Here's one from Stereophile's Robert Schryer on the Grandinote Shinai integrated amp: It was as if a world was materializing around me, like I was gaining consciousness in the middle of a field on a hot day. Soon, every pore of the soundstage seemed filled with animated sound.
The last time that I gained consciousness in the middle of a field, my wallet was empty and i had no idea what field it was.....oh, to be 18 once again
How long has it been since I let my Stereophile subscription lapse? Never heard of Robert Schyer. While I've had the experience he describes, it seems like a lifetime ago. Aah, the memories.
I haven't checked if this is already posted but . . . this cable: "Fono Acustica Virtuoso: $20,384/1.5m pair the Fono Acustica made for "more graceful, almost cautious, romantic, but somehow still precise and well-detailed attacks, and long, long sustains."" From Stereophile "Recommended Components 2020".
Damn it! I just measured the distance and the closest I can get is 1.52 meter and now I will be forever locked out from experiencing cautious romantic and well detailed attacks with long sustains.
Amateur! The writer didn't even mention the makes/models of the equipment they were using at the recording session.
I'll never forget Car and Driver describing a Porsche 911 variant and an "ass engined Nazi slot car". Likewise audio hobby print is no better.
I don't know why audio reviewers think their stuff should read like a bad novel. Don't need flowery imagery or rich vocabulary. Not looking to read an F. Scott Fitzgerald-inspired piece when I just want the straight dope on a piece of gear.
Yup, ad claim "Pure, Perfect Sound - Forever". Philips for the CD. Archimago's Musings: MUSINGS: "Pure, Perfect Sound - Forever" Dunno about the others, but the French version "Le son laser" seems rather boring in comparison...
'Hi-Fi Choice' continues to be a front runner in the absurdity stakes. Here's a choice nugget from the current issue about a Power Cable. "...immediately removes a layer of glare and 'glint' from the sound: tonally it's darkly translucent instead of shiny white, allowing the listener to hear more into the music and appreciate the spaces between the notes." I really must learn more about appreciating the spaces between the notes, specially if they are darkly translucent - what utter crap.
I am amazed how every new (and presumably more expensive) cable of every type removes yet another layer of glare/noise/opacity/whatever. And it's always a huge difference! My system must be nothing but white noise.
Was just reading this about the impact of changing headshells: "How to describe the change? It’s like…it’s like having your friends over to your house, as a kid, and the whole ensemble degrades into messing about, unruly behaviour, paper dart throwing, shouting, swearing…and then your Dad walks in. All of that stops and everyone sits up straight and is suddenly on their best behaviour."