Extreme Snake Oil

[w277]

Here is a good one from the [redacted] at "The Absolute Sound": Gryphon 3 Power Optimiser .

I liked this section:

"The big theory
In fact, what little criticism the PowerZone 3 faces has nothing to do with its performance; it’s that the claims for why it does what it does will rankle with audio’s Science Club… who don’t need to listen to the Gryphon PowerZone 3 to form an opinion about it!

For the rest of us, the Gryphon PowerZone 3 is a game-changer. It helps bring out what your system is capable of without sacrificing one aspect of its overall performance. Sure, it’s expensive and that puts it in the context of some very lofty audio electronics, but if you want those electronics to have a glow-up, go for Gryphon!"


I have done the highlighting.
BTW: IMHO Gryphon should make the device more expensive, maybe that would make it even more useful for the buyers...

 

[Audiofire]

Better to be a member of this Science Club than the cult of snake oil

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Maybe try some rocks

 

[Andrew s]

Maybe try some rocks

View attachment 457597

Best with rock music. Regards Andrew

 

[Audiofire]

This thread makes me feel smarter!

 

[xray]

Maybe try some rocks

View attachment 457597

The practice of switching different rocks to achieve audio nirvana is called Rolling Stones

 

[Ropeburn]

The practice of switching different rocks to achieve audio nirvana is called Rolling Stones

Jesus died for your puns.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Do not click on this website or you gonna buy all the their products

hifituningprodukte - Sieveking Sound

Sieveking Sound

www.sieveking-sound.de

 

[Salt]

Do not click on this website or you gonna buy all the their products

View attachment 457661

hifituningprodukte - Sieveking Sound

Sieveking Sound

www.sieveking-sound.de

Ordered once a fuse of these (cryo and that stuff) just out of curiosity . It came with corroded contacts and measured O.L with the multimeter. So sent it back.
Later I found the advice on the WWW, to not measure these fuses with a MM, because this might damage them

 

[Nutul]

This is dishonoring German technology and loyalty to hi-quality engineering. Perpetrated by a German company...?
We deserve to be doomed, this is the naked truth.

 

[Ropeburn]

This is dishonoring German technology and loyalty to hi-quality engineering. Perpetrated by a German company...?
We deserve to be doomed, this is the naked truth.

Same as Inakustik. I consider them a national embarrassment.

 

[Salt]

To be honest: this is not engineering, but marketing and merchandizing.
Engineering skills were one root of prosperety of this country, and will be in the future (if politics won't ruin it again and again).

 

[Audiofire]

People are ignorant all over the world, but smart people are also in each country. Money is invested in different ways, so Germany has a lot of education and rich people to buy products like other European countries. America has made engineering marvels with the military and mass-produced goods. Japan has a lot of engineering skills with electronics. The generalization about German engineering skills doesn't work so well with modern globalization and consumerism.

 

[Nutul]

To be honest: this is not engineering, but marketing and merchandizing.
Engineering skills were one root of prosperety of this country, and will be in the future (if politics won't ruin it again and again).

Nobody said this was engineering; just they are ruining its name.

 

[Salt]

People are ignorant all over the world, but smart people are also in each country. Money is invested in different ways, so Germany has a lot of education and rich people to buy products like other European countries. America has made engineering marvels with the military and mass-produced goods. Japan has a lot of engineering skills with electronics. The generalization about German engineering skills doesn't work so well with modern globalization and consumerism.

It was and would be, look at solar things, UAV and that things... the engineering is here, but the execution ... global, agree.

 

[Salt]

Nobody said this was engineering; just they are ruining its name.

Nothing to add to ..

 

[Audiofire]

the engineering is here

Definitely, but there has been a generalization that German engineering is better than any other. This can only be true sometimes and there is no doubt that people want their own country to be the best. Germany is one of the biggest economies and a lot of that money is invested in products, which many people have seen like cars.

 

[Ropeburn]

Definitely, but there has been a generalization that German engineering is better than any other. This can only be true sometimes and there is no doubt that people want their own country to be the best. Germany is one of the biggest economies and a lot of that money is invested in products, which many people have seen like cars.

It's certainly a somewhat emotional and irrational topic. Reputation is a wonderous thing. Sometimes you can feed on it for decades once it's been established, even though it may no longer be true to the same degree. And still profit.

2017 global survey:

The German reputation for excellence is hard earned, although certainly not always true and arguably declining slowly, but steadily.

But as you all can imagine, it's a source of national and personal pride that's based on own merit, instead of putting down others. The best kind of pride.

Now imagine what it must feel like for Germans who have this pride in excellent work imprinted on them from birth on, to hear about such obvious snake oil sellers who basically abuse the famed "Made in Germany" label for profit from what is basically treason: direct lies and deception and scam. Embarrassing! It goes against every ideal this nation stands for, including honesty and uprightness.

 

[Mnyb]

Yes Sweden will move down a couple of notches with those guys making these silly earthing boxes …

Funny part is that almost nothing is really made in any country in the list . it’s more like final assembly of Chinese parts are done by skilled craftsmen in country xyz

Jokes aside any real supply chain might be global and a final product is basically made in every country.

But there are semi local stuff , I’m buing a new kitchen the cabinets and carpentry are made locally in the next town . some veneers and colors are probably produced somewhere else .
Particle board like hdf and mdf are made here in Sweden

Swedish steel is in some cases made from iron ore sourced in Sweden made in Swedish blast furnaces, rolled in Swedish mills . But even then I suppose some metals used in the alloys are imported.
And it’s the high quality special materials. I suppose standard quality rebar etc is imported ( so I’m told by people in that business ).

I’m often working with the Swedish paper industry that’s manufacturing all manner of pulp and final products like cardboard and printing paper that’s sold internationally . The actual folding of boxes and printing can be made in another country. For example a box for a cell phone or bottle of whiskey or a milk carton.

 

[OldHvyMec]

Classified Listed June 16, 2025 3:03am · 18 Views









Time Left: 30 Days
Ending: 07/16 at 06:03 AM ET
New Retail Price:$27,600.00
$17,500.00
Make Offer

Condition	10/10
Payment methods
Ships from	Lutz, FL, 33559
Ships to	United States
Package dimensions	32.0" x 26.0" x 26.0" (175.0 lbs)
Shipping carrier	FedEx
Shipping cost	Log in to see price
Original accessories	Box
Average	Research Pricing

• Description
• Policies

I have for sale two three shelf Ictra Proto audio racks with High Gloss shelves and shelf spacing of 12". These two racks are new in the box and have not been opened or used at all. The price new for each was $27,600. I am offering (firm) each for $17,500. If you buy both, the price is $30,000 total. My shelf requirements changed unexpectedly during the time the racks were being manufactured. My loss is your gain. You can view the specs for these exotic, high end racks on the manufacturer's (Ictra) website. On these adjustable racks, the total distance between the top of the bottom shelf and the bottom of the top shelf is 22 inches. The vertical distance between holes for the shelf supports is 4 inches.

There is a review of this rack that is available on the pt.audio website. It was written September 4th 2022 and should be accessible by search.

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I have no idea about snake oil, but when I was passively snooping and saw this, I was astonished at what the guy paid, left in the box, and actually bought TWO.
I see 3-4K for the pair and I would really be looking to get that at 50% discount at least.

I've built a set of wall hangers (if THAT is what it is) from seasoned black walnut and the hardware for assembly was highly polished stainless trim and hangers. It was quite the eye catcher, but at 27,600, EACH and discounted to 17,500 EACH, I was still shocked at the price.

The ones I built had sandwiched 1/2" BR between 2 1" thick 22x24 shelves and were trimmed with Birdseye Maple. They took me a couple of months to glue, plane, sand, and finish, but the two 3-tier shelves I made were 3500.00 for the pair. The SS trim was the main cost at 1500 for the polishing. I think there were 25-30 pieces of custom stainless. 1995 or so.

Can you imagine 55,200.00 plus tax, shipping and insurance. 60K for wall hanger shelves? Holy Macaroni!!!

I wonder what the guy would have paid me for the black walnut/SS. Because they looked better than those and were completely isolated for his dual turntables/preamps and electrical/Topaz stuff on the bottom shelf. A couple dozen or so of those and a guy could build up a pretty good nest egg with 48K profit a pop (at least)

Regards