Art Dudley Calls B.S. but without naming names - PLEASE DO!


Hey all,

As someone who hasn't been reading the audiophile press for all that long, I stumbled upon this article that I'm sure it lit up these airwaves when it was first published: https://www.stereophile.com/content/skin-deep

It's a great article and one that any knowledgeable person would most likely agree with, but hey, spending your own hard-earned (or inherited) money is a right and a privilege.  Art does call out some brands that he perceives to give great value:  AMVR, VPL, Conrad-Johnson, DeVore and Harbeth and Kimber and Peachtree and Quicksilver and Rega and Rogue and Spendor and Wavelength.  Shouldn't NAD be on this list?  

But what he doesn't do and I think is warranted, is name the companies that are most egregious in selling high-end products where the performance is far below the cost.  

I, for one, would love to see a list of those manufacturers from the people who read this forum.  You can group them by what they manufacture or just put them in order as you see fit.  I think it would be most helpful in calling b.s. but with "added-value", which is what this whole article was all about.  Right?

128x128lgoler

Showing 13 responses by supertweak

 There are a lot of people saying how they upgraded from this to that and no one, but themselves, know the degree of improvement.When someone says they used something they thought was a good value,used it for years and then found something that was an even better value that "blew it out of the water".Does "blew it out of the water" mean 20% improvement, 40 % improvement.The actual degree of improvement we are always left in the dark on, even with adjectives like that phrase.I propose that it would be good to implement some kind of system of improvement percentages,so people can know what others mean.I do mods and after I do a successful one without even consciously trying to rate it % wise, my mind after listening to often repeated tracks, always just automatically thinks," hey, thats about 20% more open sounding or however much the improvement it is.Figuring out what % something improved it by is very subjective and probably never 100% accurate, but on my personal yardstick as an example, putting speakers under a good set of cones amounts to what in my mind is usually about a 15% improvement, greening the edge of a CD a 6 or 7% improvement.Cleaning all my interconnects and RCA terminals after about a year I think I heard over a 15% improvement once.These percentages might not be 100% accurate or even that close, but at least they are consistent, relative to my own personal estimates and numbers.If Stereophile rates something as a low class B, about how higher % wise is something in high class B ?The degree of difference is of utmost importance, but people Don't seem to express this in meaningful accurate terms and instead use colorful adjectives to describe the improvement, but what would you liken the improvement to? Unlike most audiophiles I have a big  collection of Holiday music.I continually try to improve my sound throughout the year; every year modding and purchasing.When it gets towards the end of the year and I start playing my holiday music, if my year has been a good one for improving my sound, (50% or more), its like the biggest "WOW" ever, because this is music that I have not played for a whole year since last holiday time and playing something you know oh so well  after a year of improving your system is much more "wow" like, than playing something you play regularly as the improvement train moves slowly but steadily forward.Like seeing a face of someone you know, every few months.You probably will not notice any aging because its gradual, but if you see them every 5 years.Thats different.Sometimes you might hardly recognize them as in"Wow".So if you get new gear and there is an improvement; is it a greening a CD improvement or something much more dramatic.Giving estimated percentages might be of value to others and also being more specific as to what areas of improvement.Remember there are people who might buy what you are describing and it might even bias them to get it.

 I did not notice this before, but of all the members on Audiogon, look who posted consecutively right after my response above. None other than Geoffkait and of all people hifiman5. Seems like they know each other pretty well too. The only time something sarcastic wasn't tossed my way by them. I think I will take a picture of it.The "lets make people out to be a fool team."On my very first Discussion Post as a new member on here, here is how hifiman5 welcomed me to Audiogon and I quote. "We are so honored to be in your presence"."What a fine mind you have to enlighten the great unwashed with your wisdom."If only I could be that profound.some day.""Oh well a guy can only hope.."."You are oh so very noble and impressive to yourself". His words... and you guys wonder why your equipment does not sell so quickly on here lately.They chase away the newbies on here who are eager to buy.You probably recognize those words from somewhere.I am not the only one on here he tried his dambdest to make a fool of.In fact it seems like over the years II've read that line by him numerous times.What a real prize of a guy,huh? A real tale from the dark side.They chase away the newbies.What next, stealing from babies?
  GeoffKait's often repeated statement on here that "a rich man has about as much chance of audio nirvana as a camel going through the eye of a needle."Maybe he has this all figured out, but if  high end manufacturers ever decided  to sue him left and right for slander,can you imagine how easy it would be and how conclusive the verdict.All they would have to do is bring their rather expensive equipment into the courtroom and turn it on. I'm sure the judge would be impressed, but it might be hard to prove damages unless they can prove he is influential..What Kait does have going for him and you can look this up on the internet, is that he has been called a fraud a con artist and a charlatan perhaps more than anyone ever in audio.For iinstance on this one thing (of many) it said you pay money to him to make a phone call to his enterprise, and over the phone they emit a series of clickky noises, they come right out of your telephone and is supposed to result in improved sound quality for your stereo.I think I 'll just have my grandmother hang up on me a few times in a row.This is the guy who stalked my posts on here and kept "Pasting" paragraphs from my responses onto his posts with an insulting patronization comment at the bottom each time.Still looking to make a fool of someone now?

