Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
well don't we all buy our sushi chef a beer or a drink as he serves us. Makes for better sushi orders 
Catering to the rich not the audiophile
- Thread starter taters
- Start date
I don't want to generalize about "experts" as I think the folks that post here are very smart and knowledgeable. But, just because you give a lot of money to a person that calls himself an expert, doesn't mean you will receive value for your money. Here's an example:
"Million Dollar Contractor" $2,000,000 Listening Room Full Episode
$2mill listening room gets you:
Polycarbonate Floor?
Reflective Ceiling Panels?
Almost no diffusion in the room?
Any on site acoustical calibration work done to verify effectiveness of the large custom traps installed in-wall?
looking at the audioarts website , you could get a great system for much less , he stocks the same rethm horns and amps i use myself.
just add a front end table from brinkmann or a schopper thorens for a fantastic sounding system that would look good in a nyc apartment
some people spend more in a year on golf , clothes , sports , drugs or a few nights in a top hotel
do know a friends partner that has a multi-million home with a sonos in the living room , but would think nothing of buying a new bentley
this hobby needs new blood , rich or poor
just add a front end table from brinkmann or a schopper thorens for a fantastic sounding system that would look good in a nyc apartment
some people spend more in a year on golf , clothes , sports , drugs or a few nights in a top hotel
do know a friends partner that has a multi-million home with a sonos in the living room , but would think nothing of buying a new bentley
this hobby needs new blood , rich or poor
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2 mil for that? Wow. The room is too small for those speakers. With a 16,000 sq ft apartment I would think they could have used more space at least.
Yeah, that dude was a scamster. But, when we order a serious bottle of wine in a restaurant with a deep list ( I don't drink anymore, but my wife enjoys wine), I usually do offer the sommelier more than a taste if I like him/her. If it is a killer bottle, they will sometimes accept.
well don't we all buy our sushi chef a beer or a drink as he serves us. Makes for better sushi orders
If someone in the party's drinking sake, ask him what his favorite is on the sake list, and then order it and offer him some.
If you like sushi, you need to try Shiro's in Seattle. The chef is Jiro's alumni. If you haven't seen the video....
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
I've seen that many times Gary. In fact I understand that this short documentary will be nominated for Oscar consideration. A wonderful story. I wonder if his son will ever complete his father's apprenticeship
Yeah, I've done the same with some sommeliers. Some great ones in NYC obviously. For your wife anyway, you might try Veritas -- foundation of the wine list is the large private cellar of one of the owners.
I think you are pretty spot on. In any field of interest, whether its fine art, cars, hi-fi, jewelry, houses, etc. there are real enthusiast/hobbyist types who will dig in and others who can afford 'the best' but have little interest in the details. (I think Carl said the same thing). I don't resent it, and if the vendor is providing quality, the premium paid for the 'bespoke' service is something that folks with the 'dosh' will gladly pay, to avoid having to do the research or become 'instant experts' themselves. As far as hi-fi goes, since most here are hobbyist/enthusiasts, it probably rankles because we could do better and for less money. Me- I actually like learning about stuff, that's part of the fun of a hobby. But, even with experience and the time to dedicate to its pursuit, we've all had frustrations, mistakes and problems that come with system building and operation. That's part of the hobby too.
And, even within our ranks, you'll probably find different degrees of knowledge and engagement, including people that are more hands-on (let's leave aside our manufacturer brethren) or DIY'ers, who think: why buy that preamp, I can build a better one myself. I'm just glad good hi-fi has a place in the world beyond the dyed in the wool 'audiophiles.' Even if it does have a 'lifestyles of the rich and famous' aspect.
I don't drink, but my sister is a wine "expert". She likes to have extensive jousts with the sommeliers, one upping and comparing esoterica before choosing some appropriate varietal.
To me, it is status groupie bullshit designed to intimidate, since I can't imagine anybody telling anybody else what tastes good any more than telling somebody what sounds good to them, but at the end of the evening, if everybody who wishes it so is drunk, the point becomes moot and the goal has been achieved.
To me, it is status groupie bullshit designed to intimidate, since I can't imagine anybody telling anybody else what tastes good any more than telling somebody what sounds good to them, but at the end of the evening, if everybody who wishes it so is drunk, the point becomes moot and the goal has been achieved.
Nice, thanks for that- I've been kinda out of the high end NYC restaurant scene for a while, but good to know. Grand Vefour has a staggering list, in Paris. If you've eaten there, you know. If you haven't, go for lunch, it's almost a bargain -(except for the wine prices, but as I remember, they had serious vintages, and a wide array of regions, not just the obvious uber wines). And they offered pretty extensive tasting menus on the food even at lunchtime. Nothing more glorious than the sun streaming in those old glass windows in the Palais Royale whilst you are eating some amazing food and enjoying the Belle Epoque decor. One of my favorite spots on the planet, and I'm not much for 'fancy' formal dining anymore.
Back to the program
+1
I participated in a wine show - Perth 1999 where I received a Bronze medal. The winemakers at the different tables would gather and talk about their techniques, freely exchanging information. You would learn something new, and hopefully bring some useful information to the conversation. All the wine is served out of the same glasses and the judges and other winemakers would freely comment on what they are tasting.
The difference between the wine industry and the audio industry - one time I asked a manufacturer what was that album he was demo'ing with. I identified myself as a manufacturer too. The look of disdain he gave me could have killed a cat.
