Should you voice an opinion if you never heard the gear

How did I suddenly become the starchy old codger. My wife used to constantly tell me funny man ain't funny. I always thought I was a jokester.
 
Hi Kingrex

That´s one million dollar question!

I agree, and I don´t understand why so many have opinion about some gear or some tweak that they never heard or experienced at all.
More in other forums, we see that a lot. Here, there is a big number of guys who really knows and have heard a lot of gear.

But, this guys that you mention, they are everywhere and just can´t be silent. This guys are dangerous because they don´t listen but they really read a lot and think they have all the knowledge. They support their opinion in some others opinion, “scientific facts” and “numbers” and is really hard to argue with them. Because all they want is to win the discussion. I don´t know if they care about a good sound and learn the way to get there. They just want to win the talk and they like to give the impression they know it all.

In the other hand, if only the ones who have listen the A or B component in their own systems have the right to express their opinion, I think they will be very few. In the limit, there will be no space to a forum like this. We all make an opinion when listening different components in the systems of our friends, and we all listen at audioshows or in the stores. Of course they are some issues we must not forget. But, i must confess, I don´t have much tolerance with some real bad performance when we talk about high priced gear. Do you know, that when we talk about huge and heavy gear, there are some reviewers that make the audition test in the dealer´s room? And it is a valid opinion / test or not? Why not if the room has been made with all the careful to show the potential of the gear?

Let me finish with an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFlnQ1chBno

See the number of guys saying that fuses is all snack oil. But they don´t say “I tried this, and this, and this brand, and there´s no difference, so I think is probably snack oil”
 
Good point, and I think the largest category would be cables. If someone gave me an example of what cables they tried or compared I could maybe accept that, but, when they just call "snake oil" without any backup or experience to relate it really makes me mad. I bite my tongue and do my best to avoid those discussions, if you can call them that, because it's a waste of time. Sometimes I have to at least say, try it yourself, for those who may really be just starting or novice.

Sort of the same thing with those who say, digital is digital, 1's & 0's. It has to be accepted we can't always explain why, but, how can you deny the result. If those into audio, and have experience, learn anything, it's to keep an open mind.

I don't think anyone is as naive to deny there are, can be, "smake oil" products, we have the ability to judge those for ourselves though. So, if anyone's listening, we don't need you to save us!

Spock said:
Hi Kingrex

That´s one million dollar question!

I agree, and I don´t understand why so many have opinion about some gear or some tweak that they never heard or experienced at all.
More in other forums, we see that a lot. Here, there is a big number of guys who really knows and have heard a lot of gear.

But, this guys that you mention, they are everywhere and just can´t be silent. This guys are dangerous because they don´t listen but they really read a lot and think they have all the knowledge. They support their opinion in some others opinion, “scientific facts” and “numbers” and is really hard to argue with them. Because all they want is to win the discussion. I don´t know if they care about a good sound and learn the way to get there. They just want to win the talk and they like to give the impression they know it all.

In the other hand, if only the ones who have listen the A or B component in their own systems have the right to express their opinion, I think they will be very few. In the limit, there will be no space to a forum like this. We all make an opinion when listening different components in the systems of our friends, and we all listen at audioshows or in the stores. Of course they are some issues we must not forget. But, i must confess, I don´t have much tolerance with some real bad performance when we talk about high priced gear. Do you know, that when we talk about huge and heavy gear, there are some reviewers that make the audition test in the dealer´s room? And it is a valid opinion / test or not? Why not if the room has been made with all the careful to show the potential of the gear?

Let me finish with an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFlnQ1chBno

See the number of guys saying that fuses is all snack oil. But they don´t say “I tried this, and this, and this brand, and there´s no difference, so I think is probably snack oil”
Click to expand...
 
It's the internet where people go to voice opinions on everything. As far as I am concerned individuals can comment on a product whether they have heard it or not. Their opinions (or dogmas) will have no impact on my purchasing decisions as they are irrelevant. I only get frustrated when someone directly questions a purchase I have made. They have no idea what I am looking for.
 
As a side track should you listen to a reviewers opinion who has actually had the piece of equipment in their system? Maybe YouTube could adopt MQA and we could dispel of all the audio magazines and reviewers?
 
still-one said:
It's the internet where people go to voice opinions on everything. As far as I am concerned individuals can comment on a product whether they have heard it or not. Their opinions (or dogmas) will have no impact on my purchasing decisions as they are irrelevant. I only get frustrated when someone directly questions a purchase I have made. They no idea what I am looking for.
Click to expand...

The Internet where it turned everybody into experts on just about anything and everything. .
 
nc42acc said:
As a side track should you listen to a reviewers opinion who has actually had the piece of equipment in their system? Maybe YouTube could adopt MQA and we could dispel of all the audio magazines and reviewers?
Click to expand...