 Instead of getting somebody for a whole $60 for a phone call, you might consider what helped a guy I knew a long time ago.He was sort of a pudgy black man in his late 50's or early 60's and he would just go and sit off to the side of an entrance to a shopping mall.I don't know if you have any re-runs of the Ed Sullivan show, but he always had with him a little hanky like when Louis Armstrong used to come on the show with his trumpet, and he would wipe the sweat off his browevery so often. Anyway,when a lone shopper would be heading into or out of the mall he would just kinda wipe his brow with his hanky and kind of meekly mutter to himself, but loud enough,"Boy if I had a few dollars I'd go buy myself a lemonade".You would be surprised how many people gave him a few dollars for a lemonade. For some strange reason he said in front of J.C. Penny's always worked best.

 Then the internet must need a long cold shower too.There are about 5 or 6 media write ups about Geoff Kait and his a little hard to believe claims concerning all kind of little gadgets.I hate to say this, but from what I read It looks like you are king of the charlatans according to many.Those people who are in the vast minority who claimed something good.Are those your friends and relatives
  Actually maybe we should exchange a tweak idea now and then.One for one.If you haven't noticed I am a pretty creative person.Just about everybody that knows me will concur there.I have some dandies that I do think are unique and nothing subtle about their effect.But its my idea..so you would have to go first.I am honest as long as you realize when I am serious.

 People coming in and out of shopping malls usually are not rich at aIt and most audiophiles have to save and sacrifice for the equipment they eventually buy.It all depends on what equipment.Plus there is the morality issue.
  I am of a very open mind..but only up to a point.Everything that happens in the known universe involves an "action" and a "reaction".Even if you would stretch your mind to the incredulous point of believing that its possible to send some great force over a phone line costing $60, somehow I couldn't picture that force losing steam, over all those hundreds or thousands of miles and petering out over a farm field in Iowa, or more likely a half block from where it originated...assuming there exists such a force somewhere in the universe.In Carl Sagan's great book "Dragons Of Eden" he mentions that billions and billions of miles away from Earth there are blackholes.Just a thimble full of black hole material would weigh more than the entire Earth.But I like to stay within the realm of reality and what's overwhelmingly likely and actually without a doubt.
Re: my post above.Typo.Of course I meant I couldn't picture such a force if it existed somewhere  "NOT" losing steam.The spell-right also changed the name Sagan to "Satan"; glad I caught that one and changed it before.
"There are no forces in nature that whose affects are not limited by distance." PERIOD.Kean University...Look it up.Probably everybody knew that anyway.Refer to line 13 and down of Geoffkait listing above.He hopes you are scientifically illiterate enough not to know that there are only 3 forces in nature.
 1.Gravitational: This requires mass (something) really really really huge; for instance  something like a planet or moon to have a profound pull on another object.  
 2.Electrostatics force.This is like when you rub a balloon to a sweater and it builds up a static electricity charge.Only affects thing held close to it. A room away in distance: NO. 10,000 miles away in distance: hell no.
 3.Magnetic force: once again this is limited with distance.A magnet only has a pull over something made of a material its capable of attracting over a relatively short distance. A room away in distance (typically) NO. An ocean away (10,000 miles in distance) Hell No.

 So since all forces are limited in distance, ( an irrefutable science fact) unless he has something that hits your eye like a big pizza pie (talking lunar size),sorry my spell-right keeps spelling lunatic and loony; there is no possibility of  having a force that is immune to distance.Of course this is all lunacy even taking time talking about it ; he wants what's in your wallet is the simpler explanation.I hope no one out there really even needed this explanation.BUT THOSE ARE THE SCIENTIFIC FACTS FROM KEAN UNIVERSITY AND ANY UNIVERSITY ON THE PLANET.I personally would not even contemplate anything that crazy.Like I say this explanation probably was not even necessary.What he needs isn't a  foold that's  born any minute.It would take a much rarer one than that.Like I say Geoff Kait, I'm done with this, but quit tempting me ,will you.

Re: my listing above.Excuse the typos I'm in fast mode.Size of the Moon:about 1/3,the size of the earth.If anyone ever would come up with something REAL like that, they would make Bill Gates and every company on the Fortune 500 look like paupers.