Now, I post my demo list, including information on the pressing that I'm using. It contributes to the hobby, and doesn't take it away. So what if some other manufacturer demos with the same music - at least then audiophiles who do visit both rooms have something to compare with.
Hi
We should not discount the advice of an expert. For some reasons the audiophiles in general fail to acknowledge the learning process that is the audiophile journey. It is long, arduous and fraught with mistakes and regressions and serious money spent. We all have been through it. We, however, gladly share our view and experiences on fora and boards. We have and continue to invest vast amount of time and knowledge in our hobby. That's us audiophiles.
OTOH there are folks with money and with wherewithal similar to that of many on this board. They do have the money but not the knowledge and experience or even the patience and penchant we, audiophiles, have. They can still appreciate the finer things in life but may need a coach to get there... Here comes the coach, an example being this guy in the WSJ article and they pay him to get there.. Maybe closer to our system that we would like to think. I will grant you that our systems may truly surpass what he sells his customers and likely for much less but we are then looking at simple acquisition cost aka price, not what we have invested to reach our present state of system. If we were to look at such the cost may be eerily similar.
As for the decor thing and lifestyle we, audiophiles are closet interior decorators, if I am to judge by several rooms I have seem in the WBF .. I can pinpoint three rooms that would be at ease in ANY Lifestyle or Architectural magazines: Jack D201's, Marty's and a person whose name I forgot, Marty's friend from Texas as well, he has VAC electronics and custom line source speakers .. These rooms are stunning beyond simple audiophiles standards, you remove the equipment...they continue to stand out. For the most part even the person-caves are cleanly laid-out
So yeah! I want a remote to go with my rug, If it is shiny it will likely reflect it so I am ok
We should not discount the advice of an expert. For some reasons the audiophiles in general fail to acknowledge the learning process that is the audiophile journey. It is long, arduous and fraught with mistakes and regressions and serious money spent. We all have been through it. We, however, gladly share our view and experiences on fora and boards. We have and continue to invest vast amount of time and knowledge in our hobby. That's us audiophiles.
OTOH there are folks with money and with wherewithal similar to that of many on this board. They do have the money but not the knowledge and experience or even the patience and penchant we, audiophiles, have. They can still appreciate the finer things in life but may need a coach to get there... Here comes the coach, an example being this guy in the WSJ article and they pay him to get there.. Maybe closer to our system that we would like to think. I will grant you that our systems may truly surpass what he sells his customers and likely for much less but we are then looking at simple acquisition cost aka price, not what we have invested to reach our present state of system. If we were to look at such the cost may be eerily similar.
As for the decor thing and lifestyle we, audiophiles are closet interior decorators
, if I am to judge by several rooms I have seem in the WBF .. I can pinpoint three rooms that would be at ease in ANY Lifestyle or Architectural magazines: Jack D201's, Marty's and a person whose name I forgot, Marty's friend from Texas as well, he has VAC electronics and custom line source speakers .. These rooms are stunning beyond simple audiophiles standards, you remove the equipment...they continue to stand out. For the most part even the person-caves are cleanly laid-outSo yeah! I want a remote to go with my rug, If it is shiny it will likely reflect it so I am ok
There is a sushi restaurant where I live that has no menu and they serve you what they like. They only open for dinner and it will cost you 1000.00 for 2 people. You have to make a reservation far in advance to get in the place.
well don't we all buy our sushi chef a beer or a drink as he serves us. Makes for better sushi orders
i couldnt let this pass. its actually considered poor etiquette to buy the itamae (chef) a drink while hes working. its also a bit presumptuous to think they appreciate it, almost half of all asians are alergic to alcohol. when we're at the bar kibitzing with the itamae in nihongo (my wife is fluent) we hear the complaints. if you want to please an itame, order omakase (not cheap rolls) and dont bring your small kids to the bar - a big no, no.
when I run into that, if it is as a reaction, an automatic reflection of their mindset, is that I'm dealing with a fearful negative proofing mindset. Which is inherently dangerous. It is an unthinking characteristic, which is running in the unconscious of the given person. this directly indicates that I'm dealing with a 'us against them' mentality. Tribal religion - one of the most dangerous things on the planet. It comes in many forms, as a point in physiological origins.
neophytes will get their information from other neophytes.
that is the nature of functional communication.
thus, a neophyte will consult with a neophyte or incompetent installer. it is the fundamental way of the world.
As bell curves go, few make it past the point of understanding this 'burn' they commit to the self, via living in the reflection of their ignorance.
bell curves still exist in the given 'circle' of knowledge, the same still applies. Even in the given realm of experts, the low hanging fruit is the one most touched.
In the realm of acoustics, for example, there will be an 'expert's expert', that will be misunderstood or ignored in that circle.
it goes like this:
one step ahead of the crowd, and you're a genius.
two steps ahead (a threat to the crowd's perceived genius),and you are a crackpot.
And that the crowd's genius, who sees the two step ahead person as a threat, CAN,and many times does... convince the crowd, that the more capable person is a crackpot.
HAPPENS EVERY DAY. I've been there more than enough times, so much..that it practically gives me a migraine to think about it.
Taters, you talking about the place in the Time-Warner center or whatever that building is called now, near Lincoln Center?
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