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In the Forum: Playback Listening
In the Thread: The “Inverted High End Audio” ™
Post Subject: Solutions looking for excuses/problemsPosted by Dominic on: 10/14/2006
I got partway through your first post in this thread and i thought to myself that perhaps the solution is to list greivances and ignore the good bits when it comes to reviews- published in an audio review magazine, or not. It's not too hard to get used to a piece of gear even if it really does suck so obviously saying it's 'good' or better than another piece of kit doesn't really help in the search for the sound one looks for.

I did something similar last time i dropped by the local Societe des Alcools de Quebec. I told the shop keeper what i disliked about the last bottle of wine i bought there and she was able to help guide me towards something more my taste.

It serves no purpose really to state how well something performs in one area. That however is the usual way of writing it: "this thing is pretty good, and better than that other one, but here's a caveat". Rather i would propose that the tone anyone takes to describe something is the one they would in the months just before they start looking to replace it. Something along the lines of: "I kinda hate how it falls down in this and that area, and i wish it would be a little nicer here, and it would be great if i could find something that would have the same little magic it has there but more cleanly spread across the spectrum". I hope that wasn't too abstract.

As far as the netherleagues of IHE there is also the bragging rights phenomenon, when you're rich, you want to be able to tell your friends that you have the best audio system that money can buy (we know that no such thing exists but the idea that there is no ultimate is not something most people understand). Mostly though you want to do it without having to put a real dent in your leisure/work/family time by spending time researching. That why rich guys get Pinnafarina and West Coast Customs to modify their cars and the working class does it in their garage with their uncle and a case of beer.

The downside with my idea is that it discourages people from trying because they will expect a bad result, as i just realised when i went to respond to Paul's remark about phonostages. I was going to write: "I'd like a sweet phonostage too, but i'm afraid to get into the market as it seems very iffy". Why do i say that? Well maybe it's because phono type people inherently find the phonostage to be a dubious link in the chain or something and this leads them to be very sceptical and harsh. that's not to say there aren't reviews (by people on forums or what ever) that recomend certain phonostages, but the thing is, it's always relative. I don't remember ever reading a review of a phonostage that said it was Good, full stop; only that it is better, or even, much better than these other well considered ones - for the price, usually.

it'd be nice if there were eaiser less time consuming ways of finding the truth the matter. If there was such thing as the absolute sound then the search for the best fit in your life wouldn't be such a big deal.

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