Stereophiles editor Jim Austin publicly disagreeing with Kal Rubinson

[Talisman]

Again - you have failed to demonstrate your accusation. Nowhere in that thread has an individual who claimed to like a bad measuring speaker been accused of defective hearing - nor of being moronic.

This is the only audio site that interests me, because it really seems to me the only one that treats high fidelity audio in a sensible and rational way, without useless magic and imaginative beliefs. However this site is not perfect, nor are all of its guests. I don't understand why to go on the defensive, this attitude I have sometimes found myself too. I can trivially recall (but I don't want to go looking) how someone commented on the rp600m how horrible they must sound (based on Amir's review) to any musically educated ear, thus implying that anyone who found them pleasant, despite the frequency response. not flat, were someone "not educated to good listening", which is not the same as saying that he is an idiot, for heaven's sake, but he certainly expresses a judgment on a taste, and this is never kind.
I think there is some of this attitude on the site, it's not something worth blaming for bad faith or trolling.

 

[Deleted member 21219]

...... Demands can be made regarding propriety, but only a ban can stop the posters from ...... arguing simply for the sake of arguing.


Jim

Didn't take a prophet to see that one coming, did it? Jim

 

[fpitas]

Didn't take a prophet to see that one coming, did it? Jim

No we're not!

 

[Astoneroad]

Didn't take a prophet to see that one coming, did it? Jim

I moonlight as a "Prophet for Profit". I see people questioning math & science while giving money to Con Men who promise divine intervention. I see @BDWoody continuing to kick ass and take names. If these turn out to be true, please donate to my "cannabis & coffee fund" to assure that I have fuel for my future visions.

 

[ahofer]

But you edge towards the idea it is "useless" to gain information about speakers from the subjective impressions reported by other people (e.g. audio reviewers, presumably other audiophiles...)

Not “edging”, I’m there.

Enough. We disagree.

 

[mhardy6647]

The Science of Comedy (Sort of)

Humor studies have traditionally lived in the rather unfunny world of philosophy departments. Thankfully, psychologists and neuroscientists study mechanisms of humor and laughter, too.

journalofethics.ama-assn.org

Research into comedy…

I am reminded of a joke I heard from biophysicist Gary Ackers many (many) years ago.
I shall paraphrase


A small community was beset by tragedy when their dairy cows stopped giving milk. The local farmers contracted with dairy specialists, veterinarians, engineers, and, as they grew ever more desperate, biologists, and even chemists, in hopes of figuring out what was going on. Finally, with no solution and still no milk from their herds, they contracted with a physicist. The physicist assured the farmers that she* could get to the root of the problem A week later, she returned to the community and said, "After a week of work including contracted supercomputer time** I have solved your problem!"

"Great! Please, please -- tell us the solution!"

The physicist drew a deep breath and began to speak.
"First, consider a spherical cow of radius r and mass m... "

_______________
* Let's say she for a little 21st century diversity.
** I told you it was a long time ago!

 

[Deleted member 21219]

I moonlight as a "Prophet for Profit". I see people questioning math & science while giving money to Con Men who promise divine intervention. I see @BDWoody continuing to kick ass and take names. If these turn out to be true, please donate to my "cannabis & coffee fund" to assure that I have fuel for my future visions.

I can do that! Jim

 

[fpitas]

I am reminded of a joke I heard from biophysicist Gary Ackers many (many) years ago.
I shall paraphrase


A small community was beset by tragedy when their dairy cows stopped giving milk. The local farmers contracted with dairy specialists, veterinarians, engineers, and, as they grew ever more desperate, biologists, and even chemists, in hopes of figuring out what was going on. Finally, with no solution and still no milk from their herds, they contracted with a physicist. The physicist assured the farmers that she* could get to the root of the problem A week later, she returned to the community and said, "After a week of work including contracted supercomputer time** I have solved your problem!"

"Great! Please, please -- tell us the solution!"

The physicist drew a deep breath and began to speak.
"First, consider a spherical cow of radius r and mass m... "

_______________
* Let's say she for a little 21st century diversity.
** I told you it was a long time ago!

My version features a mathematician and a spherical chicken. The essence is the same...

 

[Astoneroad]

My version features a mathematician and a spherical chicken. The essence is the same...

Physicist Fritz Zwicky's "favorite insult was to refer to people whom he did not like as "spherical bastards", because, as he explained, they were bastards no matter which way one looked at them." ... cows and chickens and bastards... Oh My!

 

[teched58]

<snip>. . . I find it hard to believe that Jim Austin elevated and enabled this zealot's bellowing. In the comments section of Kal's review of an Anthem amplifier.

