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Flowery Review Language or WTF?

Blumlein 88

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Sadly little remains of that "debate". In a discussion of vinyl's true SQ I make my opinions known, so first there was this,
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...analog-editorial-and-review-30513/#post602750
After that I told Mikey "in the very direct manner I'm known for" what I thought of his motivations and integrity. He responded by telling me if I didn't retract my comments I would be hearing from The Enthusiast Networks lawyers for "besmirching his character". Then a number of CA's regulars jumped on him with comments like, "oooh big man, gonna get my lawyers after you" LOL. At that point Chris stepped in and deleted all of that.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...orial-and-review-30513/index2.html#post602834
Only this last response to him from me still remains and he hasn't returned to CA since.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...orial-and-review-30513/index2.html#post602865

Yes, I was just looking for the link. Some posts from Sal, Fremer and others were cleaned up or deleted.
 
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watchnerd

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Sadly little remains of that "debate". In a discussion of vinyl's true SQ I make my opinions known, so first there was this,
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...analog-editorial-and-review-30513/#post602750
After that I told Mikey "in the very direct manner I'm known for" what I thought of his motivations and integrity. He responded by telling me if I didn't retract my comments I would be hearing from The Enthusiast Networks lawyers for "besmirching his character". Then a number of CA's regulars jumped on him with comments like, "oooh big man, gonna get my lawyers after you" LOL. At that point Chris stepped in and deleted all of that.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...orial-and-review-30513/index2.html#post602834
Only this last response to him from me still remains and he hasn't returned to CA since.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...orial-and-review-30513/index2.html#post602865

Thanks, that was an interesting read.

I've never understood why Fremer feels the need to claim vinyl is superior. I have a turntable, I enjoy it and I don't need to feel like it is technically superior to digital in order to enjoy music from it. Just appreciate it for what it is.
 

Sal1950

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Fitzcaraldo215

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Thanks, that was an interesting read.

I've never understood why Fremer feels the need to claim vinyl is superior. I have a turntable, I enjoy it and I don't need to feel like it is technically superior to digital in order to enjoy music from it. Just appreciate it for what it is.
It has just become part of his brand as a result of his unique personality. You gotta hand it to him, he has worked very hard at it for many, many years, and I am sure it was not always easy. But, he is today the world's leading authority on vinyl playback. It seems to have become a lucrative business for him, paid seminars and all, and obviously he loves what he is doing. But, the rest - the sense of know it all superiority, the "drop your gloves" defensiveness, and all the other obvious flaws in his personality and his arguments - are always on display. Some people just seem to like that macho style, politics being another example.

Been following audio, the technology, the marketing, the press, and fellow audiophiles for a long time. One thing I have always been fascinated by is the "guru" complex many writers have adopted, as well as the extent to which audiophiles worship it. My experience is that people just do not know what they are hearing on their own, so they need the gurus to tell them good vs. bad. Hey, in Michael's ears we trust.
 

Jinjuku

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I read these gems in the DAR review of the PS Audio Direct Stream Jr:

"we still get kick-ass dynamics, clean layer separation and a richness that tops a slight hint of caffeination with a short layer of cream. Macchiato to the AURALiC Vega’s double espresso."

"the DSJ is a moister cake with a broader range of flavour subtleties than the multibit Schiit Gungnir."

"like the Vega (only less so), displays more evidence of espresso-charged caffeination within its high frequency transient delivery."

I have no idea what any of this really means when it comes to sound.

Feel free to either deconstruct or share your examples.

Bottom line is Darko and his ilk believe in the audibility of Ethernet cables. So when a reviewer straps one of those on and purports to hear differences, well anything else they have to say about any other type of equipment just went out the window because it's all bull at that point and they are truly making things up.
 

Jinjuku

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Sal1950 said:
LOL. At that point Chris stepped in and deleted all of that.

Unfortunately, over the years, Chris is starting to become part of the machine IMO.
 
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oivavoi

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Bottom line is Darko and his ilk believe in the audibility of Ethernet cables. So when a reviewer straps one of those on and purports to hear differences, well anything else they have to say about any other type of equipment just went out the window because it's all bull at that point and they are truly making things up.

I had no idea Darko believed Ethernet cables sound different. Link? I've perceived him as reasonably rational in the past, so that's a disappointment...
 

Blumlein 88

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I had no idea Darko believed Ethernet cables sound different. Link? I've perceived him as reasonably rational in the past, so that's a disappointment...


Brace yourself for disappointment.

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/12/global-feedback-can-ethernet-cables-make-a-difference/

From Darko:
Before wrapping Part 1 (of 3 articles) on this subject know that I’ve heard Ethernet cables make a positive difference to sound quality at two separate AudioQuest demos on two separate continents this year alone. I’ll detail those in Part 2 with home listening results to follow in Part 3.

