Michael Fremer said :-

[montesquieu]

Completely agree with your sentiments, Jim. When you're 'out there', like Fremer is, in his field, and are a big, bold personality, you're bound to have your detractors - and I don't suspect he'll give a damn!

Marco.

Perhaps the very definition of a plonker is someone who doesn't care whether he comes across as a plonker - but just because he doesn't care doesn't mean he isn't one.

[Pharos]

Agree entirely, and think he epitomises a lucky spoilt brat, who seems not to have to do much to enjoy his celeb status and luxurious Hi-Fi.

I don't think that having all the gear he has is worth paying the price of having to be him.

[Joe]

Agree entirely, and think he epitomises a lucky spoilt brat, who seems not to have to do much to enjoy his celeb status and luxurious Hi-Fi.

I don't think that having all the gear he has is worth paying the price of having to be him.

I don't know anything about how Fremer got to be a 'celeb' (even in the somewhat limited world of hifi), but generally speaking in this world, you make your own luck. As far as 'having to be him' is concerned, he seems happy enough being himself.

My golden rule, borrowed from the words of Jesus according to St Matthew, is 'judge not, that you may not be judged'. Or, in aother words, 'Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile away and they'll have no shoes'.

[Marco]

I don't know anything about how Fremer got to be a 'celeb' (even in the somewhat limited world of hifi), but generally speaking in this world, you make your own luck.

I completely agree. I'm also a great believer in karma, and in generally 'what goes around, comes around'... If you're essentially a good person, and set out to do more good than harm, then I believe you'll be more rewarded in life than punished.

Marco.

[Marco]

Perhaps the very definition of a plonker is someone who doesn't care whether he comes across as a plonker - but just because he doesn't care doesn't mean he isn't one.

Ha - well I've always admired folks who have the balls to say what they think and be themselves, regardless of who might not like it. I'd rather that than bland, gutless, shrinking violets, with about as much personality as an empty cardboard box, boring me to death every time that they open their mouths!

That's not being a plonker: that's having the confidence and self-assuredness to be yourself, and others can simply 'like it or lump it' - an attitude I can relate to myself

Fremer: "I don't do this to make friends". Quite... But if he makes some genuine ones along the way, simply being HIM, then that's all to the good. Exactly my mantra.

Marco.

[dave2010]

Ha - well I've always admired folks who have the balls to say what they think and be themselves, regardless of who might not like it. I'd rather that than bland, gutless, shrinking violets, with about as much personality as an empty cardboard box, boring me to death every time that they open their mouths!

That's not being a plonker: that's having the confidence and self-assuredness to be yourself, and others can simply 'like it or lump it' - an attitude I can relate to myself

Fremer: "I don't do this to make friends". Quite... But if he makes some genuine ones along the way, simply being HIM, then that's all to the good. Exactly my mantra.

Didn’t dislike the video - though did it finish early? Maybe the Youtube version is in several parts.

Not consciously aware of Bremer before, and he doesn’t even surface with a simple web search.

The stuff he reviews is seriously expensive though - see https://www.stereophile.com/writer/90

I doubt that any of us here could put together a system with components from his “best” list. The turntable in his list is probably about the same “value” (cost) as our house!

[Pharos]

Ha - well I've always admired folks who have the balls to say what they think and be themselves, regardless of who might not like it. I'd rather that than bland, gutless, shrinking violets, with about as much personality as an empty cardboard box, boring me to death every time that they open their mouths!

That's not being a plonker: that's having the confidence and self-assuredness to be yourself, and others can simply 'like it or lump it' - an attitude I can relate to myself

Fremer: "I don't do this to make friends". Quite... But if he makes some genuine ones along the way, simply being HIM, then that's all to the good. Exactly my mantra.

Marco.

Shrinking violets, oh yes I remember those form the . . . . . 50s and maybe the 60s, but not in modern Britain, or even in western society where egotism reigns, and everybody's view is equally valid. (Ha Ha).

If one is sufficiently a plonker, then one may well exhibit plonker's behaviour because, being a plonker, one is unaware of how others can see we are one.

His platform is ideal for the forming of a mutual admiration society, which to me is not the basis of real friendship.

[Marco]

Shrinking violets, oh yes I remember those form the . . . . . 50s and maybe the 60s, but not in modern Britain, or even in western society where egotism reigns, and everybody's view is equally valid. (Ha Ha).

We all have egos. It simply depends on whether you allow them to control you or not, and also if you're able to recognise and embrace your faults. I think part of the problem with Fremer (and his ilk) is that in general the rather 'reserved' nature of British people conflicts with the opposite of many (successful) Americans!

Plus, we've always been a nation with a tendency to support the underdog more, and praise 'gallant losers', than champion and commend true achievers and winners. In America it's quite different - and that is part of the problem with how people such as Fremer are perceived by British audiophiles.

In that respect, I simply see him as someone who's done well for himself, through hard work, and isn't afraid to show it - and I applaud that attitude!