What a conspiracy theory it would be if someone suggested that the comments of the zealot -- who uses the handle "Jack L" -- are coming from inside the building.

 

[Deleted member 21219]

What a conspiracy theory it would be if someone suggested that the comments of the zealot -- who uses the handle "Jack L" -- are coming from inside the building.

Then he'd need to change his handle to "Jack S". Jim

 

[mhardy6647]

What a conspiracy theory it would be if someone suggested that the comments of the zealot -- who uses the handle "Jack L" -- are coming from inside the building.

One "Jack L", if memory serves, was (and perhaps still is) an audioasylum... umm... inmate.
I may be thinking of another Jack, though -- and, as many of y'all know, I am too lazy to check.

 

[puppet]

This just in ".... a body was discovered over the weekend in the Sasperilla, WY gymnasium. A local audio club, "Be Yourself" held the annual fun event and most of it's members were reportedly in attendance. The body was found slumped over in a corner covered with CD jackets in an attempt to hide the victim. Cause of death appears to be bi-wire strangulation. More on this as further details develop."

 

[fpitas]

It still surprises me that speaker manufacturers think it's worth wasting money on extra terminals for bi-wiring. I guess they sell enough more speakers to make up the difference.

 

[Mr. Widget]

It still surprises me that speaker manufacturers think it's worth wasting money on extra terminals for bi-wiring. I guess they sell enough more speakers to make up the difference.

I think it is marketing driven and written off as part of the cost of doing business. Just like the notion that fat wires must be better wires, too many people think that a speaker that does not give you a bi-wire option must not be a serious speaker.

I would rather the money be placed elsewhere in the product, or in my pocket, but what can we do?

 

[puppet]

This just in ".... a body was discovered over the weekend in the Sasperilla, WY gymnasium. A local audio club, "Be Yourself" held the annual fun event and most of it's members were reportedly in attendance. The body was found slumped over in a corner covered with CD jackets in an attempt to hide the victim. Cause of death appears to be bi-wire strangulation. More on this as further details develop."

'" ... Update: Local authorities are looking for one Skip Towne for questioning regarding the death of Ty Knot over the weekend. Skip Towne, a local pool maintenance tech, was seen arguing with Ty Knot in the parking lot of Atomic HiFi earlier in the week. The argument reportedly had to do with some messages left around the local neighborhood. "SKIP HAZENT A CLUE" and "TOWNE BE A FOOOOL" were just some of the messages left. Skip was seen pouring a MTN Dew Citrus Mango Lemonade over Ty's vehicle before speeding away from the lot.

Ty Knot was a local handyman beloved by many. Described as a "let me paint your fence" kind of guy. The local sheriff is asking for community help in locating Skip. If you have any information regarding Mr. Townes' whereabouts you're asked to call the local PD. Ask for Ruby Lou, she'll take your statement.""

 

[Sal1950]

It still surprises me that speaker manufacturers think it's worth wasting money on extra terminals for bi-wiring. I guess they sell enough more speakers to make up the difference.

I costs them nothing, it's rolled in the price and you pay for them, like it or not.
My JBL's have the same.

OH WAIT, My Adcom amps lack the extra speaker terminals to do it properly.
There goes my chance at getting two sets of NorDoz Odin Gold cables, they're only,

Odin Gold Loudspeaker Cables are terminated using Nordoz’s gold-plated HOLOLUG® spade and Z-plug banana connectors. The retail price is $54,999.99 for a 1.5 meter length; additional half meter stereo increments are $8,000.00. LOL

Beware that price is over a year old, possibly gone up.

 

[fpitas]

I costs them nothing, it's rolled in the price and you pay for them, like it or not.
My JBL's have the same.

OH WAIT, My Adcom amps lack the extra speaker terminals to do it properly.
There goes my chance at getting two sets of NorDoz Odin Gold cables, they're only,

Odin Gold Loudspeaker Cables are terminated using Nordoz’s gold-plated HOLOLUG® spade and Z-plug banana connectors. The retail price is $54,999.99 for a 1.5 meter length; additional half meter stereo increments are $8,000.00. LOL

Beware that price is over a year old, possibly gone up.

I thought it sounded low. I wouldn't expect to get a good audiophile cable for that price

 

[Sal1950]

I thought it sounded low. I wouldn't expect to get a good audiophile cable for that price

Seriously, who would spend $110,000.00 to bi-wire their speakers
That's just insane !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr. Widget]

Seriously, who would spend $110,000.00 to bi-wire their speakers
That's just insane !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spending $500 on speaker wires is pretty nutty too, but thousands of people do that.