Talk but not walk?

One point for any listener is they have to know themselves.
They have to know what they really like and want.

Way to many folks really have no idea what they want. They just sort of make noises like 'good sound'. or 'like music should sound'.
Which really means they are just spouting what they read or were told to say.(only as an example I like HF clarity. a LOT. So much so I can give up other stuff for it. And I do not like too much bass, which some folks think is the be all end all.)

As for the theory folks vs the practical experience folks...
Different ways of seeing and interpreting the World.
The most obvious are cable threads. Particularly the theory arguments in power cord threads. Some folks do not care about any theory, they do the test and say it is better. Others cannot fathom bothering since THEORY says it cannot matter, and thus the person making the claims is just deluded...
And on it goes.

"Everyone IS selling something".. either an attitude, or an idea, or a notion. Every post with any effort is selling it's ideas.
So yeah, we ARE all selling something.
And it is sold cheap! All you have to do is read the post!

Glupson: your last post reads like a classic "I am almost (not) apologizing but I don't know why, so I'll just make a lot of angst ridden noise". LOL

As for bad recordings..
As I move up the food (stereo bits) chain, I notice maybe a third of recordings just do not get any,( or if any, only a tiny amount) better than what they were.
Where other recordings astonish me with their deeper and better sound. Sort of the TAS HP's list thing. And the amazing thing is there is no rule of label, or artist, just almost random luck.

Since I listen to a LOT of 1930 and 1940's Jazz on cheap EU CDs. The limitations of the recording can easily be heard, yet for most, the joy of the performance is all that matters.
(wish I owned all those clean 78's..)

I agree about the percentage of inverted polarity recordings.
With my latest upgrades, I can hear it almost all the time. And lucky have my polarity switch right at hand.
Sometimes it makes a big difference. Other times not much difference either way. Depends on the recording.
As for compression..
I was listening to Patti Smith CD "Horses' and laughed when as she was clearly singing louder and harder.. the volume level stayed exactly the same. Compression. (I should play the LP and compare?)
On the other hand, my speakers are still breaking in, and in Classical music, the softest have to be raised a bit , then the volume dropped to not blast at the climaxes.. 45dB range from pianissimo to   fortississimo on plenty of my Classical CDs.. And another 10dB down to silence. (If I sneeze next to the meter, I gain another 20dB over the top..)

For the site, comparing different "Horses" issues..
Interesting the WORST DR are the 24/96 HD tracks !!!

Summary:
michael green wants to sell his stuff, and he like to write too.
So he blah blah blahs his way to get folks to read it.
Then others blah blah blah since they also all have opinions, and want to sell their notions too.
None of it means anything. (in case you were worried you missed something)

That is the entire thread in a few sentences.

I never knew I had to worry about the Earth's seismic energy!I already have it covered (Whew!) since I use butyl chemical rubber bottle stoppers size 10. The dissipate energy well (enough).I have them all over. (In case California falls into the ocean, or the New Madrid flips out.)

Thank goodness I am lazy. The thought of having to wander around my apartment, endlessly searching for the 'right spot' for some stupid tiny disc.. all the while listening to music and judging how it sounds. Sorry, that is NOT a hobby, that is insanity. So I consider myself lucky I would never bother.                                     
On the other hand it would be perfect for an audiophile with OCD and plenty of time on his hands                      
. LOL

I am left not knowing what HEA even is. Nowhere in the op post was it explained. Seems it should be totally known what it is? Sorry I have no clue. NO one explains it in the first page. and I am not reading all 32 pages to maybe get a chance to find it spelled out. Even on his website no results for search for HEA.                 
So,,, Maybe a quick mention of WHAT HEA initials means?

I agree experimenting is the way to find out for oneself what works and does not work, (for your own needs). I have to always laugh about the  'theory' sort who rail against something  because their theory says it is 'impossible' or ridiculous. I always ask them to try it for themselves.  
My recent experiments have been with duplex AC outlets. Definitely upgraded the sound. Still breaking them in, and moving some around. Takes time.. But in the meantime I still get to listen to the music... Which is what it is about.

Geoff has a point. Big Picture. But here the big picture is the end result of all the work. getting music one can enjoy listening to. But it also is the experience of getting there.                      
One of the reasons I do not use a machine to 'break in' cables etc. Why miss out on the experience?
I like Michael Green's comment on it being like a big puzzle. (rather than some sort of hassle, or a mistake needing fixing.)

