View Full Version : The Black Crystals - OOoOoOoOoOOoooh!
The Black Adder
17-02-2016, 14:32
I found this earlier.
Sounds very dark and dramatic...
From Walker Audio. You stick em on yo cart and it relieves you of $645.
Sorry to sound Cynical and I apologise if you swear by them... lol - But it just made me laugh. The photos just look mental.
https://walkeraudio.com/shop/crystal/
:D
That's because it is totally mental. Walker Audio started off making quite ugly turntables based on sound engineering principles - more recently they seem to have had some sort of mental hiatus and gone all mega foo.
The Black Adder
17-02-2016, 14:45
lol... Hanging dried dogs danglies over it will probably do the same thing..... er, nothing?
Sadly, this 'lunatic fringe' aspect of high-end audio is what gives those of us who love the hobby a bad name.... :doh: :rolleyes:
Marco.
Wakefield Turntables
17-02-2016, 15:09
Well I dont care what you all say I've ordered a set.
NOT REALLY!
rikardo1979
17-02-2016, 15:14
looks like another pseudo-science sh...stuff
walpurgis
17-02-2016, 15:36
Rhymes with 'grollocks'! ;)
Are they real diamonds?
Actually, they look a lot like the Jet ear rings my great aunt Nora used to wear. Honeymooned in Whitby, apparently. Impressive lady ... huge soundstage, but a rather overblown bottom end.
cookstown
17-02-2016, 16:25
I know that the X Files is back & I really want to believe but.....
The Black Adder
17-02-2016, 16:27
lol... :lol:
That's because it is totally mental. Walker Audio started off making quite ugly turntables based on sound engineering principles - more recently they seem to have had some sort of mental hiatus and gone all mega foo.
Looks as if he is a disciple of Peter Belt, who also started making some very good audio gear; in his case they were isodynamic headphones.
The testamonials are always the best bits. 'before there was no bass...'
Hmm, no bass, so the obvious solution is to spunk a weeks wages on some little blobs to stick on my headshell.
Welcome to Rand Mcnally, where folk wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people.
The Black Adder
17-02-2016, 17:59
lol... yup, they sound as fake as a fake thing that's faking it.
“I’ve had them for two days and the music has somehow been energized, lit from within.” T, customer :eek:
“I’ve had them for two days and the music has somehow been energized, lit from within.” T, customer :eek:
No doubt the "T" stands for 'twat'.
awkwardbydesign
17-02-2016, 18:59
Try these then. I did. http://madscientist-audio.com/magic-tubes/ I decided to take them up on their free trial offer (£5 p+p) before dismissing them.
Spectral Morn
17-02-2016, 19:14
Another thread of taking the piss of stuff no one has actually tried :doh: :( I shouldn't be surprised, but just once it would be refreshing that someone who had actually tried a thing offered an opinion, based on experience not guess work and 'well it can't be therefore it isn't' thoughts/opinions.
And to be clear I am not defending Walker Audio, the company, the products, but just the thought that posting based on first hand experience might be a better thing, than posting with no actual experience.
Sorry Josie but I grow tired of these zero-experience posts/threads.
Haselsh1
17-02-2016, 19:21
Admit it; Peter Belt was right all along
;)
Haselsh1
17-02-2016, 19:23
Looks as if he is a disciple of Peter Belt, who also started making some very good audio gear; in his case they were isodynamic headphones.
I had a pair in the late seventies/early eighties. Damn fine they were to.
awkwardbydesign
17-02-2016, 19:26
Try these then. I did. http://madscientist-audio.com/magic-tubes/ I decided to take them up on their free trial offer (£5 p+p) before dismissing them.
Have a look at the "scientific" explanations, down the page. http://www.madscientist-audio.com/blackdiscus.html This guy has a sense of humour.
Try these then. I did. http://madscientist-audio.com/magic-tubes/ I decided to take them up on their free trial offer (£5 p+p) before dismissing them.
Hmmm - a "mysterious mix of black and white powders" that have to be sealed in a tube because they will degrade in air. Well that could be anything hygroscopic: magnesia, baking powder, etc. for the white powder and say ground pepper for the black.