Then you can read his later review of those at his own place from more than two years ago:

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/02/audioquest-pearl-and-vodka-ethernet-cable-review/

John Darko is very rational of course. This kind of writing is what will get you the bucks. He quite rationally decided on this I believe. Or he has been snookered into believing it and they will augment his bucks to keep him in the right religion.
 

Dynamix

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Yeah what was I thinking. I am banned from Steve Hoffman forums so have the experience which I sometimes forget.

Hah, I was banned from there as well. Think I lasted about three weeks. What an absolute dump that place is. And that Hoffman guy, wow...
 

Sal1950

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It has just become part of his brand as a result of his unique personality.
It's really much more than just Mikey, as my "good for commerce" quip glossed over.
But Fremer has become the most vocal leader of an industry that has looked more and more to the vinyl segment for it's financial health. Every one is making a lot of money contributing their little piece to this currently expanding slice of the pie. As I pointed out some months back Stereophile might as well change their name to Vinylphile. Again this months (April) issue has devoted the first 45 pages of editors articles to analog vinyl content,( Fremers Analog Corner, Dudley's Listening, and Reichert's Gramophone Dreams.). This months reviewing content is completely spent on speakers and amps. Digital coverage has been slid to the back burner and it's all about the $ and where the action is. Interesting little che$$ game it's becoming.

My experience is that people just do not know what they are hearing on their own, so they need the gurus to tell them good vs. bad. Hey, in Michael's ears we trust.
That just goes to show you how screwed up things really are. There's nothing wrong about having expert reviewers helping to lead people to good products, we just need an honest media and reviewers. (a lot like today's political media reporters as you say with their fake news). Very few "audiophiles" really have the listening tools to judge anything beyond their preferences. Just like cars, if you want to know what are the top 10 performing sports cars in the world, you have to put some professional drivers in them to test. A bunch of local track day, car club yokels don't have to chops to pass accurate judgments.
 

Sal1950

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Unfortunately over the years Chris is starting to become part of the machine IMO.
Agreed. Someone mentioned he quit his day gig and now CA has become his full source of income? So that just becomes part of the territory when you have to please your advertisers first.
 

Blumlein 88

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Hah, I was banned from there as well. Think I lasted about three weeks. What an absolute dump that place is. And that Hoffman guy, wow...

There is the story of him stealing famous master tapes.
http://microdynamiks.blogspot.com/2015/08/chapter-2-steve-hoffman-tape-thief.html
http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=rock&m=95563

The FBI at least raided his house over it.

I never thought too much about it. After trying to take part in his forum and seeing his behaviour, while completely emotional and illogical that a bad forum experience leads to the other conclusions, I nevertheless feel that he probably did steal them.
 

RayDunzl

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oivavoi

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Brace yourself for disappointment.

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/12/global-feedback-can-ethernet-cables-make-a-difference/

From Darko:
Before wrapping Part 1 (of 3 articles) on this subject know that I’ve heard Ethernet cables make a positive difference to sound quality at two separate AudioQuest demos on two separate continents this year alone. I’ll detail those in Part 2 with home listening results to follow in Part 3.

Then you can read his later review of those at his own place from more than two years ago:

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/02/audioquest-pearl-and-vodka-ethernet-cable-review/

John Darko is very rational of course. This kind of writing is what will get you the bucks. He quite rationally decided on this I believe. Or he has been snookered into believing it and they will augment his bucks to keep him in the right religion.

Thanks. That's it then. No more taking Darko seriously from now on.
 

Sal1950

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RayDunzl

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Sal1950

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SPFC

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I actually do (or did) like reading Darko's website, but I do think it lacks objectivity in many areas. At this point for me it is mostly entertainment. I think that reviewing the KEF LS50 wireless (in my opinion a very short, empty review) at the very end of 2016, naming it product of the year and at the same time putting huge advertisement banner for the LS50w to his main webpage was a bit too much - even though I do believe the LS50s wireless are probably great speakers based on hearing the passive version.

He is also a big fan of Zu Audio and has said many times that he is personal friends with them. Check out how much coverage he has given to their products: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/tag/zu-audio/
 

Fitzcaraldo215

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I think the ad banners may be a prima facie tipoff of major problems, although I also gotta say that anybody who praises Zu audio has lost considerable credibility at the outset, to me at least.
 

oivavoi

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I think the ad banners may be a prima facie tipoff of major problems, although I also gotta say that anybody who praises Zu audio has lost considerable credibility at the outset, to me at least.

Agreed. It's like in politics: if people believe that 9/11 was an inside job, or that climate change is a hoax, I just don't take their opinions on politics very seriously. But they might be experts on audio, though! :)

Praising Zu speakers is an equivalent red herring in audio for me.

But it's a shame, Darko seems like a smart guy, and he knows how to write.
 
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