All components - including speakers, turntable, cartridge, stylus, tonearm, headshell, CD player, equalizers, tape decks, step ups, and any other components in a system, both passive and active that are in the signal path, can and do add something to the sound that wasn't part of the original recording.
Yes.
Snake oil providers rely on the gullibility of the enthusiastic audiofile, and convert him into an audiophoole.
We are I think most vulnerable when we have just had a breakthrough and are excitedly, like a junkie, looking for more, then we can be duped.
We are I think most vulnerable when we have just had a breakthrough and are excitedly, like a junkie, looking for more, then we can be duped.
Snake oil providers rely on the gullibility of the enthusiastic audiofile, and convert him into an audiophoole.
We are I think most vulnerable when we have just had a breakthrough and are excitedly, like a junkie, looking for more, then we can be duped.
From what I can determine, consumer audio (analog) equipment has "peaked" somewhere in the 1980's.
Figures such as distortion, noise, rumble, etc., were reached, resulting in astonishingly low figures, well below what any human could notice, or even care about.
As much, the build quality also crested - and today's interest in "vintage" is testament to that.
So..... where to go from there?.... and why profess to insist that today's products are any better?
In reality, these new-ish products don't seem to have the same durablity, yet go for much higher prices.
People are fooled into believing things about current products, mainly because they weren't around "back then", or don't compare the facts and figures of a "vintage" piece against something made today.
Marketing today's products focuses on "now", and how great something is.
The younger generation doesn't question this.
Like a "new" turntable with fancy dressings - yet if anything, it sports a measily wow/flutter spec of 0.1 percent - 4 times worse than a mid-80's machine clocked at 0.025 percent.
And the "bare bones" style of amplification today - maybe two lousy knobs and a power LED adorning the front facade.
With a price tag justified by marketing hype of how "cool" the thing is while running class D, the cheap way to design an amplifier.
It's all a bunch of crap to me.
Of course some current High End amplifier makers still offer Class A if you prefer burning hot.
Even when someone else has changed it without your knowledge?

If someone went and changed components in any of my sound systems they better hope I don't notice and if I do it better be like HiFi nirvana, or someone's getting a fat lip.

Hey Mountain Man, Those are some mighty nice fish you have there. What kind are they? It's hard to tell from your avatar. My vision ain't what it used to be.
Black grouper, quite tasty.......but the wise old bohemian guru gonna yell at us for being on the lawn! Better stay on topic! ahhh yes......have you seen the prices of some high end fishing gear?
One boat I frequently go out on has 6 of these.......tackle is worth more than my whole boat!
Daiwa Marine Power MP3000 Deep Drop Reels - J&H Tackle
One boat I frequently go out on has 6 of these.......tackle is worth more than my whole boat!
Daiwa Marine Power MP3000 Deep Drop Reels - J&H Tackle
I assume it comes with blue tooth remote control and a proper handy app for best user experience😀
Black grouper, quite tasty.......but the wise old bohemian guru gonna yell at us for being on the lawn! Better stay on topic! ahhh yes......have you seen the prices of some high end fishing gear?
One boat I frequently go out on has 6 of these.......tackle is worth more than my whole boat!
Daiwa Marine Power MP3000 Deep Drop Reels - J&H Tackle
Bob, you can joke about me all you want.
Doesn't bother me one bit - sticks 'n stones ya know?
And it's obvious the corporate greed is not contained with just audio, but anything these days.
4 grand for a lousy fishin' reel?
Sheriff Andy Taylor from Mayberry would roll over in his grave.
It's hard to tell from your avatar.
A dream-thought I've had is to click on someone's avatar and have it expand into a much higher res photo. I cant see what Bob looks like, only that there's someone holding up a couple of big fish.
Another is does PRR really look like his avatar? Bateman? Jfetter (his old one...)? Wurcer? How's that for off topic?
I really look like the guy in my avatar -
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I really look like the guy in my avatar -
So do I.
I'm pretty sure Bob's the one on the left in his photo.
And the "bare bones" style of amplification today - maybe two lousy knobs and a power LED adorning the front facade.
With a price tag justified by marketing hype of how "cool" the thing is while running class D, the cheap way to design an amplifier.
It's all a bunch of crap to me.
My amp has one knob and a power LED. It's class D. It's cheap. It connects to my sources of music and movies wirelessly - and could be powered by batteries for a completely AC / audio input physical connection free (i.e. floating) amplification system. Its SQ is marvelous to my ears and something I could easily live with the rest of my days.
We have tech available to us today that simply didnt exist back then. Some of it is actually good stuff, provided at very reasonable cost and I'd recommend that you give it a try. You may be astounded that some little, light thing that physically moves when you push the button to turn it on can sound as good (after proper setup) and has the power to drive efficient speakers well into the realm of uncomfortable / no longer enjoyable (for me at my age) SPLs.
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A dream-thought I've had is to click on someone's avatar and have it expand into a much higher res photo. I cant see what Bob looks like, only that there's someone holding up a couple of big fish.
Another is does PRR really look like his avatar? Bateman? Jfetter (his old one...)? Wurcer? How's that for off topic?
I really look like the guy in my avatar -
here ya go.....
sorry wise ol tech , I'll leave it be......but yah tackle can get stupid expensive, gotta say though some of that high stuff feels like your winding a Swiss watch!
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Bob's got one of those beards that nearly goes up to his eyes, like mine.
By the way, nice catch Bob!
By the way, nice catch Bob!
Still can't see what you look like
He looks like someone with a weeks worth of good food in his hands and the supply chest (Gulf of Mexico) behind him.
My amp has one knob and a power LED. It's class D. It's cheap. It connects to my sources of music and movies wirelessly - and could be powered by batteries for a completely AC / audio input physical connection free (i.e. floating) amplification system. Its SQ is marvelous to my ears and something I could easily live with the rest of my days.
We have tech available to us today that simply didnt exist back then. Some of it is actually good stuff, provided at very reasonable cost and I'd recommend that you give it a try. You may be astounded that some little, light thing that physically moves when you push the button to turn it on can sound as good (after proper setup) and has the power to drive efficient speakers well into the realm of uncomfortable / no longer enjoyable (for me at my age) SPLs.
I've got you beat, Joe. My class D amp has zero knobs and zero LEDs. Just a power switch on the side, inputs and outputs.
It's a whole nuther level of kool that most people can't handle. 😎 😀
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My amp has one knob and a power LED. It's class D. It's cheap. It connects to my sources of music and movies wirelessly - and could be powered by batteries for a completely AC / audio input physical connection free (i.e. floating) amplification system. Its SQ is marvelous to my ears and something I could easily live with the rest of my days.
We have tech available to us today that simply didnt exist back then. Some of it is actually good stuff, provided at very reasonable cost and I'd recommend that you give it a try. You may be astounded that some little, light thing that physically moves when you push the button to turn it on can sound as good (after proper setup) and has the power to drive efficient speakers well into the realm of uncomfortable / no longer enjoyable (for me at my age) SPLs.
I'm familier with class D amps, thanks.
And if you like that thing, good for you.
As I've stated many times before, I spent over 45 years in servicing consumer audio/video, so along the way and through the decades, I've had plenty of experience.
As for amplification, I like my robust older class A/B stuff.
You are not the only one here with a lifetime of experience. Your attitude of permanently boasting with your service experience is utterly boring to me.I'm familier with class D amps, thanks.
And if you like that thing, good for you.
As I've stated many times before, I spent over 45 years in servicing consumer audio/video, so along the way and through the decades, I've had plenty of experience.
As for amplification, I like my robust older class A/B stuff.
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