Seriously though, where do you draw the line between "you can't comment until you have tried them" and accepting an item just because the manufacturer is thinking outside the box and whilst unconventional, has genuine merit?
Another thread of taking the piss of stuff no one has actually tried :doh: :( I shouldn't be surprised, but just once it would be refreshing that someone who had actually tried a thing offered an opinion, based on experience not guess work and 'well it can't be therefore it isn't' thoughts/opinions.
And to be clear I am not defending Walker Audio, the company, the products, but just the thought that posting based on first hand experience might be a better thing, than posting with no actual experience.
Sorry Josie but I grow tired of these zero-experience posts/threads.
So why don't you try some Neil and let us know?
awkwardbydesign
17-02-2016, 20:06
It looks like the offer has ended. Give me your address Neil, and I'll post you my pair to try. As long as you post them back. Or I could post them to you Barry; I have your address.
walpurgis
17-02-2016, 20:19
And to be clear I am not defending Walker Audio, the company, the products, but just the thought that posting based on first hand experience might be a better thing, than posting with no actual experience.
Sorry Josie but I grow tired of these zero-experience posts/threads.
I suspect most of us will remain "zero-experience" Neil. There's no way I'm spending money on products that have fanciful claims made about them, that seem to offer no basis in logic or science (let alone common sense).
It looks like the offer has ended. Give me your address Neil, and I'll post you my pair to try. As long as you post them back. Or I could post them to you Barry; I have your address.
That's a kind offer Richard - but in all honesty I don't think I could be sufficiently impartial to give them a fair listening. This is one of those products that seem to me to be so absurd that I'm not going to waste my time with it. Now if it was a cable ..... :eyebrows:
Spectral Morn
17-02-2016, 20:36
It looks like the offer has ended. Give me your address Neil, and I'll post you my pair to try. As long as you post them back. Or I could post them to you Barry; I have your address.
Ok Richard, I am up for that. I will Pm you my details, and yes you will get them, it back.
Spectral Morn
17-02-2016, 20:39
I suspect most of us will remain "zero-experience" Neil. There's no way I'm spending money on products that have fanciful claims made about them, that seem to offer no basis in logic or science (let alone common sense).
Hi Geoff
I don't disagree, but not everything in audio makes sense, or is explainable and yet wacky stuff can and does makes differences. My issue though is taking the piss or dismissive comments with no experience to back them up.
I found this earlier.
Sounds very dark and dramatic...
From Walker Audio. You stick em on yo cart and it relieves you of $645.
Sorry to sound Cynical and I apologise if you swear by them... lol - But it just made me laugh. The photos just look mental.
https://walkeraudio.com/shop/crystal/
:D
What fresh hell is this?:mental:
I suspect most of us will remain "zero-experience" Neil. There's no way I'm spending money on products that have fanciful claims made about them, that seem to offer no basis in logic or science (let alone common sense).
+1.
When there exists no possible physical mechanism to effect change, and instead you're simply relying on the powers of suggestion/mind games (which is ALL that could possibly cause any perceived effect with these "black crystals"), then it's entirely justified to cry 'BULLSHIT' - and I'm about one of the most diehard and rabid subjectivists you'll meet!
Sorry, Neil, some stuff deserves to be dismissed for the nonsense that it is.
Marco.
Spectral Morn
17-02-2016, 21:02
+1.
When there exists no possible physical mechanism to effect change, and instead you're simply relying on the powers of suggestion/mind games (which is ALL that could possibly cause any perceived effect with these "black crystals"), then it's entirely justified to cry 'BULLSHIT' - and I'm about one of the most diehard and rabid subjectivists you'll meet!
Sorry, Neil, some stuff deserves to be dismissed for the nonsense that it is.
Marco.
'More things in Heaven and earth than dreamt of in your philosophy Horatio'
Flanders
17-02-2016, 22:12
I think the cartridge with the diamond eyes is very cute but evil at the same time.
Reminds me of this business. Even though the guy is clearly taking the piss, people still seem to buy his 'products':
http://www.machinadynamica.com/index.html
People will believe anything.
