The Audiophoolery Thread.

[Radio Wrangler]

Originally Posted by knobtwiddler

I thought someone here would pick up on it

We try not to disappoint. If not me, then plenty of others would have.

David

[Beardyman]

And now for something completely different.
Shaving CD's anyone?
Never, in all my days, have I come across this level of snake oil!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-QxLAxwxkM

[deliverance]

Snake oil indeed surely clamping the CD to a angle grinder then use a sharp chisel to remove the excess is the way to go cheaper to.

[ajgriff]

That reminds me, I must get a Fidelity Audio CD Demagnetiser as well. A bargain at £449.

Alan

[stevehertz]

I've recently seen an ad for a very nice pair of ATC speakers. The seller has 'improved' them as follows:

"These speakers have had the following upgrades at an additional cost of £700.

"Jantzen Alumen Z-caps 6.8uF plus a Duelund 0.01uF bypass capacitors on the treble section of the crossover. This is the most appropriate place to upgrade the crissover as ATC use good quality components including air core copper wire inductor coils. Internal wiring Upgraded to Duelund tinned copper DCA12GA cotton in oil to mid/ bass unit. Mundorf Angel hair acoustic filling. Externally WBT nextgen binding posts on a WBT plates.

"Substantially but sympathetically upgrades these already amazing speakers."

In my opinion, £700 wasted on a so called upgrade that most probably has done nothing to improve the sound of the speakers. It may even have affected the sound negatively knowing how ATC are meticulous in the development of their speakers. Messing about with crossovers (it's unclear if values etc were changed) and damping can be dangerous.

[ajgriff]

It's probably been mentioned before but I was intrigued by the Angel Hair acoustic filling only to find that Mundorf also offer Unicorn's Tail filling. Theses are the web pages:

https://www.mundorf.com/audio/en/shop/Damping/MSilence_Angel/

https://www.mundorf.com/audio/en/shop/Damping/MSilence_Unicorn/

Both versions retail at €69.90 per 200g.


Alan

[knobtwiddler]

https://www.airtaudio.com/quantum-science-audio/

[stevehertz]

Originally Posted by knobtwiddler

https://www.airtaudio.com/quantum-science-audio/

I mean, it's just basic lies, performance improvement statements with no foundation whatsoever. So the supposed improved conductivity of a fuse lowers "the noise floor". Yer right.

[Richardgr]

Had to check the fuse prices from that link above.

The entry level black one is £50, but the high end version, red, is .... £2400 inc VAT.
Audio Fuses

[knobtwiddler]

When I looked up the price, the Red model was £1,400 inc. VAT.

Be fair, Richard. It's better value than you make out

[Radio Wrangler]

Now that's clever. A module the size, shape, and format of a DIN rail mounted MCB unit, compatible with modern consumer units. But instead of an MCB trip it contains an old-fashioned fuse. As everyone knows, fuses must sound better than MCBs because they are older technology. The inductance of the small coil in the MCB will attract interference, pulling it in from miles away, spoiling your soundstageing and reducing 'clout'.... yeah, that must be it.

I wonder if they're 17th edition compliant, or do specialist audiophile insurance companies provide fire cover in these cases?

David

[m0cemdave]

Originally Posted by stevehertz

I've recently seen an ad for a very nice pair of ATC speakers. The seller has 'improved' them as follows:
(snip)

Ye Gods!
I wonder what Bill would have thought of that...

[Craig Sawyers]

Originally Posted by knobtwiddler

https://www.airtaudio.com/quantum-science-audio/

Note that the CE mark on the unit the correct form for a CE mark. The C and the E are far too close. A CE mark dimensions are closely defined - see for example the image part way down this page https://cemarking.net/ .

The joke is that such a non-conforming CE mark actually stands for China Export.

Yup, Chinese - this is the manufacturer of this dangerous rubbish https://quantum-science-audio.com/ .

Craig

[stevehertz]

Originally Posted by Craig Sawyers

Note that the CE mark on the unit the correct form for a CE mark. The C and the E are far too close. A CE mark dimensions are closely defined - see for example the image part way down this page https://cemarking.net/ .

The joke is that such a non-conforming CE mark actually stands for China Export.

Yup, Chinese - this is the manufacturer of this dangerous rubbish https://quantum-science-audio.com/ .

Craig

Also with an American address:

14455 N. Hayden Road,Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, United States.

[Craig Sawyers]

Property vacant and available for lease

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/14455-N-Hayden-Rd-Scottsdale-AZ/24280532/

Craig

[Radio Wrangler]

With such a wonderful product (it fills me with wonder that there are people daft enough to buy it), they must have had to move into larger premises.

David

[knobtwiddler]

Note that they are labelled 'Home Audio Fuses', with the priciest one listed @ £1,400. How much do you think they'll charge for the 'Professional Audio Fuse'?

[stevehertz]

I know it's more case of sticking a wet finger in the air, but worldwide how many of these fuses do you think they're selling? Is it a few dozen? Hundreds? Thousands?!

[DMcMahon]

[QUOTE=knobtwiddler;1535589]Here's another bargain for you all - don't say I'm not kind in tipping my forum friends off: https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/12/robert-koda-k-15-ex-preamplifier-review.html#more

[quote]

I assume the dot (.) in the price at the end of the long description should be a comma (,), i.e. 70,000 GBP as against 70.000 GBP, if the dot is correct then indeed a bargain

David

[stevehertz]

[QUOTE=DMcMahon;1536664][QUOTE=knobtwiddler;1535589]Here's another bargain for you all - don't say I'm not kind in tipping my forum friends off: https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/12/robert-koda-k-15-ex-preamplifier-review.html#more

I assume the dot (.) in the price at the end of the long description should be a comma (,), i.e. 70,000 GBP as against 70.000 GBP, if the dot is correct then indeed a bargain

David

70 quid? I'll have four!!