Then I am doomed.. Doomed... My bad luck I guess.Kinda like saying ears are not enough. If you shoot fish in a barrel, don't you just wind up with an empty barrel full of holes? And a big wet mess on the floor?

Hey analogluvr, Since I seem to be ’in your sights’ I thought I would take a look at you. Only four posts created, all complaining about buying something. Used carts, ripped off, Sophia transformers, (wow, just wow.), tube sellers. Not much/no trust to way too much trust. I would say you really do have a serious problem knowing whom to trust, and are terrible at knowing whom to trust.
No wonder you have no trust believing in anything others say here. Too bad. (for you)

analogluvr post was not a ’reasonable post’ it was attacking me dude.Quote: " I questioned the veracity of Elizabeth’s claim that she can hear the difference between different electrical receptacles. Well if that actually were the case her preamplifier and amplifier must be the biggest pieces of junk in the solar system! The power supplies must be the worst ones ever! But then the Inference is that she has much better hearing than I do, hearing that can even detect things that measurements can’t. Then in a different thread I learned that Elizabeth is 70 years old .."
How is that an simple statement? My response is just as 'simple’.                          
Michael Green says: " Actually Elizabeth is correct "
Now YOU (analogluvr) brought up my being 70, and INFER that means I cannot hears as well as you can. Which I would not even discuss anyone’s hearing (Aside from listening skill, and experience..) . I have no idea how or what your hearing may or may not be. YOU however think it has to mean something. AND USED IT TO ATTACK ME.                                                   
So.. apologize now?                                                             
My response was ’what the... ’ and I wondered what OTHER kinds of posts you write. So I looked at your posts. The only posts you started were the four I mentioned. And it was clear you have issues around trust and failure to know whom to trust and whom not. The bank transfer? And particularly the amp issue. Jeesh YOU think you would learn after #2 fail. nope not you.) And I am sorry FOR YOU. You cannot even trust anyone. So that is not an attack. More like an analysis. No problem. I’ll send you my psychoanalysis charge in the mail. And just so you are clear on it.....
I never attack anyone unless they annoy me first. LOL

Geoff
Look at the post by slaw to me. I am like??? but a full moon may be the reasonhttps://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/do-cables-really-matter?page=16
I have to say I restrained myself with the answer...I wonder does that person really still live in the same room, (with the same equipment he started with,) he has been in for his whole life? And does that make him a better audiophool? Got me??

I really do not think it has anything to do with basic hearing.It is the system, knowing it, listening to it. (The fact is I listen to my stereo 10 hours a day, average. every day. I am retired, eight years now, and do nothing but sit around listening to music. Classical. Jazz and some Rock. Usually at around 50dB to 70dB.                               
Plus experience. I have done this for all my life. Listened to music on a good stereo since I was 15. When I got my first real stereo.       
And then the system itself. I just bought a used Conrad Johnson ACT2 preamp to use as a fancy tube buffer. Magnepan 20.7 Marantz SA-10 disc spinner, Kuzma Stabi/StogiS turntable.        
So the understanding and knowledge, the familiarity of the music.
All that, and the understanding of what I am listening FOR.

If it's a BATTLE.. I'll throw in my footers, and compare them to any...Butyl rubber size 10 chemical bottle stoppers.            
I use them everywhere. I must have a hundred of the suckers. Best part is they cost $1.25each. What got me started with them glass shelves. All my rack have thin tempered glass for shelves. The bottle stoppers are the perfect match to go with glass shelves.  
(You ask why glass shelves Jeesh. Well it was all I had...)

My making pizza consists of heating oven, pulling cheap frozen pizza from box, (flipping over and sprinkling, spreading olive oil on frozen crust) flip back, place in oven. So my great contribution to pizzahood is the olive oil on the crust. (I also pop popcorn in olive oil. adds to the taste.)

Isn't the whole point of 'cast' wire to remove the grain? Single crystal..I would think drawing wire then using a moving melt zone purification technique would clear all the grain (as an alternative to casting the wire.