Anyway, I'm off to church.
Floyddroid
17-02-2016, 23:52
Do they do them in blue?
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 16:34
I will be posting them to Neil, then he can take the piss from a position of experience! Disappointed with Marco though, saying there is no possible explanation. Just like cables then. I will accept no known explanation, but then that applied to almost everything at some point, didn't it?
And no, I'm not claiming they work; I make no claims either way.
Arkless Electronics
18-02-2016, 16:42
You may (quite rightly) mock but it's as likely to make an improvement as changing mains cable is and no less ridiculous.
I will be posting them to Neil, then he can take the piss from a position of experience! Disappointed with Marco though, saying there is no possible explanation. Just like cables then. I will accept no known explanation, but then that applied to almost everything at some point, didn't it?
And no, I'm not claiming they work; I make no claims either way.
Either they made a difference or they didn't. There can't be anything half way. And if they did make a difference, was it an improvement or not? Why did you dismiss them?
walpurgis
18-02-2016, 17:27
You may (quite rightly) mock but it's as likely to make an improvement as changing mains cable is and no less ridiculous.
:lol: :thumbsup:
You may (quite rightly) mock but it's as likely to make an improvement as changing mains cable is and no less ridiculous.
Yes, but at least mains leads are physically/electrically connected to the equipment, and thus have a credible mechanism for effecting change - not a simply a pair of 'balls' stuck to the front of your cartridge! It's voodoo bollocks of the highest order.
Much as you'll no doubt say about mains leads, but as ever, we'll have to 'agree to disagree'. At least I've got Colin Wonfor on my side with that one ;)
Marco.
Disappointed with Marco though, saying there is no possible explanation.
What would you offer as one then, out with of brainwashing/fleecing the gullible, via the power of suggestion? ;)
Marco.
The Black Adder
18-02-2016, 17:56
'More things in Heaven and earth than dreamt of in your philosophy Horatio'
Sorry, Neil but without a solid amount of evidence, customer satisfaction and an overwhelming reason to why these work (to which IMO the manufacturer has NOT supplied) then common sense naturally jumps in with a roundhouse kick to the head from behind.
And another point, this thread was started with overwhelming cynicism due to the reason above in bold. It's up to the manufacturer to explain themselves and NOT to lead people down the primrose and let them shell out for what could be utter bollox. It's degrading to real enthusiasts.
I don't start threads with the intent of starting a witch hunt either and I'd like to keep any discussion open to constructive debate. I started this because there wasn't enough evidence to back the product up, hence the cynicism. We read as we read and we sometimes buy stuff that some people don't understand fully. But it needs something solid behind it , for me anyway.
As I said, if anyone uses them and they think that they work then great, good for them. Let's hear more, I'm sure we would all like to know more and bring it in to real world debate... I am prepared to be made to eat my hat. But... IMO it's common decency for a manufacturer to lay it out straight and not hide behind fluff, a dodgy customer endorsement and ask a price point of $645 for something that seems too far-out to believe... at the moment. :)
We need some kind of tangible explanation, not smoke and mirrors.
Arkless Electronics
18-02-2016, 18:26
Yes, but at least mains leads are physically connected to the equipment, and thus have a credible mechanism for effecting change - not a simply pair of balls stuck to the front of your cartridge! It's voodoo bollocks of the highest order.
Much as you'll no doubt say about mains leads, but as ever, we'll have to 'agree to disagree'. At least I've got Colin Wonfor on my side with that one ;)
Marco.
A man who did/does sell cables under the Tellurium brand name I believe.... and anyway he's 100% wrong as is anyone claiming mains cables make a difference :ner: "It's voodoo bollocks of the highest order" exactly what cables are!
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 18:29
Either they made a difference or they didn't. There can't be anything half way. And if they did make a difference, was it an improvement or not? Why did you dismiss them?
I never said I dismiss them. I am simply trying not to prejudice anyone else's opinion. I will express my opinion after anyone who wants to has tried them.
