|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?accstwek&1047700952&auc&3&4&. Words fail me....
Follow Ups:
According to my wife, all guys buying expensive stereo equipment are crazy. Of cause, you must be really crazy to buy expensive cables and cones and now briliant pebbles. I am one of those wild and crazy guys. I spend more than 2 weeks trying to find the best locations for those pebbles and I did find a few places, which could add a magic touch to my system. Be careful, these pebbles can really mess up the sound if they are in the wrong spots.If you are crazy enough to listen to stereo several days a week, you may want to give these pebbles a chance.
Four varieties exist (not noted in the excerpt):1) dark-bottled ones
2) clear-bottled ones
3) smooth-pebbled ones
4) rough-pebbled ones
Sounds correlate accordingly. The 'brilliant' part
of the name relates to their highest price jar, #2.The EXACT same can be found in turtles for those of
you who have an extended experience with turtles.
a) hard shells b) soft shells c) smooth bellies,
and, and I forgot the fourth type. Been a rough week.
It's easy, another manufacturer gave me the hint. Go to a kitchen store and buy the small glass jars with locking rubber tops. Then go to a home goods store and buy pepples/rocks of different sizes. All for under $10 you can have yourself the eXact thing and they do work to a very small degree. Enjoy
is how some people whose hobby is based completely on the subjective perception of sound are so quick to scoff at tweaks, etc. that they've never heard. So far, not one person has mentioned using or hearing the effects of the pebbles. I've never heard them, but how do I know they don't work? They might be effective to my ears. Isn't that acceptable? How do I know if I've never heard them? Even if they produce a placebo effect, a placebo effect is a legitimate subjective reaction.But to my mind, looking a Geoff's isolation platforms, he knows a heck of a lot about some things I don't. How do I know he hasn't discovered something beyond my knowledge of sound?
My dictionary states that subjective means: particular to a given individual; personal. Am I to be mocked and made fun of because my personal perceptions don't meet with conventional AA thoughts or perceptions?
It just surprises me to see such intolerant reactions at a place I tend to respect.
Why not just get a $99 boom box, then spend another $100 to be hypnotized into believing your boombox sounds just like live music? For $199 you could be in audio heaven.
What a fantastic concept! Taking the power of the mind to a new level. I really believe you're onto something here with your extraordinary idea. I, for one, am going to try it. If that works, I'll have myself hypnotized to think that this bottle of Canada Dry ginger ale is a vintage 1970 Dom Perignon. Next, I'll turn my beater 1988 Ford F-150 pickup into an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. For the finale, my wife will become Elle MacPherson. Outstanding! I'll let you know how it works out.Feed your mind.
Brother Bob
Is much worse than those that are willing to at least try it.....Do you think that your credibility will be validated or enhanced by criticism of something that you have not tried?
"All tweaks do not work," - your implied statement leaves no room for ambiguity and retains several assumptions, - creating much conflict....
You have twisted my post into something it ain't. My comment was related to the idea that its ok if a tweak only serves as placebo. As to your strange line about credibility...... I don't post on this site to validate my credibility. Do you feel misconstruing my post, then criticising what you've misconstrued validates you?I have tried, and currently use a number of tweaks. Soon I'll be trying the ERS Clark Johnsen recommended. But I have no desire to spend money and waste time merely to end up with a "placebo effect". I want a tweak to produce a noticeable difference for the better. If it doesn't, I have no use for it. I don't want to clutter up my room or equipment with "placebo" tweaks, and some tweak ideas just radiate eau de bovine droppings.
Didn't intend to misconstrue your message......As mentioned, - I do believe that a healthy dose of scepticism is a good thing! Perhaps a "credibility" was a poor choice of words.
I will admit to a certain level of frustration to posts that:
1. Criticize stuff without trying it.
2. Believe that tweaks don't make a difference.I do believe that there are some systems where tweaks make little difference, - but one should consider the possibility that there is a world beyond their own.
"My comment was related to the idea that its ok if a tweak only serves as placebo."
I didn't get the above impression from your original post.