Back to the wire.. Yeah, Googling bending in metal, the micro stresses and breaks in the structure sure mess up the ’theory’ of ’perfect long crystals.. On the other hand.. the wire which had perfect long crystals is going to still be less chaotic internally than a pulled wire??? after all the bending of construction and use of the cable? So less is better than more still applies. even if the structure gets damaged by use? I don’t know, nor actually care.. just curiosity..(but also, does the fact of a wire getting better sounding from just not being moved in use.. is the fracturing from bending have a part in that? At least on the if you move it it will sound worse again.. part.

Well off audiophiles vs the poor audiophile? Feed the poor (audiophile)! Sell them your old stuff at fair used prices.(the trickle down effect?)
Rich vs poor is nothing compared to the 'all wire is the same' vs 'IC and PC matter' fights.Which seem more like the Crusades of the Medieval days. Warriors rushing to the battles to fight for their beliefs.. Ideological warfare beats class warfare every time.

Don't you, dear readers.. enjoy this stuff?Someone with the Audiogon system should do a study! Do threads with a lot of bickering have more views from non-particpants than threads without the name calling?                    
In other words is the World Wrestling Entertainment style of communication POPULAR with lookie loos?

Well isn't that SPECIAL
“Could it be...SATAN?”  satan... satan....

I was 'accidentally thinking about the 'first point of reflection'  and looking at my walls, then the speakers it suddenly dawned on me... 
My Magnepan 20.7 Speakers (being only 2 thick) are virtually lined up so they look 2" thick or perfectly sideways, to the point of first reflection.            
What an interesting coincidence!                   
Also points to the sad state of my actual interest in room tuning correction! (since I have had the previous Magnepan 3.6 for EIGHT YEARS, and now the 20.7 for 9 months in the same position, and never once noticed this.)              
 (sorry sorry) but It was such an odd accidental discovery I just had to tell SOMEBODY who would find it slightly interesting.             

My Magnepan 20.7 speakers have almost the midrange detail of an electrostatic, (and equal the treble) yet provide a nice easy load to the amplifier. The other, nearly forgotten magic transducer is the Infinity EMIM/EMIT driver. Wish I owned a pair of Infinity IRS-V speakers...      (I used to own Infinity RSIIa with EMIM and EMIT)   
In the meantime.. Seems folks have totally skidded past the message of the thread: "Talk but no walk" when discussing speakers they have NEVER EVEN HEARD.. making up worries about amplifiers because they read about it. Theory with no meaning..?        
Which makes me realize yes I did get the message about babbling about stuff I only guess at.  But THIS THREAD has helped me to stop pontificating on stuff I have no idea WTF I am talking about. really.) Once in awhile I write some drivel, and look at it.. And think "I am just making this garbage up".. and just cancel the post.

At least it is true Magnepan are a 'love them or hate them' sort of speaker... I am glad I upgraded from 3.6 Maggies to the 20.7s last year. The best upgrade to the sound is midrange clarity. (I was worried the bass would be too much, but I have been able to generally keep it tamed, (some Rock is earphones only though. I live in a 'over 55' complex.) Upgrading the AC duplex to Furutech GTX added a lot to the sound quality.

I have a one bedroom apartment. It has a kitchen, bath, bedroom and the music room. Nothing else needed. Music playback IS my living and breathing (room) The music room is perfect and aesthetically pleasing in an audiophile kind of way...(I keep the 2,500 LPs in the bedroom, the 2.500 CD shelving lines the little entryways) At least folks know right off playing music really means something to me. No hiding that.

'technical facts'.. There were NO technical facts in your post to 'comprehend'.. Just lots of quasi-rants. And the one true fact: You do not like planar speakers. Then the attack on MG, and your scathing words, oddly also apply to YOUR OWN ARGUMENT. "Going sideways' Which for YOU is arguing about a particular design of speaker, and has zero to do with MG's discussion, but serves you with a way to rant on about stuff which in the context of the thread have no meaning. Mainly because you do not like the guy, and just are searching for anything to whine about. And finally no one would expect anyone to own equipment they do not like.  
LOL

