Funniest snake oil theories

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jump to Latest
#5,661
On one hand we have John Curl saying if you don't have a high end system don't bother with Bybees which means I presume that the "effects" will not be audible. On the other hand we have Max Headroom saying the effects are clearly audible on an in car system. Add to this the fact that people report different effects or no effect at all and you have to wonder why some people can not accept that it is most likely to be just the placebo effect. Quack quack. 😕
 
#5,667
a.wayne said:
Suppose Jack had claimed to use African Bat Shite in the bullets , so what, we all agree the science claimed is BS, thats not in dispute or an issue, what is , are those claiming no difference without even hearing the damn things and when confronted, regarding them making a difference, then it's all in their heads, because they want to spend 5K on such crap ..... 🙄
Click to expand...

Sy and others have measured them, possibly because of these measurements (not just on this site) over the past several years combined with the fact that the only data regarding the device is marketing BS has caused some to form a considered opinion on the evidence so far thus presented and decided that its a bit dodgy.
Another strange phenomena surrounding these devices is only certain people (believers in audio voodoo being the common factor) can hear difference, these same people also seem to believe in cable directivity, burn-in, de-magnetising CDs and other rather esoteric ideas, there could be a connection.
 
#5,668
fas42 said:
Even though I haven't heard one in action, it seems clear to me from the reports I've read here that they have an effect - there are vast numbers of materials, devices and manipulations that will have an effect on the sound, so first step is to decide whether there is truly a significant net benefit, rather than merely a 'change'; the second, for me, would be to work out an alternative method for achieving an equivalent or better improvement using low cost materials, or tweaking; third, if the benefit, if real, proved impossible to mimic using other means would be to try and understand what the true nature of the interaction is.
Click to expand...

Wot reports or are you referring to the crowd saying what a nice suit the emperor is wearing...
 
#5,669
aardvarkash10 said:
Because I am often asked for scientific proof of the efficacy of my Harmonising Numerical device, I have spent a bit of time testing and tweaking and can finally release the attached data which clearly shows a strong correlation between the number of sales I make and my own expressions of joy.

Many will scorn this as unscientific and irrelevant, but what would they know?
Click to expand...

😀😀😀
 
#5,670
john curl said:
Fredex, Bybee's are expensive, and you should invest in your hi fi system first. But they do work with low cost equipment as well. There is no conflict here.
Click to expand...
John, Good advice and no conflict, unless of course they do nothing at all, or they do everything. What I have read suggests placebo. I can understand how installing Bybees can affect the user, but I don't understand how Bybees can affect an electrical signal beyond what a low value resistor would do. Love your other work but call me a skeptic on Bybees.
 
#5,673
marce said:
Wot reports or are you referring to the crowd saying what a nice suit the emperor is wearing...
Click to expand...
Those people who actually listen to systems equipped with the devices, vs. not, and report their impressions in posts - as compared with those who decide that they can't have an effect, because the explanations are too 'silly'. Having had to deal with similar, irksome behaviours for many years, I admit that just pretending that they weren't "real" would have made life simpler - but I tend to get a kick from decently performing audio, so decided to persist 🙂.
 
#5,674
fas42 said:
Those people who actually listen to systems equipped with the devices, vs. not, and report their impressions in posts - as compared with those who decide that they can't have an effect, because the explanations are too 'silly'. Having had to deal with similar, irksome behaviours for many years, I admit that just pretending that they weren't "real" would have made life simpler - but I tend to get a kick from decently performing audio, so decided to persist 🙂.
Click to expand...

RE my previous post, only a certain category of people hear a difference.
 
#5,675
vacuphile said:
MITsound said:
On warble test tones, two on top of each speaker made a 1.5 db rise @ 10,000 hz at the listening chair, with a RadioShack spl meter.
QUOTE]

1.5dB rise @ 10KHz is pretty much inaudible and certainly below the resolution of a Radioshack SPL meter. Or did I miss the joke?
Click to expand...

No joke, just passing along the measurements . And you're right. I didn't hear the difference, that's why the salesman took the readings and allowed me to do the same.
The point is, something supposedly innocuous made a measurable, repeatable, unexpected difference.
Still a little snake oilish, as it must be cheaper to tweak the filter than what was charged for those 4 "beaks".
Click to expand...
 
#5,679
A device that could remove noise and not affect the signal would be sought after by everyone involved in electronics, it would be a major breakthrough and earn the designer millions, as well as the accolade of engineers throughout the world.
So why isn't Mr Bybee up on a pedestal being worshiped by engineers around the world?
 
#5,680
MITsound said:
The point is, something supposedly innocuous made a measurable, repeatable, unexpected difference.
Click to expand...

I can accept the unexpected and measureable, but in my experience the repeatable is straining it.
1.5dB @ 10kHz difference between measurements can be caused by such innocent things as a person at a position difference of 1/2 foot, or a coffee mug on the coffee table slightly re-placed.
This kind of measurements is, almost in principle, unrepeatable.

jan
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom