Extreme Snake Oil

[wadude]

Without AudioQuest there would be no sense of direction.

 

[wilcaz]

I suppose so.
But in my estimation he needs chiropractor or massage table IMO.
The amount of slapping himself of the back because all these manufacturers come to him like a muse or sage, would likely give me rotor cuff issues.

Speaking of snake oil

 

[wilcaz]

I remember some blind test where people ("experts" as well) couldn't even reliably tell white from red. It was also found, the more "expertise" a wine lover has, the less their findings reflect reality.

Turns out, connoisseurs have a tendency to be way more biased by presentation and woowoo around it, the usual "Chilean highland wine plucked by virgins" stories, than casual drinkers who are less impressed by blabla and just go by taste.

This subject I actually know a bit about (certainly more than audio).

Blind tests done in black glasses of white and red wine have tricked people but it's incredibly rare for a high-level expert like Master of Wine or Master Sommelier to not be able to tell the difference.

This would take a long time to explain completely but the way top experts are able to blind taste and identify wine isn't by using a perfect memory to automatically identify wines. They spend a ludicrous amount of time studying what the aromatic and flavour properties of different varieties and regions are, memorize the characteristics of each vintage, and then use deductive reasoning based on those cues when they taste wine to "filter" down to the correct answer. They can often be wrong but usually are quite close when they are.

While it sounds silly to a lot of people all the flowery descriptions people use for wine, it is scientifically demonstrable that wine can have literally hundreds of different phenolic compounds present influencing the taste, aroma and mouthfeel (second only to coffee among food/beverages), and some people are more naturally attuned or learned in tasting/smelling than others. So this is not the same as when golden eared audiophiles talk about how musical their DAC is.

 

[Spkrdctr]

This subject I actually know a bit about (certainly more than audio).

Blind tests done in black glasses of white and red wine have tricked people but it's incredibly rare for a high-level expert like Master of Wine or Master Sommelier to not be able to tell the difference.

This would take a long time to explain completely but the way top experts are able to blind taste and identify wine isn't by using a perfect memory to automatically identify wines. They spend a ludicrous amount of time studying what the aromatic and flavour properties of different varieties and regions are, memorize the characteristics of each vintage, and then use deductive reasoning based on those cues when they taste wine to "filter" down to the correct answer. They can often be wrong but usually are quite close when they are.

While it sounds silly to a lot of people all the flowery descriptions people use for wine, it is scientifically demonstrable that wine can have literally hundreds of different phenolic compounds present influencing the taste, aroma and mouthfeel (second only to coffee among food/beverages), and some people are more naturally attuned or learned in tasting/smelling than others. So this is not the same as when golden eared audiophiles talk about how musical their DAC is.

Lets face it. The best wine ever made was the old Boones Farm. A quality product.........

 

[PristineSound]

This guy always had some objectivism in him, he uses these expensive crystal cable in his system.

Spoiler: Video Summary

Doug talks about how some individuals are Hypex said there are things you here cannot be measured, and he got really excited about it.

 

[fpitas]

MSN

My favorite line: With just one signal and one ground conductor, regular 3.5mm headphone cables are susceptible to electromagnetic interference.

Uhm...yeah.

 

[fpitas]

This is ordered and on the way:

I expect it to clarify my treble and increase soundstage to gargantuan dimensions!

Now I have to calculate the optimum position for it

 

[Nutul]

This is ordered and on the way:

View attachment 559078

I expect it to clarify my treble and increase soundstage to gargantuan dimensions!

Now I have to calculate the optimum position for it

IMHO the sound will be too colored...

 

[fpitas]

IMHO the sound will be too colored...

Perhaps only psychedelic music will sound right.

 

[Thighsofsteel]

Perhaps only psychedelic music will sound right.

Or anything by the band Rainbow?

 

[Surfrat]

This is ordered and on the way:

View attachment 559078

I expect it to clarify my treble and increase soundstage to gargantuan dimensions!

Now I have to calculate the optimum position for it

Have you tried crystal infused cables, they will give you a buttery smooth sound

 

[dtaylo1066]

This subject I actually know a bit about (certainly more than audio).

Blind tests done in black glasses of white and red wine have tricked people but it's incredibly rare for a high-level expert like Master of Wine or Master Sommelier to not be able to tell the difference.

This would take a long time to explain completely but the way top experts are able to blind taste and identify wine isn't by using a perfect memory to automatically identify wines. They spend a ludicrous amount of time studying what the aromatic and flavour properties of different varieties and regions are, memorize the characteristics of each vintage, and then use deductive reasoning based on those cues when they taste wine to "filter" down to the correct answer. They can often be wrong but usually are quite close when they are.

While it sounds silly to a lot of people all the flowery descriptions people use for wine, it is scientifically demonstrable that wine can have literally hundreds of different phenolic compounds present influencing the taste, aroma and mouthfeel (second only to coffee among food/beverages), and some people are more naturally attuned or learned in tasting/smelling than others. So this is not the same as when golden eared audiophiles talk about how musical their DAC is.

I did some work with a start-up that had a sophisticated lab that could analyze a wine or beer on copious scientific and measurable fronts. The company could then blend wines or look at certain grower's grapes to come up with a bottle of wine that would have very nearly the same characteristics of a much more expensive wine. I looked at both their analytic data, as well as taste-tested some of their wines. Example: An Opus 1-like wine was one of their analog products. To my taste buds in blind tasting tests it was damn close at $45 a bottle.

Wine is complex, but even the complex can be analyzed and made more simple, and its real-world measurements and performance shown. It is not much different than the Subjectivist vs Objectivist debate we see played out in audio. People will revel in a certain wine or beer as they have been told it should be revered. In reality its QC and final product may suck -- the illusion of quality or high-performance. We see this in audio and the numbers Amir puts up.

 

[mhardy6647]

Or anything by the band Rainbow?

... or that obvious golden oldie, right?

 

[mhardy6647]

Have you tried crystal infused cables, they will give you a buttery smooth sound

That's those Mixed Metaphor cables, isn't it?

 

[Cbdb2]

This subject I actually know a bit about (certainly more than audio).

Blind tests done in black glasses of white and red wine have tricked people but it's incredibly rare for a high-level expert like Master of Wine or Master Sommelier to not be able to tell the difference.

This would take a long time to explain completely but the way top experts are able to blind taste and identify wine isn't by using a perfect memory to automatically identify wines. They spend a ludicrous amount of time studying what the aromatic and flavour properties of different varieties and regions are, memorize the characteristics of each vintage, and then use deductive reasoning based on those cues when they taste wine to "filter" down to the correct answer. They can often be wrong but usually are quite close when they are.

While it sounds silly to a lot of people all the flowery descriptions people use for wine, it is scientifically demonstrable that wine can have literally hundreds of different phenolic compounds present influencing the taste, aroma and mouthfeel (second only to coffee among food/beverages), and some people are more naturally attuned or learned in tasting/smelling than others. So this is not the same as when golden eared audiophiles talk about how musical their DAC is.

The documentary "Sour Grapes" is a fascinating expose of high end wine counterfeiting. The counterfeiter could blind recognize wines he'd only tried once and used this skill to mix cheaper wines to taste like $100k bottles. The people buying them could not tell the difference.

 

[mhardy6647]

The documentary "Sour Grapes" is a fascinating expose of high end wine counterfeiting. The counterfeiter could blind recognize wines he'd only tried once and used this skill to mix cheaper wines to taste like $100k bottles. The people buying them could not tell the difference.

So... it was the Carver Challenge with vinifera, then, was it?

Carver Challenge | BobCarverCorp.com

www.bobcarvercorp.com

 

[Salt]

There are CaveAts...

 

[Speedskater]

Maybe it works like a century old crystal radio receiver.

 

[fpitas]

Maybe it works like a century old crystal radio receiver.

Tapping into the Golden Age of Wireless!

 

[fpitas]

Maybe it works like a century old crystal radio receiver.

That means if I place it on my Mini 300, I'll have that old-timey vintage sound.