I have let most all my subscription lapse. I'm so sick of hearing about Wilson and D'Agostino. I'm sure people love it, and if I read all your signatures have it. Like Mike said at the beginning, we all have our preference. But more to the point of reviews, there all the same. IMO. I'm sure it's a tough job. I doubt they're allowed to say this is a piece of junk. From what I hear if they don't like it they won't even publish it. Maybe I'm all off base. Just for me, reviews are too simplistic. I want to understand better the whole chain from the power in my wall (way to little attention) to what comes out my speakers. I think my issue with reviews is the gear is not in my setup with my speakers and its so stand alone. It's hard to put into words. Oddly, I am getting close to 2 new writeup myself. 1 on wall power as I now have UL listed OFC wire I am going to run from panel to the gear, no breaks. 2 I have Ethernet cable from 2 manufacturer (wireworld and Blue Jean) and will compare to home architecture cat6 that is terminated like every house with punch blocks and terminal strips. Maybe my high comes more from the improvement of the backbone that feeds and connects the gear. It is going to be some sort of challenge to do this and not be some absolutist. To be sensitive to what others may already have. My power cords are about $300 each. My outcome will differ for those using Purist.
 
I personally think that all of the above can and do sound good, depending on the application and how it/they are implemented in the system and what the other components are of course.

I constantly see people posting that USB is terrible, yet what I hear I believe is fantastic. I hear that a music server is terrible unless it is running Linux, but then I see what I consider the finest playback software on the market recommending Windows. I do have experience with all three; but that does not mean that what works best for me would work best for you.

In my experience, Mac is the lowest of the three OS's for running a music server, Linux is used often on the pre-built servers (free and lower over head so they can get away with lower hardware in my view), and Windows. But just because my experience tells me that a robust server will preform better with Windows does not mean it will be better for everyone.

For the record I use a well built Windows PC that I reconfigured as a dedicated music server. I run Roon which then utilizes HQPlayer as the playback engine, which in turn sends the signal through an AQ Coffee USB cable to a W4S Recovery, through another AQ Coffee cable to the DAC. The 512/48 signal is converted by the T+A DAC out through AQ Earth XLR cables to the pre-amp. This combination works great for me... it may not be a great choice for others. Not everyone appreciates what HQPlayer does.

I can only relate my experience, not how other equipment would perform. How would I know... :)

However I do seek out and really appreciate others opinions and experiences!
 
I always take reviews (whether pro or amateur) with a grain of salt. My listening area, components and tastes are always different than a reviewer, so how can you really be sure that the piece being reviewed will sound the same. However, I do use reviews as a starting point to peak my interest in a piece of gear, especially living here in the Twin Cities since for some reason there is not a lot of diversity in audio gear brands. I bought my Luxman DAC based on 3 pro reviews (all 3 basically had similar glowing reviews and it appealed to my tastes) and after talking to a few users on this forum. It certainly was a risk but it worked out. I have also been burned when I bought a new Cambridge Audio 840c CDP based on its reviews. It was a good CDP but way over-hyped and it did not live up to expectations.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Good point, and I think the largest category would be cables.
Click to expand...

Wait to the talk about fuses :rolleyes: :hide:

Mr Peabody said:
So, if anyone's listening, we don't need you to save us!
Click to expand...

Well said! :congrats:

still-one said:
…They have no idea what I am looking for.
Click to expand...

I think they have no idea what they are looking for:cool: :popcorn:

Kingrex said:
Just for me, reviews are too simplistic. I want to understand better the whole chain from the power in my wall (way to little attention) to what comes out my speakers.
Click to expand...

Me too! :thumbsup:
 
Personal experience is so varied I mostly comment on gear I own or have had in my system for an extended period of time. I also comment on gear I've heard at shows, but even that is problematic due to the wildly different room acoustics and poor AC power quality. For example I witnessed a power distribution / grounding demo at RMAF. Stuff made an amazing difference. I waxed eloquently about it. Amazing. Revelatory. In my own system it made no difference at all. Nada, zero, zilch. Back it went. So I endorsed a set of products that made no difference in my system.

I can also be pretty sarcastic. But what I've found is that, however satisfying it may be, it just doesn't play out in Internet forums. So I'm trying very hard to not use it.

Tom
 
Your entitled to voice whatever opinion you desire, just try to be smart about it

I voice what I experience and have zero time or interest to talk about something in comparison of what I don’t own or have.

Honestly there’s so much good stuff out there that has to match up with all the variables of the end user that I believe there is no right answer, it all depends on who wants what for whatever purpose.

Audio is like people, different strokes for different folks.

In the end appreciate what you have.


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