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 18:31
A man who did/does sell cables under the Tellurium brand name I believe.... and anyway he's 100% wrong as is anyone claiming mains cables make a difference :ner: "It's voodoo bollocks of the highest order" exactly what cables are!
Well, if you can't hear something it obviously can't be heard, eh?
Arkless Electronics
18-02-2016, 18:45
Well, if you can't hear something it obviously can't be heard, eh?
Quite right! The fact that the laws of physics are on my side and make it obvious that expecting a difference from a mains cable is JUST as ridiculous as expecting these crystals to make a difference kind of helps ;)
A man who did/does sell cables under the Tellurium brand name I believe.... and anyway he's 100% wrong as is anyone claiming mains cables make a difference :ner: "It's voodoo bollocks of the highest order" exactly what cables are!
A falsehood does not become a truism, no matter how often repeated [or how many exclamation marks are used, to infer some form of authority]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x1000
:ner: :lol:
Also, the "laws of physics" can easily be used/manipulated to suit ones own blinkered (and dogmatic) agendas and prejudices ;)
Marco.
Arkless Electronics
18-02-2016, 18:48
A falsehood does not become a truism, no matter how often repeated [or how many exclamation marks are used to infer some form of authority]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:ner: :lol:
Marco.
I quite agree!!!!!!
Spectral Morn
18-02-2016, 19:09
I will post my findings of the items sent when I try them. In order to satisfy the its in the head, its delusion, its placebo etc crowd I will involve a blind listening test too.
I won't comment further until after I have done so, nor read the thread so I avoid any possible contamination.
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 19:14
Quite right! The fact that the laws of physics are on my side and make it obvious that expecting a difference from a mains cable is JUST as ridiculous as expecting these crystals to make a difference kind of helps ;)
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m604/awkwardbydesign/Einstein%20quote_zpsfwi84jbj.png
I never said I dismiss them. I am simply trying not to prejudice anyone else's opinion. I will express my opinion after anyone who wants to has tried them.
You did in post #16.
Another thread of taking the piss of stuff no one has actually tried :doh: :( I shouldn't be surprised, but just once it would be refreshing that someone who had actually tried a thing offered an opinion, based on experience not guess work and 'well it can't be therefore it isn't' thoughts/opinions.
And to be clear I am not defending Walker Audio, the company, the products, but just the thought that posting based on first hand experience might be a better thing, than posting with no actual experience.
Sorry Josie but I grow tired of these zero-experience posts/threads.
Many years ago I tried a number of Peter Belt devices and attended a number of demonstrations of them - I never heard one jot of difference.
Arkless Electronics
18-02-2016, 20:08
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m604/awkwardbydesign/Einstein%20quote_zpsfwi84jbj.png
Ohm's Law is rather more straightforward and black and white than General Relativity ;)
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 20:19
You did in post #16.
No I didn't. "I decided to take them up on their free trial offer (£5 p+p) before dismissing them." Is what I said. That doesn't mean I DID dismiss them, just that I wasn't prepared to prejudge them. And now I have tried them I have an opinion. But just not prepared to share it at the moment.
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 20:24
Ohm's Law is rather more straightforward and black and white than General Relativity ;)
Is that like holy law? It's a shame that science is becoming a religion, where the words of others cannot be challenged, and anyone who experiences something not covered by the holy word is a heretic or blasphemer. I thought science was about opening minds, not closing them.
Hear, hear! :clap:
Blinkered absolutism/intransigent dogma does a serious disservice to REAL science, genuine learning, and thus PROGRESS! In short, it does nothing but hinder it. See my sig ;)
Long live the free-thinkers and 'heretics' of this world....
Marco.
Arkless Electronics
18-02-2016, 20:38
Is that like holy law? It's a shame that science is becoming a religion, where the words of others cannot be challenged, and anyone who experiences something not covered by the holy word is a heretic or blasphemer. I thought science was about opening minds, not closing them.