I got the impression from your original comment that you thought that all tweaking was definitely only a placebo and that it was pointless.
"I've never heard them, but how do I know they don't work?"You have a point. I've never tried dog shit placed on top of my speakers or electronics so I guess I wouldn't know if that tweak worked or not either. ;-)
Pardon me but I was a bit surprised at your reaction. I've read many posts by you and often purposely see what you have to say, since you seem knowledgeable and highly experienced. After all, we have cousin amps, don't we? The Aleph 3 and 30. You've always seem very helpful and kind, in addition to being quite tolerant. Maybe I misperceived your tone.
I know I quoted you and replied to one of your statements but my tone was not directed at you personally.... I apologize if it came across that way. Just showing my skepticism toward what appears to be a jar of expensive colored rocks. And if a jar of magical expensive colored rocks is an audio "tweak" why not a bag of jelly beans or a bowl of oat meal or unpopped popcorn, or a pile of dog #$%!, etc. I'm sure they all have *some* sonic affect... but they all cost less than a jar of magic rocks.
.
a
Hyperbole as in "extravagent exaggeration" according to my dictionary.
So we're not to be skeptical of or poke fun at anything a manufacturer says (using the standard audio buzz-word cliches that we all know and love) just because we haven't heard their products? Have you yourself heard the entire line of Bose products properly set up in a room specifically optimized for their use? Doubt it. Ever laughed at any of the Bose bashing comments that goes on in here regarding how silly people find Bose's product hype to be? I'll bet you have.
According to the Machina Dynamica website, the "Benefits of Brilliant Pebbles include greater dynamics/life as well as a deeper, more transparent and balanced soundstage". You don't find ANYTHING even slightly amusing about a manufacturer making those kind of claims about what looks like (on the surface) to be a $ 99.00 3" bottle of rocks, even one whose reputation you seem to admire? Hmmmm...
I've found some pretty unconventional tweaks that work to my ears. I, too, object to hyperbole and agree that skepticism can serve one well, but I fail to see the positives of merciless sarcasm, especially when it might hurt the livelihood of someone else. As long as any manufacturer or supplier is willing to refund the money of a dissatisfied customer. Does anyone have proof that this wouldn't be true?The description is qualified by "while not entirely predictable" and "most listening rooms". That certainly doesn't qualify as hyperbole. Sounds pretty darned honest to me.
And what's wrong with being positive? "Benefits of Brilliant Pebbles include greater dynamics/life as well as a deeper, more transparent and balanced soundstage". Would you expect him to say, "Gee, I'm not sure if you'll like the benefits of Brilliant Pebbles but I do"? That would probably make me far more wary.
Why is it that people around here seem to forget that you could get hundreds of qualified ee's who'd tell you wire is wire and that it's ridiculous that interconnects make a difference in sound? Would you support their merciless scoffing at Nordost?
I've had contact with Geoff here and by email. My exchanges have shown him to be very kind, courteous, and intelligent. It bothers me that he should be viewed otherwise simply because he dares to espouse something unconventional.
Yes, you make a point about Bose. To me, that's kind of a standing joke around here - part of the brotherhood of audiophilia. (In this case sisters can be brothers, just to keep pc.) Is there anyone who hangs around here who seriously considers Bose legitimately fine audio gear? And poking a little fun is different to me than viciousness, which was my perception of some.
I tried to avoid sounding too sanctimonious. Perhaps I failed.
Yeah, I'd join the ee's who scoff at the PRICE of wire like Valhalla.
.
nt
"Benefits of Brilliant Pebbles include greater dynamics/life as well as a deeper, more transparent and balanced soundstage"--words like "greater" and "deeper, more transparent" might mean very SLIGHTLY greater. I'm skeptical too but I'm not sure the statement's hyperbolic.
and the 99.00 price-point they've priced the Brilliant Pebbles at is a tremendous bargain and claiming anything about the Brilliant Pebble's benefits is not hyperbole but is indeed well-documented scientific fact and at 99.00 a bottle Brilliant Pebbles are the biggest undiscovered bargain in the history of home audio all wrapped up in (what looks to be) a SEALED glass bottle. Let's just say that I'm a little skeptical in regards to the claimed benefits of Brilliant Pebbles no matter what language the manufacturer chooses to use on their website in describing their product and as to what went after customer Bill's testimonial "Holy Crap! and leave it at that.
