Extreme Snake Oil

[whereisbrian]

9600 euros for a major trip hazard in the living room...
I would trust the cat's opinion on this one

View attachment 445358

The only interesting fact is the cat.

 

[MoreWatts]

Cable makers don't even hide the fact that their claims are all magic and....

Voodoo Labs Carbon Age Standard Cables​

.... it's written on the box! Voodoo & Witchcraft & Carbon Age & Flux Optimised, even a black cat for the logo...

At this point cable companies openly mock their customers. Besides 'Voodoo,' 'Snake River' and 'Snake Oil' cable companies exist...

Btw, the cables are $8200...

This cat and brand name looked familiar. The original post didn't get much comment because my post was followed by one where someone could hear differences in cables, which then led to the usual 4 page storm....

 

[Ropeburn]

VL WITCHCRAFT™ V8 MASTER Speaker Cable Grid 2m

WITCHCRAFT™ V8 MASTER (patented by the German Patentamt as patent No.10 2023 001 225 and No.10 2023 005 249) 2025 “CABLE OF THE YEAR“, Reference, ToneAudio “The VL Witchcraft cables reveal more music than anything I've used, offer the least amount of tonal degradation, and from what I can...

voodoolabs.myshopify.com

View attachment 445312View attachment 445313

"Witchcraft by Voodoolabs"

They aren't even hiding it anymore. Buyers be like:

 

[Audiofire]

"Witchcraft by Voodoolabs"

"fairly priced"

 

[xray]

"fairly priced"

It's a typo. It should be "fairy priced"

 

[Ken1951]

It's a typo. It should be "fairy priced"

That's unfair to the fey everywhere!

 

[Ropeburn]

That's unfair to the fey everywhere!

Elite hyperborean fairy who travelled all the way past the southern ocean to learn new magic:

 

[xray]

That's unfair to the fey everywhere!

Only the fey can hear the difference

 

[salmo]

This time is a snake oil, but on... well, mystical level? Look at this picture I found on aliexpress offer. Nothing suspicious at first, just a usb-isolator connected to another usb-isolator:

But look at it once again:

Do you know what it is? It's a radioactive sticker containing thorium-232(!) Its gamma and beta emissions are small, but it's certainly not healthy to inhale 'dusty' particles from stickers like this one.

 

[Audiofire]

Do you know what it is?

Free energy generator - don't tell anyone, top secret

 

[SoonToBeRetired]

This time is a snake oil, but on... well, mystical level? Look at this picture I found on aliexpress offer. Nothing suspicious at first, just a usb-isolator connected to another usb-isolator:
View attachment 446029

But look at it once again:
View attachment 446030
Do you know what it is? It's a radioactive sticker containing thorium-232(!) Its gamma and beta emissions are small, but it's certainly not healthy to inhale 'dusty' particles from stickers like this one.

Reminds me of my Dad's Staticmaster Record Brush with the radioactive strip behind a grill so that your couldn't touch it--else be contaminated. It was supposed to attract dust, not sure if it actually did.

 

[mhardy6647]

Polonium or americium (typically) for the radioactive (as opposed to piezo) anti-static guns and brushes; alpha emitter.

Spoiler: tariff "humor"

I wonder if gizmos containing americium would be exempt from tariffs...

 

[VientoB]

Polonium or americium (typically) for the radioactive (as opposed to piezo) anti-static guns and brushes; alpha emitter.

Spoiler: tariff "humor"

I wonder if gizmos containing americium would be exempt from tariffs...

Only if they come from Russia.

 

[fatoldgit]

Not sure if this has been flagged.

Taiko are at it again with a new server...the Olympus

To ensure my blood pressure/mental state stayed normal I haven't read any of the reviews in full (aside from going to the end to see the conclusions...which are the usual dribble).

You can buy just the server or server with optional I/O module which of course provides for even more dribble.

If you have the stomach, find and read the reviews ...I am sure they make for riveting reading.

Of note is the price... the combined price is €112,500...I am sure idiots will flock to buy them.

- Olympus server XDMI – €84,000 – excluding VAT
- Olympus I/O – €28,500 – excluding VAT

 

[Audiofire]

the combined price is €112,500

Sounds like a Lamborghini dealership

 

[Alexander Gödde]

Not sure if this has been flagged.

Taiko are at it again with a new server...the Olympus

To ensure my blood pressure/mental state stayed normal I haven't read any of the reviews in full (aside from going to the end to see the conclusions...which are the usual dribble).

I browsed a few reviews, and the degree of stupid and misguided is astonishing. At this point, high-end audiophilia is a fully fledged religion, including various schisms. These people are mostly at a point where reason cannot reach them anymore. I guess once you have invested tens of thousands into voodoo it is always easier to add another layer of obfuscation and rely on validation within the group than to admit that you have been duped.

 

[mhardy6647]

I have been reading a thread Somewhere Else about fuses. I guess some folks just jumper out their fuses with copper bus bars and either take their chances or use some sort of (expensive) bespoke outboard protection. Gott in Himmel.

 

[Ropeburn]

I have been reading a thread Somewhere Else about fuses. I guess some folks just jumper out their fuses with copper bus bars and either take their chances or use some sort of (expensive) bespoke outboard protection. Gott in Himmel.

To my shame I must admit even my dad (an electronics engineer!) isn't immune to this. When my parents moved last time, the electrics were old and had to be completely renewed, so he took the opportunity and had them lay a separate power line for the stereo. Special "audiophile" fuse holder and melting fuse, because regular breakers don't sound good, or so he had heard.

It's all proper and to safety standards at least, and didn't cost much, but that doesn't stop mum (who's also trained in the field) and I regularly making fun of him for it. "Breakers ruin bass definition! Gold plated melting fuse for 100€ the piece gets you better and harder attack on all the horrible freejazz (typical "audiophile" music he's into lmao) with all the soft brushed drums and dun dun dun softest bass in the world, played by a 2x5W tube amp that draws so much power so quickly".

 

[w277]

If you are fluent in German, there is plenty of "fun stuff" on this site:

Antiresonatoren für Geräte | OptimizeAudio

Antiresonatoren für Ihre Hifi-Geräte dämpfen die Vibrationen und verbessern den Klang.

www.optimizeaudio.com

deepl translation:

Use of antiresonators on the outer panels of the appliance.

Our self-adhesive “antiresonator”, a small pill - measuring 11mm x 2.3mm (see picture) - is a highly efficient “vibration killer”. This accessory should be attached to each sheet metal part (top cover, front panel, rear connection plate, etc.) (see the procedure in the next chapter).

The anti-resonator is available in black, gold or white color.

Please note that only the model with the hole in the middle may be used for appliances!

 

[Truth Ness]

Hello everyone!
I'm a long time reader but just now signed up to your great forum. Love the (scientific) attitude and it really is a bulwark against all the bullshit in the audio world. There are not that many places/fora like this and i am glad it exists.
So thanks a lot to everyone who is contributing!
For many years i always have a good laugh about those stupid audiophoolish claims, marketing, products, videos, "reviews" etc if i stumble upon one.
This particular thread brought me countless moments of shattering laugh, i didn't read it all but a good part of it.
I really don't know what's up with those guys. It's just plain stupid and it seems to never stop somewhere. Unbelieveable ridiculous.
just checked out the last posted one (antiresonator ) and invite you to do so, too. That site is full of gems and totally worth a visit if you'd like to have a couple of entertaining moments