There is theoretical speculation as to what may happen to the Laws of physics in the vicinity of a black hole. I believe prof. Hawking is involved in this work. The only other challenges to the Laws of physics seem to come from audiophiles...
awkwardbydesign
18-02-2016, 20:50
There is theoretical speculation as to what may happen to the Laws of physics in the vicinity of a black hole. I believe prof. Hawking is involved in this work. The only other challenges to the Laws of physics seem to come from audiophiles...
I'm certainly not challenging Ohm's law, just the belief that it is the answer.
No I didn't. "I decided to take them up on their free trial offer (£5 p+p) before dismissing them." Is what I said. That doesn't mean I DID dismiss them, just that I wasn't prepared to prejudge them. And now I have tried them I have an opinion. But just not prepared to share it at the moment.
OK, understood; your wording was ambiguous. But why be circumspect about your honest opinion gained after trying these out?
http://youtu.be/nfZ12UGiisM
Kirk has spoken!
I'm waiting for the results of Neil's blind test.
awkwardbydesign
19-02-2016, 08:40
OK, understood; your wording was ambiguous. But why be circumspect about your honest opinion gained after trying these out?
I can't see how that was ambiguous, but never mind. And I have offered these Magic Tubes for others to try; prejudicing their findings is hardly "scientific", is it?
I will post my findings of the items sent when I try them. In order to satisfy the its in the head, its delusion, its placebo etc crowd I will involve a blind listening test too.
So, Neil, if you hear differences with the use of these "crystals", which credible mechanism will you attribute the changes to? May I offer this, as being the likely explanation:
RikrsTLYylk
;)
Marco.
I understand you not wanting to prejudice the findings of others by not stating your views before they have been tried; unfortunately, in this case, you have effectively admitted that you did think they made a difference - so you may as well say all now....
awkwardbydesign
19-02-2016, 13:59
I understand you not wanting to prejudice the findings of others by not stating your views before they have been tried; unfortunately, in this case, you have effectively admitted that you did think they made a difference - so you may as well say all now....
Wow! How on earth did you decide that? Or are you just fishing for clues? I wish people wouldn't try to put words into my mouth; I have neither dismissed them nor admitted I think they made a difference. Reading what is actually written appears to be a dying art!
awkwardbydesign
19-02-2016, 14:01
So, Neil, if you hear differences with the use of these "crystals", which credible mechanism will you attribute the changes to? May I offer this, as being the likely explanation:
RikrsTLYylk
;)
Marco.
Arthur C. Clarke nailed this question.
Indeed... "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
That might cover it, although in the case of these "crystals", I'd substitute "impossible" with 'imagined' - or better still, omit "the impossible", and replace it with 'fantasy'.... ;)
Marco.
Arkless Electronics
19-02-2016, 14:23
Indeed... "The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
That might cover it, although in the case of these "crystals", I'd substitute "impossible" with 'imagined' - or better still, omit "the impossible", and replace it with 'fantasy'.... ;)
Marco.
Just like mains cables :D
legb4rsk
19-02-2016, 14:42
Another thread of taking the piss of stuff no one has actually tried :doh: :( I shouldn't be surprised, but just once it would be refreshing that someone who had actually tried a thing offered an opinion, based on experience not guess work and 'well it can't be therefore it isn't' thoughts/opinions.
And to be clear I am not defending Walker Audio, the company, the products, but just the thought that posting based on first hand experience might be a better thing, than posting with no actual experience.
Sorry Josie but I grow tired of these zero-experience posts/threads.
Off you go then.
Let us know.
Rothchild
20-02-2016, 11:31
Humanity had devised and built tools that can detect gravitational waves The recent finding in the news is based on a measuring device that picked out a warp in space time that deflected the mirror in the detector by one thousandth of the diameter of a proton (http://ligo.org/science/Publication-S6CBCRangeDoc/index.php) so anything that suggests it works in the EM/RF range (and within the gain boundaries of human hearing) is 'easy' to measure and yet no graphs or explanations are offered.
Yes, the human ear is a sensitive listening device (the brain a relatively canny decoding device) but this is orders of magnitude different.
