Steve Guttenberg - Audiophiliac

[NoSnakeOil2]

to a small degree sure, but Zu audio are so bad its not even funny. theres no way anyone would have a taste like this.

not to mention the beaming of such an 10" + 1" or 2" alignment without any crossover. for example they use a huge 2" radian 500hz capable driver from 12khz 1st order.

For the right price they will.

 

[NoSnakeOil2]

With something that awful I wonder how many of those people would actually give the same answer blinded.

If they do give the same answer, what music lead to that preference?

i think it would be a bit harsh to have a reviewer blinded...

 

[mnemonix]

BTW, I wish he'd do something with his look.

If anyone finds themselves starting to take Steve seriously perhaps this might 'curb their enthusiasm'

 

[Teroz]

He's not doing "reviews" but an introduction to the device.
There is a simple reason, he gets payed for it and he's tongue is tied: he can't say anything negative that is not accepted by the company.
This is the same in every hifi publication around the world.
He is basically just online gear seller.
The only ones that can say what they want are those who buy the gear by themselves.
The markets are relatively small in really high end stuff and no one will let you say what you want if you get the gear + money from company.

 

[balletboy]

People read reviews for all sorts of reasons, and a former hifi dealer will have a good idea from his experience with customers what some people like to read about or listen to. I recently bought a pair of speakers because my wife loved the design and in particular the color. She also liked the sound, in fact she’s beaming music to them now. The amount of joy and harmony that has broken out in this house is immeasurable.

he does look like Larry David’s long lost twin and if he’s half as funny I’ll have to check out his website.

 

[Helicopter]

I like Steve G. He is very good at making entertaining videos, and he loves music and audio gear. He just doesn't care about measurements or understand transparency and psychoacoustics, so he should be taken with a grain, or measure, of salt.

 

[egellings]

I read these reviewers mostly for entertainment.

 

[NoSnakeOil2]

That's a deep dive I'm not inclined to make.

Thesaurus for Dummies.

 

[charleski]

The interviews are the best part of Steve’s channel. I think it’s really worth watching this one, with a lady who’s spent years selling high-end gear in both America and China. She pretty-much nails the true motivations of most of her customers: “I enjoy something better than my friends can have, or I prove to myself I made it.” (11:30).

Such honesty is refreshing.

 

[Wombat]

One-upsmanship. There is a book about it:

Selling to mans' insecurities is older than salespersons.

 

[ZenTraveler]

The markets are relatively small in really high end stuff and no one will let you say what you want if you get the gear + money from company.

Agreed. There's not much audience in HiFi that those reviewers only can depends on sponsorship to keep going. Few reviewers in YouTube that started with more objective review but now only will say how good for everything they review.

 

[anmpr1]

She pretty-much nails the true motivations of most of her customers: “I enjoy something better than my friends can have...” (11:30). Such honesty is refreshing.

Digging deeper, what she said in context is that the owner of high priced gear justifies his purchase by saying, "I work harder than my neighbor and therefore..." Just to be clear, that motivation does not equate to mere avarice and/or snobbery, and is very Weberian. If Max was writing today his book would be titled The Anti-Confucianist Ethic and the Spirit of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

She also claims that some buyers don't want to take the time and effort to buy, learn, and then have to buy again once their knowledge increases, so they just go to the store and buy whatever they can afford regardless. That sentiment prevails in audio today, everywhere. Back in the day I knew folks who would go to the store and order a complete teak or rosewood Bang and Olufsen set to go with their Scan Design furniture. The sound didn't really matter. It was the Danish modern look that did. Or purchase a McIntosh system sight (and sound) unseen because they could, and had heard good things about the brand.

On the other hand, I knew a man who owned an (at the time) very expensive McIntosh audio system along with expensive loudspeakers. You wouldn't have known it since he kept all the pieces behind walnut cabinet doors, and his loudspeakers where hidden behind screens. He enjoyed his gear for personal pride of ownership, and it was a testament to his success. But it had nothing to do with whatever his neighbors owned, for which he could not have cared less.