HowdyI'll take slight offence here:
Hey, I gave a neutral to positive recommendation, in that I mentioned that Clark had them :)
I'm not tweak adverse. I've used cryo'ed speaker wires and have cryo'ed outlets in my walls. My current speaker wires are elevated on Créme Brûlè cups. I have Bybee filters in my DACs as well as Shakti stones. I think I see thru the marketing on their sites to something that makes sense and I like what I hear. Also as I mentioned the ERS sheets look interesting.
On the other hand: you don't want me to say what I think of the rational for the Brilliant Pebbles that Machina Dynamica gives on their web site. Let's just say that if someone brought them over I'd be happy to listen, but I wouldn't get a set for trial even if they were return postage paid, there are a lot of other tweaks which seem much more promising.
This would all of course be different if someone I trusted made a positive recommendation which is perhaps exactly your point. But I was quite reserved in my initial response to this thread.
There's nothing objectionable to me about criticism or skepticism. I try to retain what seems to me a healthy dose of skepticism when trying tweaks and new gear. My disappointment is in the the savage tone of posts sometimes when products don't fit standard physics rationalism.Actually, your post is one reason I purposely included some. Yours was one that I felt was more tolerant.
HowdyI try to remain tolerant, one thing I've learned over the years is that I used to think I knew what I knew and what I didn't know. Now I know that I don't know what I don't know.
Although I'm inherently skeptical of the brilliant pebbles (and haven't tried them), the man behind Machina Dynamica (I forget his name) is absolutely fanatical about reducing vibrations. His amp/cd stands (the "Promethean Base" and something else) are actually pretty amazing. I was skeptical about those, too, but since he lives about 10 miles away, I let him bring some stands to my house so I could hear for myself. I bought enough stands for my monoblocks and cd player. Who knows? Maybe his pebbles are indeed brilliant.
.
.
nt
Default Signature Line
HowdyAt CES Clark Johnsen had what looked like the items in question.
When I and my colleague didn't have enough credulity on our faces Clark whisked them back into the trunk of his car :)
pebbles would make good cat toys.......Can't use those.....
After reading Clark's write up I'm really interested in finding where to buy some ERS sheets. Please, mister, please.
nt
Do you have a Yamaha BX-1?? I am looking for one. You made a post some time ago inquiring about the BX-1.
Didn't know what you were talking about 'til I did a search.
HowdyI was a little more impressed with the ERS sheets that Clark had than the pebbles :)
There have been some reports about the ERS around the Asylum and I'm interested in them as well.
I know that Dan Wright (ModWright) bought some of them, but I haven't talked to him since then to see what he has to say.
Hmm... I wasn't aware that you had listened to either one...Please elucidate.
HowdyI should have said that I was more impressed with what you said to us about ERS sheets than the pebbles.
Hey I'm not trying to make fun of you or them, that's why I posted "Clark? Here's your cue" up above. I figured that you might have some personal experience here. I respect you and was honored to meet you at CES and talk to you (let alone impressed at your graciousness when we bummed a car ride from you.)
Let me explain:
I said "I figured that you might have some personal experience here" because you showed us the bottles briefly but didn't tell us anything about them.
It was the most puzzling moment of my visit to CES. I'd only known you for a few moments, you pull a few of the bottles out of your trunk and hand them to us. I didn't know if you were showing us a novelty item which poked fun at audiophiles or what. You on the other hand must have been getting incredulous responses from others before us because you didn't give us the benefit of the doubt long enough to tell us what they were, anything about them, how you would use them or what you thought about them: you just grabbed them back and put them in the trunk. Only then did I have any idea that you might have considered them to be a tweak. But hey, I was along for the ride :)
I'd still be interested in your impressions.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: