Well Tempered Amadeus turntable, giant killer?

Norm (Tbg),

I am not sure a person your age (mid 70s) and audio biases can tell the difference between a "giant killer" and a placebo(see below). You have already proven that by arguing a 1" tall jar of pebbles improves your system just by sitting on it. How can anyone take your advice seriously? Please feel free to spend your money on what you believe you hear but please place a disclaimer on the advice you give others. Lewm is right when he said "For goodness sakes, try to listen to it before spending your money, given that you already own one or more turntables that I would guess are as good or better." The truth is that at this point you truly can't tell the difference. I think it is known as Presbycusis - a Gradual hearing loss that occurs as you age. I suggest you stop the denials and start accepting the fact you are no longer the dictator at the head of the class. Thank God Audiogon offers a place for free thinking unlike your former classroom where questioning your opinions led to a "F".

"According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), about one in three U.S. adults between the ages of 65 and 75 have impaired hearing. The NIDCD further estimates that about half of people 75 and older have some degree of hearing loss as well."

Hello Buda, you bring up some good points. However, based on your NIDCD numbers, Norm has a better than 66.7% chance and/or a flip of a coin chance that he does not have a hearing loss. Maybe fate has been kind to "old" Norm and blessed him hearing better than his peer group, then again, maybe not...who knows? BTW, are you by some chance a previous student of his?

Buda, Up to a point, the brain does a wonderful job compensating for gradual hearing loss. The NIDCD hardly went out on a limb making that claim; I would wager that no one at the age of 65 or over has the measurable hearing acuity that he or she had at age 18. That would be zero persons. Anyway, nobody's perfect. On the other hand, experienced listeners develop skills that make them better judges of audio equipment, or not, compared to any 18-year-old.

What I decry is the Emporer's-new-clothes psychology that comes into play when there is hysteria surrounding a new product, such as the Amadeus. And now apparently we have Mr. Firebaugh quoted (above) as saying that some other newer turntable product is "the best he's heard". (Hope I got that right.)

Buda, several comments. I don't know what you are talking about with the Brilliant Pebbles. I never said any such thing. Second, you need to study the process of selective perception. It is a two way street. Some do not hear or see things because they believe they won't. But in reality one man's giant killer is worthless to another. I never said that I believed the WTA was a giant killer but that many others have said so. I have not heard it.

As to your gratuitous comments about my age and hearing. From about six months after birth, humans begin to lose the ability to hear hi gh frequencies. I am no exception. In a recent hearing test, I can only hear frequencies to 15.5k Hz. But many people of all ages have irregular frequency responses across the range of hearing. My doctor said that mine remain what they were when I was 50. What evidence do you have that you are abnormal?

I totally agree with you that Audiogon or any site affords the opportunity for people to decide for them self. I'm curious as to why you seem so incapable of reading that I was merely inquiring whether others had favorable experiences with this turntable. I do wonder what your vendetta is based on. Did I give you an F?

Unoear and Lewm,
You bring up valid points! I was just busting Norm’s chops and did not intend to suggest everyone over 65 should stop enjoying hi-end audio or has a valid view point. In fact, I have several Audio friends who are in the “Norm” years that I think highly of. My comments were directed at Norm’s history of pontificating to other Audiogoners on topics that are on the audio fringe at best. His techniques to discredit opposing viewpoints come from a long teaching carrier. Norm was a Political Science Professor at Texas A&M (explains a lot). I was fortunately NOT one of his students. I am sure that I would not have lasted long in his class because I tend to ask questions.