'Audio Lies'

[mikeks]

http://www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf

[GRollins]

I find it amusing that he says that Golden Ears don't exist...then that they do.
How typical.
I have long said that hearing is based largely on education. There's no need to assume an inherent physiological mechanism (Although there is emerging evidence that there are "super tasters," people who can, in fact, taste more acutely than others. Interestingly enough, 'super tasters' appear to produce more saliva, which in turn carries more flavor molecules to their taste buds, which gives them an edge on perceiving more subtle flavors. It's fascinating research. Whether physiological differences will ever be found in otherwise normal listeners is an open question.) when so much can be accomplished simply by teaching people to actually pay attention to what their ears are trying to tell them.
In the real world, you see this when people lose their sight. Their hearing 'becomes more acute' to compensate. Whether there is a physiological change is unimportant, at least to a first order approximation. What matters is that they hear better. Leave the how and why for later.
The trick is to learn to hear without having to lose your eyesight. I used several methods to this end, one being that I taught myself to walk through the house at night with no lights on, using only my hearing for guidance. Warning: You'll collect a fair number of bruises on your shins at first. Keep at it and you'll get better.
Although I do not bill myself as a Golden Ear, I do hear things that others do not seem to hear. I do not, and never have, claimed that my ears are superior, per se, only that I have taught myself to hear.
To say that Golden Ears do not exist, then to say that you can teach yourself to be...well, what? What do you call someone who hears well?
Er, um...might I suggest the term Golden Ear?
As for his other points, I leave them as exercises for the reader, but I will note in passing that acuity of hearing is useful in distinguishing the truth or falsehood of claims in audio. In other words, learn to hear before you mock others for hearing things. You may find yourself learning new things.

Grey

[lineup]

Interesting and maybe controversial article
to explore and maybe discuss.

If this article is a lie or not is hard to say.
If it is a total lie, there are no 'Audio Lies' at all.
If this is total truth there are at least 10 'Audio Lies'.

I think it is no lie to say some of it may be true.
How much it is up to us to find out.
If we are interested.
I am.

GRollins is at least intersted in one of these statements, too.

A little bit for those who are lazy downloading PDF:

The Ten Biggest Lies in Audio
by PETER ACZEL http://www.theaudiocritic.com/
...
At the dark end of that spectrum, however,
a new age of ignorance, superstition,
and dishonesty holds sway. Why
and how that came about has been
amply covered in past issues of this
publication; here I shall focus on the
rogues’ gallery of currently proffered
mendacities to snare the credulous.

1. The Cable Lie
2. The Vacuum-Tube Lie
3. The Antidigital Lie
4. The Listening-Test Lie
5. The Feedback Lie
6. The Burn-In Lie
7. The Biwiring Lie
8. The Power Conditioner Lie
9. The CD Treatment Lie
--------
10. The Golden Ear lie

The best defense against the Golden
Ear lie is of course the double-blind
ABX test (see No. 4 above). That separates
those who claim to hear something
from those who really do. It is amazing
how few, if any, GE’s are left in the
room once the ABX results are tallied.

-------------------------------------

There are of course more Big Lies in
audio than these ten, but let’s save a few
for another time. Besides, it’s not really
the audio industry that should be
blamed but our crazy consumer culture
coupled with the widespread acceptance
of voodoo science. The audio industry,
specifically the high-end sector, is merely
responding to the prevailing climate. In
the end, every culture gets exactly what
it deserves.

[hongrn]

After reading Zaph's tests on ribbon tweeters, may be we can add an eleventh lie:

"Ribbon tweeters sound better than dome tweeters".

Hong

[mikeks]

Originally posted by GRollins
I find it amusing that he says that Golden Ears don't exist...then that they do.
How typical.
...........In other words, learn to hear before you mock others for hearing things. You may find yourself learning new things.

Grey

All rather misleading...and wrong to boot...

[Kevinbd]

Hello Mikeks,

I recently asked in another thread whether anyone could please send me a PDF or DOC file on your article on Triple VI protection. I have the original Electronics World article here, but I seem to recall you saying there was errors in it.

Would be much appreciatted. Thanks

Kevin

Email is kevin.d@dnc-electronics.com

[widowmaker]

citation:
"Tubes are great for high-powered
RF transmitters and microwave ovens
but not, at the turn of the century, for
amplifiers, preamps, or (good grief!)
digital components like CD and DVD
players."

Many deaf and stupid engineers write a lot of meaningless nonsenses...

[Cal Weldon]

Can I play devils advocate here and say I love articles like that?

While I can't say I agree with all the points, I do like his choice of subjects.

There is nothing concrete to prove or dispute any of his points, only subjectivity.

[Tweeker]

This insert relabeled production part here is special.

[Tony]

hi mikeks,

me too, tonytecson@gmail.com would like a copy of your article, thanks.