A Plea For High-End Audio Manufacturer Honesty and Transparency

[the sound of Tao]

All of this well said and IMO just another chapter in the Audio History called searching for mysteries without any clues. When there are a million acceptable opinions and results then everything is good and bad at the same time. If there is not a destination then how do you know where to head?
In audio there are those who make stuff work and those who want to make it sound a certain way ( for argument sake they want it to sound like music).
Talk among yourselves

My bad Elliot, it was a mistake, I was just reading latest activity the other day and appreciated mtemur’s post and without scrolling up to check the thread title… I was thinking it was in a thread about standards and was purely reactive post to that post and not realised it was a part of a thread that I’d have unlikely posted in.

 

[mtemur]

My bad Elliot, it was a mistake, I was just reading latest activity the other day and appreciated mtemur’s post and without scrolling up to check the thread title… I was thinking it was in a thread about standards and was purely reactive post to that post and not realised it was a part of a thread that I’d have unlikely posted in.

The thread was actually about standards, honesty, and respect—that’s what I thought we were discussing. It wasn’t about the man in the video, but people kept diverting the subject. Besides, whether he’s reliable or not doesn’t really matter; even a broken watch shows the correct time twice a day. And by the way, if you’re going to mention me again, please put @ before my name so I’ll get notified.

 

[the sound of Tao]

The thread was actually about standards, honesty, and respect—that’s what I thought we were discussing. It wasn’t about the man in the video, but people kept diverting the subject. Besides, whether he’s reliable or not doesn’t really matter; even a broken watch shows the correct time twice a day. And by the way, if you’re going to mention me again, please put @ before my name so I’ll get notified.

Thanks @mtemur, I thought the position you wrote on earlier was notably on point in this.

 

[Atmasphere]

Your point about cables and standards for balanced connections is interesting. It makes me wonder about why my own gear, which is designed by very competent people, does not act as you have outlined. I'm assuming they know the standards.

I think you are saying that if I easily hear a difference in cables then it must be the implementation of the balanced connections. Grimm Audio started business in the pro end of audio, therefore I assume they are well aware of best practices. Mola Mola recommends using balanced cables. Their DAC only has a balanced connection, for example. I don't doubt what you have said. Just wondering why the standard might not have been followed by experienced designers or what other factors might result in what I hear.

When designing for home use you have a number of factors to consider. @microstrip outlined two. It takes considerable guts from a line stage to be able to drive a 600 Ohm load! Another is consideration of the market. If most high end audio manufacturers either out of ignorance or choice don't support the standard then if you are entering the market you have to ask why you would do it if hardly anyone else is, especially in the light of the extra cost associated.

My answer is cost shouldn't be a variable if getting the best sound/performance is the goal. In the high end audio world, the cost of a good line transformer is what this is about. The means we patented is about the same cost but sidesteps the bandwidth and distortion issues of a transformer.

 

[Holmz]

In the context of this discussion, it's hardly ambiguous. You alluded to being an engineer. What is your opinion on engineering and QC? Does it matter? What do you look for in equipment in that vein? You tend to huff and puff in a somewhat patronizing tone at times (like an engineer), so educate us.

You know what engineers use for birth control @Geardaddy ?

 

[PYP]

You know what engineers use for birth control @Geardaddy ?

i'm not @Geardaddy, but have one potential answer: Off-thread comments on audiophile sites?

 

[Holmz]

i'm not @Geardaddy, but have one potential answer: Off-thread comments on audiophile sites?

Their personalities.

 

[PYP]

Their personalities.

Regarding engineers -- OTOH: