"As We See It - Stereophile.com"

[Yamaki]

J. Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile Magazine; had a lot to say in 1992 about the state of high fidelity and he's STILL talking!!!

45 Years of Stereophile | Stereophile.com

[rbbert]

Still talking??? Seance?

[mulveling]

Sadly, his 2007 responses are those of an extremely cynical and jaded curmudgeon. There's some truth there, of course -- I share his disdain for how "voodoo science" has been allowed to thrive and run amok unchecked -- but man, it sounds like he'd completely dried out on love for this hobby. If you can't find the magic, it's time to move on (which I guess he did). I'm already pretty cynical/jaded for my age, so I hope I don't end up like that

[JMAC]

"I share his disdain for how "voodoo science" has been allowed to thrive and run amok unchecked...


"As far as the real world is concerned, high-end audio lost its credibility during the 1980s, when it flatly refused to submit to the kind of basic honesty controls (double-blind testing, for example) that had legitimized every other serious scientific endeavor since Pascal. [This refusal] is a source of endless derisive amusement among rational people ..."

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by JMAC

"I share his disdain for how "voodoo science" has been allowed to thrive and run amok unchecked...

What ever do you mean?

[jdandy]

In my humble opinion, the enjoyment of home audio music reproduction is an individual experience that each of us attempts to make as pleasurable as possible through our personal choices, tweaks, and assemblies. Audio pleasure in one's home is not a scientific experiment that needs to be proven and repeatable like some scientific theory seeking authenticity. It is personal. If it pleases the owner, that is all that matters. Who cares what someone else thinks about your personal sonic enjoyment. No one ever asked Michelangelo to duplicate the paintings of the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Those efforts are his interpretations of personal visions, done to his satisfaction, not something needing to be compared in a duplication as proof of the value of his gift, talent, or enjoyment of life. The proof was in his satisfaction.

The world is full of naysayers and jaded curmudgeons as mentioned above. It will always be this way. Life is entirely too short to worry about the thoughts of others. I have all I can handle dealing with my own thoughts, deeds, and desires. I don't need the weight of someone else's baggage on my shoulders so I simply choose to ignore that which does not please me and embrace that which does. It removes a lot of stress from my daily activities.

The audio industry as a whole will manufacture anything they can sell and will price items as high as there are willing buyers to pay. It is no different in any other market, automobiles, planes, real estate, watches, and jewelry to name a few. The bottom line always comes down to the person who wants something they perceive has value and are willing to make payment to own it no matter the cost. Free will reigns in all that we do, although some simply fail to take full advantage of what is available. It is no one's fault. It is the way of the world. One man's opinion will never change it.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by rbbert

Still talking??? Seance?

rbbert.......That is funny.

[Thedo]

Originally Posted by jdandy

In my humble opinion, the enjoyment of home audio music reproduction is an individual experience that each of us attempts to make as pleasurable as possible through our personal choices, tweaks, and assemblies. Audio pleasure in one's home is not a scientific experiment that needs to be proven and repeatable like some scientific theory seeking authenticity. It is personal. If it pleases the owner, that is all that matters. Who cares what someone else thinks about your personal sonic enjoyment. No one ever asked Michelangelo to duplicate the paintings of the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Those efforts are his interpretations of personal visions, done to his satisfaction, not something needing to be compared in a duplication as proof of the value of his gift, talent, or enjoyment of life. The proof was in his satisfaction.

The world is full of naysayers and jaded curmudgeons as mentioned above. It will always be this way. Life is entirely too short to worry about the thoughts of others. I have all I can handle dealing with my own thoughts, deeds, and desires. I don't need the weight of someone else's baggage on my shoulders so I simply choose to ignore that which does not please me and embrace that which does. It removes a lot of stress from my daily activities.

The audio industry as a whole will manufacture anything they can sell and will price items as high as there are willing buyers to pay. It is no different in any other market, automobiles, planes, real estate, watches, and jewelry to name a few. The bottom line always comes down to the person who wants something they perceive has value and are willing to make payment to own it no matter the cost. Free will reigns in all that we do, although some simply fail to take full advantage of what is available. It is no one's fault. It is the way of the world. One man's opinion will never change it.

Well said Dan.

[dizzie]

"Yet you achieved so much, Gordon.

I know I did, and my whole excuse for it—a love for the sound of live classical music—lost its relevance in the US within 10 years. I was done in by time, history, and the most spoiled, destructive generation of irresponsible brats the world has ever seen. (I refer, of course, to the Boomers.)"

Above is a quote from the end of the interview. Having spent my entire career in environmental compliance trying to correct the wrongs of previous generations I have to disagree with Mr. Holt. Obviously he was a bitter old man resting on past accomplishments. I think his perspective had become too jaded to be relevant.

[FlashG1]

Why must we suffer the TYRANNY of the OR... Subjective or objective testing, when we can enjoy the POSSIBILITY of the AND... subjective and objective testing. Think of all the extra fun you can have; it is a hobby after all, isn't it?