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Your vote: Most Useless Audio Adjective

From what I've seen in online audio discussion forums such as Audiogon, words like warm, taut, wooly, and forward can upset even died in the wool audiophiles. While some may have a hard time getting their arms around them, most of the terms seem quite appropriate to me. You have to develop some list of terms in order to convey a description of a component's sonics, or to delineate it from another component.

However, I have noticed the description "self effacing" creeping into more and more reviews, and it flat out boggles my mind. Initially, it seemed to fit into the context it was being used - affordable or downright cheap gear, that was fun and lively. However, now that I've read the term being used to describe quite a serious piece of high end kit, the time has come to point out how ridiculous things are getting.

I had to laugh out loud thinking of the snootiest, most condescending audio dealer I know who was carrying this brand. Using the term "self effacing" with anything had to do with this guy was akin to describing Phyllis Diller a young, hot sex symbol.

What is your most useless audio adjective???
trelja
mechans
2,999 posts
 
MrTennis:
Primum non nocere! Are you implying we took some kind of oath or are these terms less harmful.
Trelja, old pal perhaps the number of ribs or slabs there of would be a better way to draw a distinction between a specification and a descriptor. BTW what is chocolate sound does it taste or sound like ribs. Will someone explain that to me.
mechans
2,999 posts
 
Looks like Mint is winning by quite some. Frankly "both working and cosmetic are perfect". Is about as useless as can be. I realize cosmetics are vital for resale but I really don't mind really small imperfections but even the slightest malfunction and it's a no sale in my book. Please, it's working perfectly, and cosmetically perfect.
stevecham
3,298 posts
 
Best: the worst word in the English language.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
"Won't last" true truth in advertising.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
"Best" ....do a search in the forums or the listings...you'll see this one being used ad nauseum. I get 20 hits on "Tubelike" and 300 on "Best" in the forums. "Mint" pulls up 164. Now in the listings I think "Mint" does indeed best "Best". I'd disqualify "Mint" though since it is almost always applying to the cosmetic condition, and not the actual functional qualities..."Mint" is actually pretty black and white when it comes down to it...it either is or it isn't. "Best", on the other hand, is ripe with arrogance, and relatively useless in a hobby based around entire systems that are mostly in flux on a continuous basis, and are entirely relative to oh so many factors in their success or failure... not to mention wholely subjective. I think this is the best answer ever, don't you? Jaw droppingly insightful! Self-effacing and tubelike with that SS slam most of you crave.

Marco
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