As for experience, I have it in both logic and bullshit which is enough to determine whether I should part with my hard earned for such unsubstantiated claims.
awkwardbydesign
20-02-2016, 14:01
Humanity had devised and built tools that can detect gravitational waves The recent finding in the news is based on a measuring device that picked out a warp in space time that deflected the mirror in the detector by one thousandth of the diameter of a proton (http://ligo.org/science/Publication-S6CBCRangeDoc/index.php) so anything that suggests it works in the EM/RF range (and within the gain boundaries of human hearing) is 'easy' to measure and yet no graphs or explanations are offered.
Yes, the human ear is a sensitive listening device (the brain a relatively canny decoding device) but this is orders of magnitude different.
As for experience, I have it in both logic and bullshit which is enough to determine whether I should part with my hard earned for such unsubstantiated claims.
Assuming you have one of these. " Virgo operated its three kilometer interferometer (V1) "
Is there any relevance in the comparison?
BTW, Magic Tubes posted to Neil today.
PS. I am now waiting for someone to claim I believe in something or other. Or maybe disbelieve? :D
Everyone has their own limit of tolerance I suppose.
If I told you that putting stripes on the hood of your car would give you 10 more BHP would you bother? If I said look I will buy the stripes and put them on and supply a rolling road free of charge to show you the extra 10BHP and you don't have to do anything but come and take a look at the readout would you bother?
There's being closed-minded, which is not good, and then at the other end of the spectrum there is indulging in fantasy. It isn't easy to live in between the two if you are the sort who likes everything boxed off and compartmentalized.
awkwardbydesign
20-02-2016, 15:52
Everyone has their own limit of tolerance I suppose.
If I told you that putting stripes on the hood of your car would give you 10 more BHP would you bother? If I said look I will buy the stripes and put them on and supply a rolling road free of charge to show you the extra 10BHP and you don't have to do anything but come and take a look at the readout would you bother?
There's being closed-minded, which is not good, and then at the other end of the spectrum there is indulging in fantasy. It isn't easy to live in between the two if you are the sort who likes everything boxed off and compartmentalized.
Yes, if you put that much effort into it, and it didn't damage my car. Especially if it turned out like this. My favourite car, BTW.
http://pit.dirty.ru/dirty/1/2012/05/23/34809-193730-ad6808b99a80aa1cd56cb0667036900f.jpg
It isn't easy to live in between the two if you are the sort who likes everything boxed off and compartmentalized.
Ain't that the truth, bruv... It's called cognitive dissonance, and it's a recognised psychological condition: http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html or rather when it comes to discussions like this, and those involving cables, cognitive consistency, which is referred to as:
Attitudes may change because of factors within the person. An important factor here is the principle of cognitive consistency, the focus of Festinger's (1957) theory of cognitive dissonance. This theory starts from the idea that we seek consistency in our beliefs and attitudes in any situation where two cognitions are inconsistent.
Leon Festinger (1957) proposed cognitive dissonance theory, which states that a powerful motive to maintain cognitive consistency can give rise to irrational and sometimes maladaptive behavior.
Can we think of anyone here who might suffer from such "maladaptive behaviour", and the refusal to entertain the existence of that which causes conflict in his scientific belief system? ;)
According to Festinger, we hold many cognitions about the world and ourselves; when they clash, a discrepancy is evoked, resulting in a state of tension known as cognitive dissonance. As the experience of dissonance is unpleasant, we are motivated to reduce or eliminate it, and achieve consonance (i.e. agreement).
Indeed, and those symptoms are obvious in so-called 'objectivists', during debates about cables and such like, which is why the try so hard to dismiss that which causes them dissonance.
Marco.
Well it is sort of a sliding scale for all of us. At certain times it has been claimed that all of the following make no difference to the sound quality:
Speaker cable
Interconnects, digital
Interconnects, analogue
CD transports
DACS
Power amps
Stands and Racks
Isolation feet (except with turntables)
Turntables
Mains Cables
Fuses
plugs and plug sockets
DVD-A / SACD / 'hi rez' in general
180 gramme pressings
Half speed masters
Passing the signal through an AD/DA loop
Bi-wiring
Bi-amping
Fancy caps and resistors
fancy RCA plugs
Mains treatment (regen, filters, balanced)
And that is before we get onto anything that is considered to be complete foo by the vast majority, like the various Belt treatments.
