Article: Guest Editorial: Why did audio stop being about audio?

[Samuel T Cogley]

3 minutes ago, Iving said:

OT interest?

https://www.dannybrown.me/2014/01/07/social-media-bullying-and-the-growing-lynch-mob-mentality/

 

 

Danny posted here right after Lavorgna was banned.  Danny was firmly in the "Lavorgna was unjustly banned" camp.

[Samuel T Cogley]

Just now, The Computer Audiophile said:

I understand you might think this. No worries. 

 

However, I'm not. The intensity with which some people rail against HiFi, and the demands for products to be pulled form the market as if they were Thalidomide, is no different from those trying to stop global warming. 

 

But are any of those things actually happening in this thread?  Aren't you stirring the pot unnecessarily?  And why in the world would you throw in "global warming" if not to stir the pot?

[Samuel T Cogley]

1 minute ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

This topic and thread is about the larger picture. I also don't believe global warming should stir any pot. We're all adults and can look at the earth's temperature graph over time and see it happening. 

 

But that's not the way you phrased it

 

Quote

The intensity with which some people rail against HiFi, and the demands for products to be pulled form the market as if they were Thalidomide, is no different from those trying to stop global warming. 

 

It sure looks to me like a patronizing take on those who want to reverse the Earth's warming.

[Samuel T Cogley]

2 minutes ago, Norton said:

 

Except, there is no divide, because in practice (as opposed to a theoretical construct for fuelling online arguments) there is no such thing as audio “objectivism”.  I’ve never seen any self-described objectivist actually explain the process (with the supporting data) whereby their objectivism resulted in them making system choices that they wouldn’t have made had they adopted an subjective approach.

 

Using myself as an example, I disagree.

 

My approach is that I'm always on the lookout for new audio tech outside the realm of the Establishment Audiophile Media.  The new DACs coming from China are a good example.  Some of the headphone amps found over at Drop (previously Massdrop) perform quite well and are quite affordable.

 

There's no shortage of people who will heap accolades onto established "mainstream" gear.  That's typically an indication to me that I should avoid the product.

 

Hard example: I had my eye on an iFI iDSD Pro for years while it was in development.  I nearly purchased one until it became clear that IFI was "all in" with MQA.  So I did some more research and settled on Benchmark DAC 3 B based 1) their reputation for good sound and 2) their opposition to MQA.  I think the DAC 3 B was a great choice and to me, it sounds great.

 

It wouldn't matter how many people said the iDSD Pro sounded good, I still wouldn't buy one.

 

[Samuel T Cogley]

4 minutes ago, ARQuint said:

As far as "converting anyone" to my cause, I think that a wonderful thing about Joel Alperson's editorial is that it has brought people out of the woodwork who are similarly weary of the uncivil tone of so much discourse in enthusiast communities, specifically ours. No converting is required—plenty of AS forum members are already believers, when it comes to addressing rude and aggressive online behavior.

 

Disingenuousness is also rude.  You only post here to propagate the illusion of the wise, friendly, Audiophile Elder who's just trying to spread kindness and audio bliss.  When you're actually part of "the big crazy" that is discussed in this very thread.

 

Mr Quint, what, exactly, comes "out of the woodwork"?  I don't think it's something complimentary.  🙂

 

[Samuel T Cogley]

Just now, Norton said:

Far from illustrating the “objectivist “ approach, this is about as radical subjectivist  a decision as it’s possible to make.  Going simply by how you worded the above, you rejected the iFi not because of how it performs  as a DAC (whether measured objectively or considered subjectively) but because its manufacturer has a relationship  with an organisation you don’t approve of. 

 

"sold out" is the term I would use.  Avoiding technology that is, by design, anti-consumer is an objective act IMHO.

[Samuel T Cogley]

1 minute ago, firedog said:

Maybe it is. But that doesn't mean I should go around telling little kids that he doesn't.

 

There's a time and a place for everything.

I am not a radical objectivist, but I also think some of the radical subjectivist threads here are a little nuts. So I just ignore them and let the people who enjoy them have their fun - even if, IMHO, they are a bit wacko. What I think doesn't always matter. 

 

I agree with what you're saying.  I'm just curious who the "little kids" are that you're talking about 🙂

 

And I find that I have much in common with some of the fiercest haters of objectivists.

 

My presence here is actually all @daverich4 's fault.  🙂  I was blissfully unaware of this thread's existence until he @-ed me.

 

 

 

[Samuel T Cogley]

29 minutes ago, ARQuint said:

I can detect, from some of them, annoyance and even frank anger with The Computer Audiophile for publishing the editorial, viewing it as a kind a slap in the face.

 

This is novice-level trolling.  The skeptics challenge the very shaky ground you find yourself standing upon.  And you do everything you can to try to distract from what they're saying.

 

You never want to discuss what the skeptics are actually saying.  You just want to marginalize them.

 

For my part, I know that Chris abhors what he perceives as lack of civility here.  And I'll be the first to admit that getting to the heart of a particular matter without the requisite "social lubricant" can be antagonizing to some.  But I support Chris in the strongest possible terms.  He is the reason, to put it succinctly, that the MQA lie has been exposed.  And we ALL owe him a big debt of gratitude for that.  He has told us that owning the forum that contains the thread "MQA is Vaporware" has been at times very difficult.  If you're trying to drive a wedge between us, you'll have to do much better than this novice-level trolling.

 

To some of us, you represent everything that's wrong with HiFi culture.  Your disingenuousness is palpable.  Your agenda is transparent.  I would never trust you to be a consumer advocate because you (just like Scoggins) just can't resist the opportunity to name drop (Peter McGrath, your "dear old friend" in this case).  There's no way I would ever trust anything you say because of that relationship.  And especially because you're so quick to tout it.  Your loyalties are quite obvious.  You'll lurk until you see another opportunity to bash the skeptics with your civility cudgel, just as you're doing now.

 

See you next time.