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Penn and Teller [message #2617]

Fri, 06 January 2006 08:00

Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (13th Degree)

They have this show called "Bullshit" on Showtime. It exposes nonsense in the world like fortunetellers and evangelists who say they can cure stuff. In case you haven't seen it.
Well last night they did this show where they took this real expensive resturaunt known for it's Haute' Cuisine and played a trick on three of the diners. They had the waiter describe in minute detail these wondrous dishes of mouth-watering complexity. They satrted with two Kobe Steaks from hand-rubbed and massaged cows fed only pure grains and potatoes grown in the highlands of Thialand; you know, stuff like that.
The diners were enthralled and each course that came out; they would all ooh and aahh! The waiter would watch with glee as they savored the delicious delicacies. Then he would tromp back into the kitchen where the cook was de-frosting all the cheap frozen crap that they were serving in place of the fake gourmett food. Yet all three guys expressed admiration for the phenomenal taste experience. Swansons frozen dinner steaks! What a riot. They had Mogen David wine costing about 3$ a bottle and the guys are rolling this swill around in their mouths like it was Crystal! Great nose with just a hint of cinnamon!
So; does this remind anyone of anything?

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Re: Penn and Teller [message #2618 is a reply to message #2617]

Fri, 06 January 2006 11:00

akhilesh
Messages: 1275
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (3rd Degree)

Nice!
THe power of suggestion. Without this, high end audio would not exist. Unfortunately, if they did the same with listening, the entrenched interests (the "golden ears") would pooh-pooh the whole thing as "not representing a typical listening experience".
-akhilesh

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Re: Penn and Teller [message #2619 is a reply to message #2618]

Fri, 06 January 2006 11:52

Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (13th Degree)

Yes; but the really good part of this example is what Penn had to say about the whole thing. I think it was the perfect answer to both sides so rather than spoil the fun I'll hope you all get to hear it because I think it nicely sums up the experience in a way that relates to our thing.

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What is "good enough"? [message #2620 is a reply to message #2617]

Fri, 06 January 2006 12:01

Bob Brines
Messages: 186
Registered: May 2009
Location: Hot Springs Village, AR

Master

OK, I'll bite. What is "good enough"?

My reference system is a pair of Lowther DX2's in custom cabinets, a 6BX7 P-P amp, and Panasonic DVD player. Cables are homespun 4-wire star wound CAT5 and interconnects are generic RS gold plated things.

Of note, vinyl is not a option, since the genre I listen to most, period instrument Baroque and Classical, isn't on records. I will probably replace the interconnects with some DIY stuff, but I don't expect much.

Bob

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Re: What is "good enough"? [message #2621 is a reply to message #2620]

Fri, 06 January 2006 15:26

Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (13th Degree)

There you go; thats the question that Penn addresses in the show and I liked his response. Instead of mocking the diners who had been fooled he basically said in his words that..Hey; they liked it. And as the whole dining out experience is really more about sharing food with people you like to be around, then that qualifies as a success as far as he is concerned. More or less that is his take and he did poke a little harmless fun at the pretention on display. I only brought it up as a point we see made on these forums concerning quality.
My view; if it sounds like music and goes some way towards communicating the artists intent then it's good to go. Of course I am an opinionated SOB so I may stretch that at times.
6bx7; how come we haven't heard about this amp before?
I will say I use Aeon interconnects from Zalytron. They are an amazing bargain at 2$ a foot and the RCA's they offer are very high quality for 4$ each. I soldered my own set together and since I did it they must sound better so I replaced all my wires with that stuff.
I have one set of Discovery Cable left from the old days but I can't really tell any difference. Those are supposedly about 300$; don't know how I ended up with them.

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