The *only* BLOG I read..

[ScottG]

I just realized..

While I have several interests, both professional and hobby oriented, I seem to read only one Blog:

http://www.zaphaudio.com/blog.html

Its a *good* read - with both substance and an interesting personal perspective.

I sure don't agree with everything John has to say - but thats part of the reason I enjoy his Blog (..afterall, who want's a proverbial parrot?).

So if you find yourself "wandering" the net, and are in a DIY audio mood - perchance stop by and see what's new over at John's website, you might find yourself informed and entertained.

...................................


Also..

On a related note and considering his recent website stats:

"..there were 3500 unique ip address visitors, 13000 pages served, 180,000 images served and 2 gigs of bandwidth"

I'd like to encourage John to start adding some payed adds.

Nothing large or garish, and certainly nothing that might induce a seizure.

Such advertising could help defray his costs.. and after a while might generate enough income to more than provide for all shipping costs. (..and here I think this is his largest hurdle, beyond his own time, to having a VERY diverse driver list for fellow DIY'ers to compare from.)

As a "for profit" site, (hopefully meeting minimum federal income rules), it might also provide a greater dis-incentive to would-be Hacker's (..who currently have NO fear of reprisal).

[Glowbug]

I agree - even though I may not agree 100% with everything he says, I can respect the level of detail and attention to accuracy he places in his work. As for me...

http://www.furious.com/perfect/vinylanachronist.html

I've been reading Marc's column now for a while, and it's kinda the same thing - I don't agree with him all the time, but it's usually a good and entertaining read that you can take something away from. And he's really helpful via email if you have a question.

[ucla88]

I'd have to disagree about advertising. No one likes it. All diy'ers make fun of it, and it potentially could be a source of bias. Like myself, John prides himself on a certain amound of independence. A modest web site doesn't cost all that much. I'd set one up myself except that some other diy'ers have been so gracious enough to lend me some free web space. Of course, his site gets a lot more traffic, what with the hidden teen porn links












http://www.markk.claub.net/

[ScottG]

Originally posted by ucla88
I'd have to disagree about advertising. No one likes it. All diy'ers make fun of it, and it potentially could be a source of bias. Like myself, John prides himself on a certain amound of independence. A modest web site doesn't cost all that much. I'd set one up myself except that some other diy'ers have been so gracious enough to lend me some free web space. Of course, his site gets a lot more traffic, what with the hidden teen porn links
http://www.markk.claub.net/

No one likes it? Thats a generality.. but I often find it true - still it is a generality. (..diddo the "making fun of it".) Never the less, advertising is an every day fact of life - and most websites have some measure of it, moreover most websites are not ridiculed (at least not continously) for having it - as long as they have content worth comming back to.

As to bias -

That COULD be a potential problem. HOWEVER, the whole notion of bias (in this instance) hinges on directly related advertising to the website's content. The solution to this is (cough) "painfully" simple - accept advertising that does NOT bear a direct relationship.. i.e. no advertising about loudspeaker drivers or from co's that sell loudspeaker drivers. And yes.. I do think (considering his website's "pull") that he is more than capable of finding such advertising.

Finally..

While the website itself may well be de minimus to John.. the drivers he personally purchases (and measures/displays for all) are certianly not. Nor is the wood need for alternate baffle inserts (..nor the occasional router bit replacements needed). Nor is the return shipping for those drivers that were lent for measurment. Nor is the shipping for those drivers by those owners. In fact, as I suggested previously, I'd bet that nullifying JUST those shipping costs - both forward and return with insurance, would substantially increase the diversity of driver offerings for measurment.

[Andy G]

Originally posted by ucla88
A modest web site doesn't cost all that much.

Of course, his site gets a lot more traffic, what with the hidden teen porn links

Learn to DIY your own web site. I don't know how it works over there, but down here, most isp's provide a 10Mb or more web allocation when you hook up.

as for the other comment...... that's a bit cruel, isn't it !!!!!!

[Zaph]

Originally posted by ScottG
I'd like to encourage John to start adding some payed adds.

Thanks for the comments about my blog. I'm glad some people enjoy reading it. As far as advertisements, I'm about as likely to put ads on my site as I am likely to put on a ballerina outfit and dance in the street in front of my house. In other words, about 98% unlikely.

Money is not a problem for me. I don't exactly have money falling out of my ***, but I'm doing ok in life. Time is the real issue. I can never have enough time to do everything I want.

I run a blog for selfish reasons. It's a place for me to express myself without the ability for anyone else to chime in with debating counterpoints. I can pretty much say what's on my mind without starting an endless debate or listening to ill-founded subjectivism. But, when I'm not saying what's on my mind, I'm just posting updates about what I'm doing or little tidbits that don't belong on the main page.

Note that my web site doesn't always get the activity I noted, it usually peaks after I post something new that generates interest on forums. I can plot statistics charts over the last year and point out where things happened... ZD5 project, medium peak; 5.5" woofer test, large peak; ribbon tweeter tests, massive peak and I go into hiding for a month, etc.

Originally posted by ucla88
Of course, his site gets a lot more traffic, what with the hidden teen porn links

LOL, you're on to my secret.

[ScottG]

Originally posted by Zaph


Money is not a problem for me. I don't exactly have money falling out of my ***, but I'm doing ok in life. Time is the real issue. I can never have enough time to do everything I want.

It is a good read.

My post (with regard to advertising) was more about generating additional measurements via a greater diversity of drivers. (..your site is already the best I've seen in this regard - but more, *MUCH* more can't hurt ). I don't know though - it could be that you are receiving everything you want/can handle.. in which case its a moot point. However,

..there *COULD* be those occasional times of excess: "say, just how poorly do those diamond drivers measure?"

..or better yet: "you know.. I really *do* need a full Klippel system." ..admit it - you know you do.


EDIT: nice sub test!

[speakerguy79]

Regarding the boutique comments Zaph made, I've personally heard of someone badmouthing Zaph's testing and methodology becase their driver didn't do so hot.

Won't say who, but it's easy to surmise.

[ScottG]

Originally posted by speakerguy79
Regarding the boutique comments Zaph made, I've personally heard of someone badmouthing Zaph's testing and methodology becase their driver didn't do so hot.

Won't say who, but it's easy to surmise.

Its bound to happen. Anytime you "commit" yourself to any opinion at all someone will on occasion proclaim the opposite (..and sadly, often be rude in the process)- just a part of life.

[speakerguy79]

Yeah but this was the actual mfgr, not just another internet persona...