Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,152
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 16, 2018 11:02:59 GMT
This one keeps popping up everywhere. The gist often seems to be:
“I am superior to poster “x” because I listen only with my ears, whereas he uses his eyes or wallet, and falls for the marketing/looks/brand.”
My first thought on this is that there is nothing wrong in factoring in things other than sound. For instance I don’t like extremely bouncy decks and it pits me off using them so what’s the point of choosing one because I will listen less. I also like to feel at ease in my surroundings and I enjoy listening more when I have harmony around me. If something spoils that feeling, then it would make me enjoy my surroundings less and affect my mood when listening. For example, tacky, flimsy kit that is less likely to last. I don’t want any of that stuff in my system because it doesn’t appeal to me.
My second thought is that anyone thinking they only use their ears to choose is extremely naive. Blind listening lays the lie to this and it seems to scare the Sh#t out of many who pontificate. I reckon there are a million conscious and subconscious things going on when we evaluate, buy and listen to our kit.
Finally, I’m always perplexed why others care so much about someone else’s choices and what they feel the need to impose their own preferences on others.
Does anyone here feel,theynuse only SQ to choose kit? Anyone readily admit other factors are a significant influence? If so, what are they?
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Post by macca on Sept 16, 2018 11:53:32 GMT
Do a straw poll of people you know and ask them if they think advertising has any effect on them. Surprising how many people, even smart, highly educated people will claim it doesn't. In fact they are more likely to claim it doesn't affect them. We like to believe out decisions are our own and are uninfluenced by external factors when the opposite is the true.
So yes, I accept I am influenced by looks, by brand, by condition (if it looks minty-mint that will help its perceived SQ) and so on.
Hi-fi is to an extent unique in this because our appraisal of it is so subjective. I mean it is hard to imagine that your Chevrolet Matiz drives like that 5 series Beemer you had a go on, no matter how much of a bargain it was. How the Matiz rides, handles and accelerates will soon bring you back down to earth. Whereas comparing/judging sound quality is a bit more ethereal.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 11:56:14 GMT
Does anyone here feel,they use only SQ to choose kit? Yeah. It's all that really matters to me. I try to listen to equipment before I buy, but obviously I haven't and can't hear every bit of equipment I'm interested in, but I've been in this game for long enough to judge how items may sound by their spec and type. I'm usually good at predicting how a mps and particularly speakers are likely to sound. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 12:26:00 GMT
I dont know where to start with this. Some one could write an essay on this.
The audio forums are littered with these posts which dont say "i am inferior because of...." in words but infer it. Maybe i am guilty too.
My mostly diy system has been in various states of untidiness over the last 10 years. For the last four it has had no cases, lights or knods to twiddle. Wires everywhere bits tacked on here and there. I like to see whats going on and get the fire extinguisher ready in good time.
So i think just lately i have been listening with my ears as every little (or big) change is made. If i really took notice of what it looked like then i would likely think it sounded like shite, but i honestly dont think it does.
When i eventually build it into a wooden sideboard (yes i really am going to do that) then looks will come into it play. I must say that on forums and the internet in general i am mostly interested in what it looks like inside, what it is made of and how it works. If i was buying a normal system from seperates i would take looks into account i am sure of that. But i would not chose something on that basis. If i auditioned 2 bits of kit and liked them equally then i would chose the most aesthetically pleasing to me.
See, i told you i talk bollocks.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,152
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 16, 2018 13:01:49 GMT
Internal build is always something I look for too. I have taken the lid off everything I’ve owned. Usually within an hour of getting it. The best built stuff still tugs at me today and I guess it always will.
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Post by macca on Sept 16, 2018 13:56:03 GMT
A good rule of the thumb is that if it weighs loads it's almost certainly pretty good.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 14:22:39 GMT
Who was the manufacturer that put a flat steel bar inside their cases just for that reason? There was one. Can't recall who though.
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Post by macca on Sept 16, 2018 14:28:31 GMT
There's a video on the internet where a bloke opens up some flashy surround speakers and they are just one crap driver with a chunk of concrete to make them feel 'hefty'.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 14:47:10 GMT
I'll have you know that was an advanced inertial damping device.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 15:19:44 GMT
I'm not sure there's anything wrong with liking what you're are looking at as long as the performance is what you are looking for (See: Women)
Build quality is far more important to me. An empty box just turns me off.
For me, sound is paramount but I'm not going to apologize for liking how something looks.
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Post by antonio on Sept 16, 2018 16:05:10 GMT
No one has to apologise for liking how something looks. A manufacturer many people like, and that I would not give house room to is McIntosh, so yes looks do matter to me. I prefer nothing too blingy, so that rules out many high end/price hifi made today.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,152
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 16, 2018 16:32:05 GMT
McIntosh would be one of my “end game” choices, as would Accuphase. I don’t think I want a pre/power again. Just extra boxes and wires for no necessary benefit.
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Post by alit on Sept 16, 2018 16:34:17 GMT
Pee and wires won’t really mix lol.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 18:27:50 GMT
Do a straw poll of people you know and ask them if they think advertising has any effect on them. Surprising how many people, even smart, highly educated people will claim it doesn't. In fact they are more likely to claim it doesn't affect them. The only time I was immune from advertising was when I was flat broke and couldn't afford to buy anything. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2018 18:46:31 GMT
No one has to apologise for liking how something looks. A manufacturer many people like, and that I would not give house room to is McIntosh, so yes looks do matter to me. I prefer nothing too blingy, so that rules out many high end/price hifi made today. I'd like a few days with a McIntosh, just to see if it was any good. The 275 is beautiful imo but some of their other bits are garish. |
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