A talk for the local skeptics community

[RickS]

Did fancy resistors or capacitors make the list?

 

[solderdude]

I think the answer is "barely". I'll ask the host.

could have been fun to watch and the discussion afterwards...

 

[j_j]

Did fancy resistors or capacitors make the list?

Not circuit people for the most part, they were more "taken" (which is to say laughing out loud) about all of the "quantum" stuff. Likewise we didn't get to the colored fuses, etc. Interestingly, somebody showed up this morning to put "angry" on my facebook post from years ago about FIR filters, on every comment in the thread. These guys get around.

 

[Salt]

Gold plated, silver plated, Rhodium are some simple numbers ... Quantum (physics) are hard arythmetics to digest ..

 

[pkane]

Interestingly, somebody showed up this morning to put "angry" on my facebook post from years ago about FIR filters, on every comment in the thread. These guys get around.

FIR filters are a very emotionally charged subject

 

[rdenney]

Sorry I missed this thread before throwing Ted Denney (NO RELATION!) and Synergistic Research into the mix.

But I'm glad everyone had a good time. Laughing and pointing at deluded people while pretending that we've never been deluded ourselves--always fun.

Rick "editing would be the greatest challenge" Denney

 

[egellings]

Amazingly, this nonsense is still going on… spraying CDs, demagnetizing them to make them sound better.

The notorious Geoff Kait formally a shadowy figure on audio forums (including here ) and CEO of the “ this is a joke. It has to be a joke, right ?” Machina Dynamica website/store, actually appeared in person on the OCD Hi-Fi Guy YouTube channel not long ago.
Where he rattled on about all sorts of crazy ideas.

Mikey of OCD hi-fi guy bills himself as a straight shooter, no BS guy, but that doesn’t stop him from of course, promoting all sorts of BS.

Here he put some of Machina Dynamica‘a products to test - an unlabelled spray for CDs, and a demagnetizer.

It’s worth scrolling to the demagnetizer. Truly hilarious what you get for your hard earned money:

And of course he heard a positive difference.

As soon as I see "quantum" on any audio product, I avert eyes and file out the door. It's an easy to see bullshit signal, instantly detectable.

 

[egellings]

I am an engineer. I am neither pessimistic nor optimistic. I simply know my calculations indicate that there will be no fatalities under the worst case design criteria.

Be careful to check that you did not misplace a dismal point somewhere in your calculations.

 

[kemmler3D]

As soon as I see "quantum" on any audio product, I avert eyes and file out the door. It's an easy to see bullshit signal, instantly detectable.

I forgot about this one... truly fascinating stuff. One of those internet phenomena where you can't decide if it's a joke or schizophrenia at work.

He sells a modified Casio clock under the theory that because recordings are made in the past, "time coordinates" from the past enter your room and confuse your animal instincts, creating a perceived threat. Even he is unable to propose how this could happen, finally giving up with a "somehow"... but wow.

I mean, it's really creative snake oil, you have to give him that. I think it is best to file this under "performance art".

 

[j_j]

FIR filters are a very emotionally charged subject

Apparently so, since the ?same person? started with a second profile after I threw out the first one.

And now cruising around youtube and posting insults on some of my tutorial videos, apparently.

 

[HaveMeterWillTravel]

Did fancy resistors or capacitors make the list?

Capacitors are one component where there can be a divergence between the basic listed parameter and it's actual performance.
The most well known is the impact the frequency, but the shift in capacitance due to the DC bias level can have a significant effect for DC-link applications.

 

[HaveMeterWillTravel]

Sorry I missed this thread before throwing Ted Denney (NO RELATION!) and Synergistic Research into the mix.

But I'm glad everyone had a good time. Laughing and pointing at deluded people while pretending that we've never been deluded ourselves--always fun.

Rick "editing would be the greatest challenge" Denney

In a previous career I enjoyed engineering the perfect conditions to create clearly audible effects when normally would not be (yes, proper ABx, etc etc. ).
It wasn't about "Voodoo" but rather a challenge for others to figure out how it was done.

 

[j_j]

Capacitors are one component where there can be a divergence between the basic listed parameter and it's actual performance.
The most well known is the impact the frequency, but the shift in capacitance due to the DC bias level can have a significant effect for DC-link applications.

Gee, you mean like humongous electrolytics used as DC blockers in single-ended power amplifiers?

Yeah, I think you do. That effect can be really, really measurable, too.

 

[j_j]

In a previous career I enjoyed engineering the perfect conditions to create clearly audible effects when normally would not be (yes, proper ABx, etc etc. ).
It wasn't about "Voodoo" but rather a challenge for others to figure out how it was done.

Well, it's easy to show that SNR means diddly-squat. You have seen the "13 dB miracle", yes? The one wherein white noise 13.6 dB below the signal is added, vs. the same SNR with noise perceptually shaped?

It does kind of make the point.

 

[RickS]

Gee, you mean like humongous electrolytics used as DC blockers in single-ended power amplifiers?

Yeah, I think you do. That effect can be really, really measurable, too.

Is a bit more of a hurdle for lay folk to go from caps used in amplifier power supplies to understanding caps in speaker crossovers. My wife does auction management and landed a motor starter cap to sell. She now has a grasp of why they are useful!

So what did you present?

 

[Spkrdctr]

I too wish I had a recording of JJ's lecture. It would be entertaining!