(added ten minutes later: sorry about this rant. I just had to.. But it is nothing to do with the topic, other than thinking for yourself instead of just parroting other’s notions.)
I would comment on the 10ms delay thing.. If one ONLY looks at the single line (instead of endless ones all way) from the back directly behind the speaker. But the reality is the waves travel away in all directions. So my 20.7 being 42" nearest, and 58.5" (they are angled in a lot) farthest from direct back wall line, are actually an infinite variety of distances! The shortest being 45" from actual tweeter location, varying up to about ten feet to the opposite side back wall! I just take issue with using a single measurement, then claiming it is the theory answer. Well it is not. The distance of reflection is changing all across the back wall as the reflections of the sound hit all along the wall and bounce every which way..
Now I do have to say perhaps the ’main’ reflection is the angle from the rear of the speaker to the wall to the space between the speakers at the listener... However the percentage of the total surrounding sound from that tiny little line is pretty small. (if you calculate the actual space, vs all the space as a fraction.. Maybe 0.25% (guessing) of all the sound from the back.. and IMO is lost in the mix. So the made up rule of five feet is just that made up to fit a theory, which theory used in the rule of five feet... IMO is wrong. So the distance planar speaker should be from the back wall... may be anywhere from a few feet, to whatever sounds good... relying on made up theory is not good unless you think it through yourself. Way too often it is just repeated malarkey someone thought made sense.PS the ’five feet’ seemed to suddenly appear just a few years ago. Prior to that everyone was 2 to 3 with 3 being considered best. Then, suddenly the 10ms thing popped up and the five feet became the suggested distance. all based on the theory of 10ms and the first reflection. and nothing to do with actual use Like someone invented it and it suddenly became popular... Just whining.. feel free to "harrump" in disgust that anyone would dare to challenge a theory.

OK Geoff, explain how one uses the out of phase to position speakers... ???

Geoff, once I had a way better sound quality (from adding the Furutech duplex... I noticed that female vocals were a little out of synch. like slightly fuzzy... I moved my speakers slightly to lock in a stable image. (actually no more fuzzy) Worked for me. From my previous location with the 3.6 Maggies I moved the new speakers at most a few inches forward, and angled more.It worked for me so well I have the exact distances* written down. So if I have to move them, I can lock them right back in.From side wall to closest point, from right farthest edge to rear wall, from left edge to rear wall.

Going back to what MG wrote: "" when you get out from underneath these audiophile prescribed myths. Keep in mind that the folks making these myths are folks who themselves are only theorizing. If they haven't gone and done they are doing the same thing that the "talkers" here are.  ... There's a big difference between drawing drawings and talking theory vs actually doing. ""      
.                     
Which was the original start of this thread. When I wrote I did my speakers my way, not the theory of the 5m/10ms, seemed like the theory had to be defended by the person who mentioned it, rather than accept what worked for me,  it just is someone's made up theory and I find it to not be of much use. (sure it is true 10ms takes 10m however in practical use, it does not correlate to a 5m distance from the rear wall)  
That is the thing with notions. Once you have them IN YOUR HEAD, folks tend to defend them, like personal property. So I really liked this thread.. as it brings to the fore problems of dogma, and the stuff folks just carry around.. preventing them from looking at problems in a fresh way.

From interview Dylan gave in 1965 at KQED :

The criticism that you have received for leaving the folk field and switching to folk-rock hasn’t seemed to bother you a great deal. Do you think you’ll stick to folk-rock or go into more writing?
I don’t play folk-rock.

What would you call your music?
I like to think of it more in terms of vision music – it’s mathematical music.

Do you think there will ever be a time when you’ll be hung as a thief?
You weren’t supposed to say that

In a lot of your songs you are hard on people – in “Like A Rolling Stone” you’re hard on the girls and in “Positively 4th Street” you’re hard on a friend. Do you do this because you want to change their lives, or do you want to point out to them the error of their ways?
I want to needle them.

If you were going to sell out to a commercial interest, which one would you choose?
Ladies garments.

Mr. Dylan, I know you dislike labels and probably rightfully so, but for those of us well over thirty, could you label yourself and perhaps tell us what your role is?
Well, I’d sort of label myself as “well under thirty.” And my role is to just, y’know, to just stay here as long as I can.

The full interview at: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-gives-press-conference-in-san-francisco-2468...

check it out Google uTube for it. I watched it. very short, stupid commercial. Way more interesting are the behind the scenes of the Victoria Secret models for that shoot in another video.BTW he was wearing the sort of clothing he usually wears. (sadly no Victoria Secret stuff with big wings and all. But who knows what underwear he wears??? Boxers or briefs? I have a feeling Bob is a boxer shorts kind of guy.