That said, my experience with a certain segment of mainland Chinese nouveau riche (and they all are pretty much 'nouveau', the modern Chinese era beginning from the time of Deng Xiaoping) is that some of them, like some Westerners, certainly enjoy consuming conspicuously and then showing their luxury brands in public. Bags for the women Swiss watches for men. High end cars. Audio? It's hard to wear your McIntosh amp out in public, so I don't know about that aspect of their thinking.

 

[charleski]

Digging deeper, what she said in context is that the owner of high priced gear justifies his purchase by saying, "I work harder than my neighbor and therefore..." Just to be clear, that motivation does not equate to mere avarice and/or snobbery

This is a fabrication. I can only imagine her words have struck a nerve.

The complete, extended quote is, “I think it was for self-satisfaction. I work hard, I enjoy fine things. I enjoy something better than my friends can have, or I just prove to myself I made it. I celebrated my own success. And then there is new people coming in, want to enjoy it. They made money other ways, they want to say, well instead of do the learning curve let’s just skip all of this and get the best.”

I have only scorn for the idea that there’s any significant difference in motivation between the East and West with regard to consumption. The only real difference lies in the nature of the signifiers used to communicate their wealth to others (i.e. what is misleadingly referred to as ‘taste’).

Needless to say, there are plenty of people (in China and elsewhere) who work hard and put in 10-12hr days, but oddly find themselves unable to afford a $50,000 amp at the end of the month. Maybe it’s because they waste their time assembling iPhones instead of gambling with other peoples’ money...

 

[anmpr1]

I have only scorn for the idea that there’s any significant difference in motivation between the East and West with regard to consumption.

I don't think anyone is saying that. The point the lady makes anent consumers is pretty valid across cultures.

Another point she makes (and one that is important at ASR (because of the amount of gear reviewed from China) is how difficult it is for a brand in one country to do business in another, because of the lack of foreign infrastructure--i.e., service/dealer support. How that adds a significant cost to the final product, often making it completely uneconomic.

For example, if your one hundred dollar DAC or headphone amp breaks you probably don't really care too much about service. You simply get something else, just as cheap, or go long with a more established local brand. Once the price rises, however, the potential risk makes the item prohibitive unless there is a local presence to take care of problems you might have.

The reverse it true--non Chinese companies selling in China. Outfits like Harman (Samsung) or Sony are in a better position to sell in China, since they can spread the cost of local warranty service across the entire world. Small boutique outfits can't do that.

Anyone interested in buying something expensive from China should read this lady's FAQ. But to be sure, it would be the same with any long distance purchase from anywhere. It's like the consumer who 'saves' thousands of dollars buying Accuphase direct from Japan. Even if you can hook it up to a transformer to cover your local voltage, if something breaks, you're on your own.

https://grantfidelity.com/new/index.php/2021/01/04/read-this-before-shopping-chi-fi/

 

[Digi]

These products are sold solely on myth or backstory, they make the music more ‘lifelike’ I hear it all the time.
If you have no technical knowledge whatsoever it is easy to be misled.
Keith

Hello Keith, Could you share your opinion on Zu Audio Models Omen Def and Omen? Any good?

 

[ZööZ]

Free tweaks, anyone?

S.

When I run my cursor back and forth over the progress bar it looks like he is rapping like there's no tomorrow

 

[Purité Audio]

Hello Keith, Could you share your opinion on Zu Audio Models Omen Def and Omen? Any good?

I haven’t knowingly heard them, but I can’t imagine they would be much/any different from the other Zu’s, Stereophile may have measured them?
Keith

 

[AMPaul]

He actually did a thoroughly enjoyable and informative video today regarding Watts.

 

[charleski]

I’m sure Steve loves the fact that we’re promoting his channel so much!
Maybe it’s a sign of how much traffic he’s getting from ASR, but he’s opening up about how he thinks MQA is “Master Quality Authenticated B.S.”

 

[Tks]

I’m sure Steve loves the fact that we’re promoting his channel so much!
Maybe it’s a sign of how much traffic he’s getting from ASR, but he’s opening up about how he thinks MQA is “Master Quality Authenticated B.S.”

He said it well, and most people aren't sure what it's really supposed to be offering (or mostly how it achieves such claims).