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R&D vs. Marketing: Are we paying for tech or fake online hype?

I opened up a highly-reviewed $3K streamer/DAC last week out of curiosity. The actual tech inside? An off-the-shelf ESS board and a basic switching power supply. The R&D budget clearly wasn't spent on the circuit design or component quality. But if you look at this brand online, they have massive social media accounts, thousands of likes, and constant hype. It’s pretty obvious what's happening. A lot of these newer boutique audio brands aren't growing organically. They just use panels like fameviso.com to buy thousands of followers and fake their prestige. They build a fancy aluminum chassis, buy the "clout" so reviewers take them seriously, and sell us basic, unoriginal tech at a huge markup. When did the audio industry shift from paying for massive toroidal transformers and custom capacitors to paying for a brand's fake Instagram budget? Am I the only one noticing that actual electrical engineering is taking a backseat to social media marketing?

radiantdream
elliottbnewcombjr
7,695 posts
 

did you ever see the innards of an 8 Track Cartridge?

What a POC, 

 

The diameter (thus the circumference) of the ’take up’ spool of tape is larger (a full tape much larger) than the inner hub the tape is taken from as it plays.

Could anyone explain how you can take the tape off of an inner 2" wheel (circumference 6.28"), and wind it onto a 4" outer wheel (circumference 12.56") that are making the same revolution speed?

bruce19
347 posts
 

Sure, if I understand your question correctly, the capstan  and the rubber roller that presses the tape tightly is the only thing that turns at a constant speed. The uptake wheel is designed with a mechanism that allows it to slip as necessary. That is why it spins wildly when the tape breaks. The feed reel merely moves passively as the tape is taken up by the capstan and roller. 

faustuss's avatar
faustuss
791 posts
 

@radiantdream 

Unless a manufacturer publishes electrical specifications following FCC guidelines of which don’t apply to all product categories all bets are off. If you find a qualified reviewer who has the skills, experience and equipment and has honestly evaluated the product you’re looking at it’s anybody’s guess. You can generally assume any manufactures claims are completely erroneous without such findings. 

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