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I Just Don't Hear It - I wish I did

I am frustrated because I am an audiophile who cannot discern details from so many of the methods praised by other audiophiles. I joke about not having golden ears. That said, I can easily discern and appreciate good soundstage, image, balance, tone, timbre, transparency and even the synergy of a system. I am however unable to hear the improvements that result from, say a piece of Teflon tape or a $5.00 item from the plumbing aisle at Home Depot. Furthermore, I think it is grossly unfair that I must pay in multiples of one hundred, or even one thousand just to gain relatively slight improvements in transparency, detail, timbre soundstage, etc., when other audiophiles can gain the same level of details from a ten dollar tweak. In an effort to sooth my frustration, I tell myself that my fellow audiophiles are experiencing a placebo effect of some sort. Does anyone else struggle to hear….no wait; does anyone else struggle to comprehend how someone else can hear the perceived benefits gained by the inclusion of any number of highly touted tweaks/gimmicks (brass screws, copper couplers, Teflon tape, maple hardwood, racquet balls, etc.) I mean, the claims are that these methods actually result in improved soundstage, image, detail (“blacker backgrounds”), clarity, bass definition, etc.
Am I alone in my frustration here?
2chnlben
tvad
9,467 posts
 
2chnlben, I thought you were opening a discussion about why some people
hear changes tweaks provide and why some people don't. You received some
honest replies.

I thought you were genuinely open minded on the topic, but it appears I was
mistaken. Your latest post suggests that you are of the opinion that
people who hear changes are kidding themselves...that they
are self delusional.

These threads always end up the same way. Objectivist arguing with
subjectivists, and no one ever meeting in the middle.

I hope that one day you have the good fortune to try a power cord,
interconnect, isolation device, contact paste...something...that allows you to
hear the difference it makes, regardless of whether it's good or bad.
powder
47 posts
 
JimJoyce: The Marigo TR/VX footers are the best footers I have used. That includeds stillpoints, aurios pro-bearings, maple-shade brass points, Townshend sinks, Granite surface plates, and so on---Yeah---I have been at it for over 40 years and they are the most musical isolation device I've heard. Best part-try them for 30 days-NG-send them back-but I bet you won't-how can you lose??
jimjoyce25
215 posts
 
Cruz: I don't know that anyone besides the inventor really knows how they work.

My friend (who is a preamp and cd player designer) and I did a direct comparison of the Marigo and Equarack footers (I had previously purchased two sets of the Equaracks, and he had several sets of Marigos).

Based on the manufacturers' explanations of how they worked, he expected the Equarack footers to come out on top, but the Marigos did, and it wasn't close.

He has asked Marigo how they work, and the answers he got didn't make things any clearer.

There's apparently something like 30 parts in each footer, each of which needs to be hand- or machine-finished, which probably explains the high cost.

Full disclosure: Based on his experiences with the Marigo products (cd mat, power cords, footers, tuning dots) my friend became a Marigo dealer (very small-time, no meaningful profit: Since the Marigos work on the equipment he designs, he is able to provide the Marigos to those of his customers who want them). ---However, the reason to try these is because there is no risk---if they don't work out, you get your money back.
samhar
1,034 posts
 
Tvad well said!!! Subjectivism has been very very good for me.
2chnlben OP
595 posts
 
I thought you were genuinely open minded on the topic, but it appears I was
mistaken. Your latest post suggests that you are of the opinion that
people who hear changes are kidding themselves...that they
are self delusional.

And here I thought my sarcasm was pretty blatant; just the same, it is merely skepticism and definitely not meant to be insulting.
The placebo effect is very real and a completely normal human occurrence. The power of suggestion has sold more than a few products to very satisfied customers….see a connection between the two!?
Now, although the aforementioned statements are indisputable facts, there undoubtedly exists exceptional products, as well as exceptional people (the golden eared types).
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