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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
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio OP
643 posts
 

I should also add that the only way to really figure it all out is to do it and work your way through because there are so many things that can get screwy. Things like new or old powerlines and transformers outside the house. In the air or in the ground. And what position you are in the immediate grid. For example if you are at the end, middle or first in the chain.

Trust me when I come here I debate in my thinking how far I should go into the process because there may be one guy who doesn’t believe the outside transformers make a difference as well as the entire pathway. And then you have the next guy who wants the inner wall studs voiced, that the wire will be running through (I’m doing a house like that right now).

The electrical transformer, panel, line and amp are all really one component. That component is then put inside of a house with electrical wires surrounding the system (fields). The house is one big electrical component, really cool stuff when you think about it. And it explains why the exact same component will sound different in each electrical environment. And that's besides acoustical and mechanical. I love this stuff. To me it’s a great big active physical puzzle that we get to play with.

Michael Green

http://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
This is just a simple case of people hyper focusing on gear. Or hyper focusing on circuits. Or caught up in the upgrade stampede. What’s missing in these kinds of obsessive type syndromes is The Big Picture. They don’t call it Audio Nervosa for nothing. Asperger’s ugly sibling. 😬 This syndrome is also an example of stove piping 🏭 - not paying enough attention to what else is going on around you while you obsess over whatever.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
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.)
inna
5,245 posts
 
It' s neither a hassle nor a puzzle - you just tune the instrument. Michael thinks that entire universe is that. I wouldn't go that far but the entire listening room with all the components and listeners in it - certainly. Let's first tune ourselves, shall we ?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Well, I hope I’m not going to be accused of being an internet bully or of shooting fish in a barrel 🐟 🐠 🐟 🐟 but the reason folks use a break in machine is because simply playing music through cables is not sufficient to break them in. Not by a long shot. Even for many years. Without a machine or break in track they *never break in*. Knowing that is part of what I like to call the Big Picture.
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