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Talk but not walk?

Hi Guys

This isn't meant to start a fight, but it is important to on lookers. As a qualifier, I have my own audio forum where we report on audio issues as we empirically test them. It helps us short cut on theories and developing methods of listening. We have a wide range of systems and they are all over the world adding their experiences to the mix. Some are engineers, some are artist and others are audiophiles both new and old. One question I am almost always asked while I am visiting other forums, from some of my members and also members of the forum I am visiting is, why do so many HEA hobbyist talk theory without any, or very limited, empirical testing or experience?

I have been around empirical testing labs since I was a kid, and one thing that is certain is, you can always tell if someone is talking without walking. Right now on this forum there are easily 20 threads going on where folks are talking theory and there is absolutely no doubt to any of us who have actually done the testing needed, that the guy talking has never done the actual empirical testing themselves. I've seen this happen with HEA reviewers and designers and a ton of hobbyist. My question is this, why?

You would think that this hobby would be about listening and experience, so why are there so many myths created and why, in this hobby in particular, do people claim they know something without ever experimenting or being part of a team of empirical science folks. It's not that hard to setup a real empirical testing ground, so why don't we see this happen?

I'm not asking for peoples credentials, and I'm not asking to be trolled, I'm simply asking why talk and not walk? In many ways HEA is on pause while the rest of audio innovation is moving forward. I'm also not asking you guys to defend HEA, we've all heard it been there done it. What I'm asking is a very simple question in a hobby that is suppose to be based on "doing", why fake it?

thanks, be polite

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net


michaelgreenaudio
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
costco-emoji wrote,

“And just like good ole’ Roger, it looks like Mike is loosing his cool under scrutiny and resorting to sophomoric insults and attacks. It’s rather pathetic.”

>>>Whoa! Hey, didn’t he get the memo? I was under the distinct impression you are supposed to be the only one who’s permitted to resort to sophomoric insults and attacks. What’s up with that?
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio OP
643 posts
 

Hi Kosst

I'm sorry, were you talking about these speakers?

https://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/tunable-speakers

So I'm listening to Michael Franks "The Art Of Tea" what are you playing? Since you asked about my speakers I'm playing the Rev6 Signatures & Rev SW-15 Combo. And by golly they do sound pretty smooth around 6KHz. You know how I can tell? Because the splashing of the cymbals have that immediate attack but then there's that ultra smooth cymbal float that covers the room. I'd be happy to describe the soundstage to you.

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Speaking of vibrating capacitors and chassis covers, allow me to point out one of the dumbest things ever in all of audio is the bad habit all amplifier designers and manufacturers have of bolting down the large transformers to the amplifier chassis. I mean, come on people! Yes I realize transformers must be bolted down for shipping purposes. But the vibrating transformers should be decoupled from the chassis rather than strongly coupled to it. The best results will be achieved by isolating the entire amplifier from the  transformer, even removing the transformer. The transformer can be decoupled using rubber grommets and loosening up the boots or removing them entirely. The transformer can be placed on viscoelastic squares of even placed on springs. But keeping them bolted down is like shooting yourself in the foot. Capacitors vibrate in operation so they should all be isolated from the printed circuit boards, etc. as well, or damped. It’s not really rocket science. 🚀
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
I’ve always suspected high end amplifier manufacturers were just about the farthest behind the audiophile power curve of any of the major food groups. They always seem to be the last to get the memo for just about every major audiophile development from fuses to wire directionality to power cords to transformer isolation or the myriad other tweaks and concepts audiophiles hold dear, from tiny little bowls to Rainbow Foil to Graphene to Mpingo discs, HEA designers are the last to find out, assuming they ever find out. Help me out, I can’t figure out, are they mildly retarded or are they just very conservative? 😀
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Pop Quiz. That’s right, boys and girls, it’s time for another pop quiz! Yeah!

Pop Quiz (3 parts)

part 1
The Stereo Times article on the tiny little bowl acoustic resonators I linked to earlier this morning mentioned that the operation of the aforementioned tiny bowls was measured to extend as high as 3 GHz. How can these tiny little bowls that are about 7/8” diameter operate at frequencies up to 3 GHz? Hel-loo!

part 2
One of the more incredible and puzzling aspects of the tiny little bowl resonators is how much they affect very low frequencies. How can three or four of these little guys do that?

part 3
Another bizzare aspect of the tiny little bowls is they affect the sound even when they not located in the room. How can that be?
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