Stereophile's Jim Austin Says Streaming Atmos Sucks

[MattHooper]

Being this forum a rationalist place and being history my field of expertise, I can confirm that the Spanish inquisition did not rely on zealots; that was the style of English witch finders.

The Inquisitors and their "family" confidants were a highly rational group of actors with systematic methods and double check systems. That is precisely what made them so effective and saved the Hispanic Crown all the internal religious turmoil other places such as France had.

None were nice, though, and the terror flew free on all geography.

Well, I didn’t expect that ! ….

 

[Ron Texas]

Is being an audiophile rational?

 

[Vacceo]

Is being an audiophile rational?

 

[Ron Texas]

Is that Darwin Award day?

 

[Vacceo]

Well, I didn’t expect that ! ….

Is that Darwin Award day?

Darwin day is Feb 12th (his birtday). It´s a celebration of scientific research and has been taken by secularist groups that try to fight back creationism. Darwin Awards are a different animal.

 

[Newman]

Being this forum a rationalist place and being history my field of expertise, I can confirm that the Spanish inquisition did not rely on zealots; that was the style of English witch finders.

The Inquisitors and their "family" confidants were a highly rational group of actors with systematic methods and double check systems. That is precisely what made them so effective and saved the Hispanic Crown all the internal religious turmoil other places such as France had.

None were nice, though, and the terror flew free on all geography.

Awww, now you’re letting facts get in the way of Matt’s name-calling made-up put-down story about me!

 

[Vacceo]

Awww, now you’re letting facts get in the way of Matt’s name-calling made-up put-down story about me!

Do you know where I live? Just a few kilometers away from the very place Inquisitor Torquemada got his family name.

 

[MattHooper]

Is being an audiophile rational?

Sure. Just apply addiction criteria: is it substantially interfering with your life, happiness, and your and your family's well being? If not...it's rational. Have fun.

 

[Vacceo]

Sure. Just apply addiction criteria: is it substantially interfering with your life, happiness, and your and your family's well being? If not...it's rational. Have fun.

It absolutely is if taken right. First, identify your preferences, then, apply data to acquire gear that fits those preferences, and finally, build and adjust your system with your goals in mind.

And... Crank up the subwoofers till your neighbours start a lynching.

 

[Ron Texas]

Sure. Just apply addiction criteria: is it substantially interfering with your life, happiness, and your and your family's well being? If not...it's rational. Have fun.

Fritz with his million dollar system was not rational by this definition.

 

[Sal1950]

Is being an audiophile rational?

Except for a few Momentary Lapse Of Reason, Yes

 

[Vacceo]

Fritz with his million dollar system was not rational by this definition.

It´s quite possible to archive what he wanted with a lot less.

 

[Human Bass]

768kpbs is fine by me. I remember netflix saying 192 was good enough for 5.1 lol

 

[Justdafactsmaam]

Is being an audiophile rational?

Is joy rational? I think the point of any hobby is to bring joy into our lives. Not sure if rational applies or not.

With that said there certainly is a lot of irrationality in the hobby. In fact it dominates the hobby.

 

[Vacceo]

Is joy rational? I think the point of any hobby is to bring joy into our lives. Not sure if rational applies or not.

With that said there certainly is a lot of irrationality in the hobby. In fact it dominates the hobby.

Joy itself is arrational (like any other feeling), but archieving it can be a very rational endevour. That´s why there is a whole field in philosophy called ethics.

 

[Down South]

Streaming charges are going in one direction only, how long before they approach the cost of owning physical media. Streaming music is a far bigger rip-off for artists than record companies ever were - it begins.

 

[Justdafactsmaam]

Joy itself is arrational (like any other feeling), but archieving it can be a very rational endevour. That´s why there is a whole field in philosophy called ethics.

Now there’s a big can of worms. Ethics in audio. Keeping my can opener in the cupboard on that one.

 

[Vacceo]

Now there’s a big can of worms. Ethics in audio. Keeping my can opener in the cupboard on that one.

Not really: ethics enquires about th morality of actions. This is not about looking or disliking, but about coherenceand values behind actions.

 

[Justdafactsmaam]

Not really: ethics enquires about th morality of actions. This is not about looking or disliking, but about coherenceand values behind actions.

No, really. One can argue that the hobby as a whole is immoral. How can a moral person spend thousands of dollars on audio when there is world hunger and nation wide homelessness? (Please don’t answer) It’s a can of worms I’d rather not open. And that is the last I am going to say on the subject.

 

[Down South]

Back around 2010 my Dutch friend Harry told me a tale about ego.

Whilst visiting an audio shop in Groningen, Friesland, he talked me into buying some silver foil coupling caps. In walked a man who said "I have €20K, cn you put together a system that will make my neighbours green with envy. I don't care what it sou8nds like as long as it makes them totally envious".

The guys who ran this shop couldn't believe what they were hearing, "are you seriou" - yes I am he replied. So they put together a system that was all bling.

Two weeks later harry was back to pick up the two pairs of hand made coupling caps. Whilst he was there the same man walked in beaming, really happy with his €20K purchase. "all my neighbours are envious". The guys who ran the shop said OK but what about the sound. "sod the sound, I don't care about that".

A true story. I look at the price of some of the bling t/ts, can't believe that there are people prepared to pay so much for decks that don't even match the best of the Japanese superdecks of the late 70s'/80s' but they do. I saw the price of a new top of the range amplifier from I think it was Rega @ £20K.

OK there are far worse things to spend money on.