Interestingly pretty much everyone agrees that speakers and pre-amps make a difference. But that's about it.
walpurgis
20-02-2016, 16:38
I am now waiting for someone to claim I believe in something or other. Or maybe disbelieve? :D
A wind up? Maybe? :scratch: ;)
walpurgis
20-02-2016, 16:44
You might as well add 'ears' to that list of yours Martin. Some people seem to have ears that detect no differences in the sounds they're listening to. ;)
Well it is sort of a sliding scale for all of us. At certain times it has been claimed that all of the following make no difference to the sound quality:
Speaker cable
Interconnects, digital
Interconnects, analogue
CD transports
DACS
Power amps
Stands and Racks
Isolation feet (except with turntables)
Turntables
Mains Cables
Fuses
plugs and plug sockets
DVD-A / SACD / 'hi rez' in general
180 gramme pressings
Half speed masters
Passing the signal through an AD/DA loop
Bi-wiring
Bi-amping
Fancy caps and resistors
fancy RCA plugs
Mains treatment (regen, filters, balanced)
And that is before we get onto anything that is considered to be complete foo by the vast majority, like the various Belt treatments.
Interestingly pretty much everyone agrees that speakers and pre-amps make a difference. But that's about it.
I'm extremely open-minded and comfortable within myself, so will accept the existence of any phenomenon in audio, provided that it has a credible physical/electrical mechanism, able to cause genuine change, which passes the scrutiny of *my* judgement criteria, scientific or not.
I never just 'automatically believe' anything; whatever it is, has to be proven to me in a way that satisfies said judgement criteria.
In audio, out with of that which is simply designed to fool us with psychological mind games, such as these crystals, that simply means listening to whatever it is, applying the use of one's judgement criteria, and *ultimately* trusting one's ears and senses, fallible as they are, as to deciding whether or not a phenomenon exists, because elsewhere lies the uncomfortable world of cognitive dissonance - and that's not somewhere I want to be....
I'm also willing and able to reassess my opinions/beliefs, at any time, should it be proven to *my* satisfaction, that they were erroneous - but that doesn't mean just because "the laws of physics" may not appear to be on my side in a hi-fi debate! ;)
Sometimes one has to look beyond the immediately obvious, in order to find the truth - and the ability to do that, and advance from our current state of learning, is rendered impossible by blinkered and closed-minded dogmatism - and I will continue fighting against that, and those who promote it, showing how much it hinders progress in this hobby of ours, until my dying breath.
Long live the free-thinkers!
Marco.
awkwardbydesign
20-02-2016, 16:57
A wind up? Maybe? :scratch: ;)
Eh?
Rothchild
20-02-2016, 22:40
Assuming you have one of these. " Virgo operated its three kilometer interferometer (V1) "
Is there any relevance in the comparison?
I'm not suggesting that you'd use a gravity interferometer to measure hifi, rather that the limits of what is actually measurable (assuming you know what to look for) is so far beyond what is likely to be the audio spectrum that any product that claims to have an audible impact ought to be measurable. Furthermore anyone selling anything designed and manufactured to affect audio signals ought to at least have a clue as to where they might be looking to observe the effect their product causes.
The black crystals may have got a simpler ride by simply claiming to be 'fu*king voodoo magic' at least this doesn't make any claims that wander in to begging verifiability, the trouble is that they make a 'scientific' claim (ie that they work in the EMI/RFI spectrum) but offer up no advice as to what the do or how they interact with those phenomena to generate an audible effect, generally when this happens it's because someone is trying to have one over on you. Even if there was some insight offered to the design and discovery method.
If it means I get a blue and white AC Cobra though, I'll believe anything! Yes please!
The AC Cobra is for illustration purposes only and is not offered as a prize or gift. Terms and Conditions apply.
The Black Adder
20-02-2016, 22:46
Oooh, an AC Cobra... well sexy!
Only if it's a Shelby AC Cobra! :)
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.