does something really well then it could be called world class even when its lacking in other areas.
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