If one is sufficiently a plonker, then one may well exhibit plonker's behaviour because, being a plonker, one is unaware of how others can see we are one.

Notwithstanding, of course, that the definition of a "plonker" is entirely subjective

As for friends, I didn't set out to make any, when starting this forum [rather to express my views on a number of relevant subjects and help others if I could], but have succeeded to make some good ones along the way, as well as upset a few folk, such is life.

As the old saying goes: 'You can't please all of the people all of the time', so you do your best to be true to what you're passionate about and believe in, sticking to your principles in the process, in the hope that someone else will appreciate what you're doing and benefit from it. I suspect that Fremer has a similar mantra, and believes that he's been successful in it.

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

We all have egos. It simply depends on whether you allow them to control you or not, and also if you're able to recognise and embrace your faults. I think part of the problem with Fremer (and his ilk) is that in general the rather 'reserved' nature of British people conflicts with the opposite of many (successful) Americans!

Plus, we've always been a nation with a tendency to support the underdog more, and praise 'gallant losers', than champion and commend true achievers and winners. In America it's quite different - and that is part of the problem with how people such as Fremer are perceived by British audiophiles.

In that respect, I simply see him as someone who's done well for himself, through hard work, and isn't afraid to show it - and I applaud that attitude!



Notwithstanding, of course, that the definition of a "plonker" is entirely subjective

As for friends, I didn't set out to make any, when starting this forum [rather to express my views on a number of relevant subjects and help others if I could], but have succeeded to make some good ones in the process, as well as upset a few folk along the way, such is life.

As the old saying goes: 'You can't please all of the people all of the time', so you do your best to be true to what you're passionate about and believe in, sticking to your principles in the process, in the hope that someone will appreciate what you're doing and benefit from it. I suspect that Fremer has a similar mantra, and believes that he's been successful in it.

Marco.

Well having viewed the whole of Mr Fremer's video yesterday, and actually concentrated on it I have formed a personal view. So some of what I am about to say may mean others class me as a plonker but to be honest I don't care, so maybe I am one.

I actually didn't find Mr Fremer being particularly boastful, he was IMO opinion just showing what he had as kit, and pointed out on several occasions this had been acquired over a number of years, and even that he had borrowed money to buy some of it from the bank to get it. I don't understand what people see wrong in that? He obviously is a music fan, and has spent many years collecting records, and presumably 2nd hand as well as new, which I can relate to, but certainly not on the same scale.

The kit he did not own he said was on loan and under test, which is to be expected based on what he does. He also said that it was not the best of listening rooms but had got it to what he wanted, and his system had that wow factor, once again I don't see much wrong with that. I think we all hope our system is special in some way and if a respected reviewers system was not great in the first place then he would not have much to judge other products against, low or hi-end that is.

I am not sure why some find him arrogant, maybe its just because he has some very expensive gear that he is talking about, well so what, my system is relatively expensive in comparison to what others own but that does not necessarily make me an arrogant person. Personally I feel lucky to own what I have and be able to enjoy it, I expect Mr Kremer is much the same but in his case it is part of what he does to make a living.

[Marco]

I actually didn't find Mr Fremer being particularly boastful, he was IMO opinion just showing what he had as kit, and pointed out on several occasions this had been acquired over a number of years, and even that he had borrowed money to buy some of it from the bank to get it. I don't understand what people see wrong in that? He obviously is a music fan, and has spent many years collecting records, and presumably 2nd hand as well as new, which I can relate to, but certainly not on the same scale.

The kit he did not own he said was on loan and under test, which is to be expected based on what he does. He also said that it was not the best of listening rooms but had got it to what he wanted, and his system had that wow factor, once again I don't see much wrong with that. I think we all hope our system is special in some way and if a respected reviewers system was not great in the first place then he would not have much to judge other products against, low or hi-end that is.

I am not sure why some find him arrogant, maybe its just because he has some very expensive gear that he is talking about, well so what, my system is relatively expensive in comparison to what others own but that does not necessarily make me an arrogant person. Personally I feel lucky to own what I have and be able to enjoy it, I expect Mr Kremer is much the same but in his case it is part of what he does to make a living.

Me neither, and it's not like he was living in a mansion, adorned with the finest of everything. It seemed like a decent-sized, but fairly normal house, albeit it (certainly in the rooms that were shown) rather cluttered with hi-fi equipment/associated paraphernalia and music software! But that's his job, and also his passion.

Perhaps, therefore, the thing that many are jealous of is not his supposed wealth or success, but rather that he's been able to earn a living doing something that he LOVES - and his home has been able to facilitate that, rather than his wife or partner, if he has one, as is so often the case with others with similar interests, telling him/moaning that he's not allowed to have big speakers, and who are forced instead to work in some dead-end job that they hate, with a boss that they hate even more?

Mr Fremer is clearly a HAPPY man, who's contented with his 'lot' in life, and experience tells me that that can irk some people [who daily experience the opposite], and cause them to hate you, far more than them resenting how much money you appear to have...

Marco.