Audio tip for aging male audiophiles


Frequent viewers on the Audiogon forum have the opportunity to read many, many suggestions on how to improve the sound of their audio systems. As a rule, the suggestions are directed at the general membership. Well, I can't resist starting 2002 with a suggestion for fellow 'philes who are -- how do I put this delicately? -- closing in on their golden years".

One of the best "tweaks" I have found for for improving the sound I hear (as distinct from improving my system) is (trumpet salute...): trimming my ear hair!

If you think that this public suggestion reflects a total lack of good taste, or that references to personal grooming habits are totally inappropriate for such an august forum, please consider: excess ear hair blocks the transmission of high frequencies to the inner ear.

Come on, guys, you all know you've seen gaffers with shrubs sprouting from their ears! If you happen to be an older audiophile with hirsute ears, then try this simple experiment: listen to a recording with good high-frequency content, then trim your ear hair and listen again to the same recording. I'm willing to bet money that you'll quickly hear a difference.

Yes, there's a story behind all this. For Christmas 2000, my wife gave me a "gag" geezer gift: a battery-operated, Conair ear and nose hair trimmer. Initially, I was offended, but when I actually used the trimmer and got rid of the excess ear hair, I noted a distinct improvement in the sound I heard from my audio system. During the past year, the trimmer has become a regular part of "tuning" my personal audio system.

So, a word to my fellow, older audiophiles: lose that ear hair and hear what you've been missing. It may be the best, low-cost "upgrade" you can make to your system at this point in life!
sdcampbell
I can relate to Tim. Umm regarding the chewables. I HATE grape ones. But that is where the similarities ends. I am a stud but not like TIM. Thanks for the tip Pops. I will have to look for this post 15 years from now.....
Hay give me your address, I'll send you all my orange for your grape, how does that sound? If you want in to "the biz" all you have to do is ditch those Armani suits and get into some zegna then you'll be headed in the right direction :) sometimes I think I need the anti-viagra, at my age its hard to control ones self sometimes ;)
So, what you are telling me is.. If I let my ear hair grow it will cut down the glear on my Mid-Fi HT system?
Tim, Isn't Zegna style is little too british-stiff for you Or you are refering to Zegan soft? Aha, I get it: Stiff. Anyway I have de-graduated(?) to Emporio Armani (last 3 years) to now A/X style for a younger look, to get some action. Is that a right look for 'the biz'? Come on, Ron Jeremey is anything but Zegna or Bill Blass for that matter.

Back to the thread: Doesn't it hurt while trimming thoes thingies from your ear and nose?