 Your "Quantum" "Teleportation" is meant to sound like something really complex.You hope people will look at the word "Quantum" and scratch their head and think "Quantum "that's sounds pretty sophisticated to me.That sounds really advanced that word does.Some guy on one of the posts tried your Quantum Teleportation  and he says it sounded like you were hitting a bunch of pans with a spoon.You say it works for even people with a land line phone. All that land line phones are capable of is "hello how are you" SOUND in other words.You say you do not even have to take the phone away from your ear,all sound is directional its not like a "field".So your ear blocking the sound coming over the phone doesn't' matter.Your stereo,which doesn't't even have ears, but if it did, by just hearing this small minute sound in the background is supposed to change everything  around. Would that not be special !! I personally like the scarecrow from the wizard of oz, it kept the buzzards away.If there are any real scientists who think your argument is not a strawman one; or who would even spend a minute of their time considering this; name them.Or is this something that's top secret??
Re: Geoff Kait. I had a change of heart. If you can prove you really worked for NASA as an engineer I will try some of your products/ services and recommend them to other people if they work well. I'll tell you what I'll do. Instead of arguing like this, why don't we charter a bus some day, you, me, some of my family, some of your friends or family and go down to NASA. Like a field trip.
  We can make a day of it !! Maybe get there around a quarter to noon.Being a former big engineer there, you ought to be able to get us all right in; no sweat I bet. We can head over to the NASA cafeteria, pig out on Sloppy Joe's and Jello.What flavor Jello do they have there? Red white and blue I bet. Maybe they even have some with an upside down strawberry sticking up in the middle, like a nose cone.
 NASA is a good job, people work there for years, they stay with it till they retire As the cafeteria fills up with your former friends I hope it will be a heart warming reunion for all of you.Many of them are bound to still be working there. I am warning you though; if I'm done with my first Sloppy Joe and not one person comes over to hug you, I am going to be PISSED !! All those hours on the bus; and then not being able to try on space helmets, no hugging rockets, no getting to see if the rocket decals are stick on's. No getting to see how I look in a shiny silver suit that I can see myself in. Having to have lived on pockets full of boiled eggs and all that money spent at Sbarro stops. I hope you are being truthful with us and you really were an engineer at NASA. Where do you live? I live in Hollywood Florida, just around the corner from the dog track and the stripper place.Oh, I remember now, you live in Virginia. PERFECT !! JUST PERFECT !!  Where I live should be about the midway point between where you live and NASA. Even the bus driver will appreciate the break.Hey, bring that Quantum Telepporter thingy with you.If it works over the phone 10,000 miles away, just think of what a difference it'll make if you zap my stereo right there in person. It's been my experience that things ALWAYS work better in person VS. over the phone.Just Don't Zap My Dog. He's a retired greyhound. His name is Bruce, but his racing name was PMS Ready To Start Streaking. He lost his last nine in a row before they retired him. He doesn't' bite unless he really hates you.What do you say ???


 THE BIG QUESTION: Were the moon landings a hoax? Although I'm feeling I would not be comfortable truthwise with an answer from YOU.Still waiting on proof you ever were really a NASA engineer.
You claim you won the "office pool" and a paper airplane contest.When cornered that's the kind of answer I expected.You can't really come on here and say you were a NASA scientist in print, because you make it seem like you are a scientist with great experience at NASA (have you ever even been in the building? )and what audio business if any, that you do have is based on this fictional or non fictional background.Its not like you are a non controversial figure.You have been called the greatest charlatan of audio in many media posts,forums etc which has undoubtedly held your business down.For the life of me I cannot imagine anyone doing everything they can to at least show credentials.Bashing me,an innocent tweaker and my intelligence you may think is impressive to people on here but maybe only the mean spirited.I Q's are something that can be Proven.I could sue you.I can't imagine a real rocket scientist with your insensitivity and cruelty.Are you a 100% hoax.Everything looks like it.I am around intelligent people and know how they act.

Re: CLEARTHINK & GEOFFKAIT.You must be helping your awful friend Geoffkait but with how tricky he is, this might even be Geoffkait himself using alias and multiple usernames on here. In fact that's what I think is more likely.My My...you must be a real expert on intelligence evaluation. Maturity too. How impressive.The real notable experts on intellect tell us that intelligence evaluation is very tricky and deceiving and intelligence itself has so many aspects. It's hard for the experts, but so easy for yourself huh?.There's an old saying that anyone who thinks they know it all is either a genius or an a * *.  Wording your text to accuse someone of being in "the third grade" does not lessen the quality of that person's neurons one iota...Calling me an American is to trick people on here to think you are a foreigner. Nice try Geoffkait.You think you are smart but you are transparent instead. Even a third grader can figure that one out.When something stinks and sounds like its full of tricks on here, why does it seem to be ultimately tied in with Geoffkait, which is what you are despicably known for.Your products did not make it in the marketplace. It couldn't have happened to a "worse" guy. Maybe your mother needed to love you more.The word Sociopath mean anything to you? Why don't you give people a break.You are already well into your geriatric years.I have never met anyone as old as you with zero maturity.Perhaps when you leave us, your head should be frozen for study by future generations like Ted Williams the baseball player, like I read in a science magazine.If our technology is sufficiently advanced in the year 3,000, to bring you both back, maybe his head will say "I hit .400, and maybe yours will say "I ripped people.".