Let's have a chuckle but please don't overwork the moderator!

[Jasonovich]

It's been a while since we had a debate/altercation 😉 about things we consider taboo in HiFi.
I don't hold my cards close to my chest, I tell you straight, I'm a cable guy. Just like puppies, they all have a heart but come with different personalities.

Headphonesty went for the jugular with this, which prompted me to ask the question, which of those snake oil products hold water or have some value or credibility and explain why.

There's a proviso, let's be respectful and polite to each other.
This is meant to be fun!!!! 😁

15 Worst Audiophile Snake Oil Products That Break the Laws of Physics but Still Sell in 2025 | Headphonesty https://share.google/54FGyxZ3ktut7Rtds

 

[RTHerringbone]

I think like any market, there are speculative manufacturers looking to apply a marketing spin to a placebo effect.

Of all the things in that list, the ones that sound plausible to me are isolation feet. For me, everything else is just smoke and mirrors and should be avoided.

I strongly doubt that any of those other things will make an audible unmeasured difference. And even if measured and they show a deviation, it doesn't mean the human ear can hear it anyway.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Having one speaker much closer to the setup than is ideal, to the point that very loud volume would occasionally cause CDs to skip before I addressed it, I'll defend vibration absorption to the death!

 

[nopiano]

A salutary reminder to avoid any product with nano or quantum in its name! Shunyata and Nordost are firmly on my ‘fabulous to look at, but a complete waste of money’ list. YMMV.

 

[Jasonovich]

Having one speaker much closer to the setup than is ideal, to the point that very loud volume would occasionally cause CDs to skip before I addressed it, I'll defend vibration absorption to the death!

Simple tweaks shouldn't cost you almost as much as your setup. I totally agree with speaker/amp/turntable absorption pads, really do help in isolating unwanted vibrations that can adversely affect the sound quality.
AudioSerenity ISO pads are my favourites, do the job well and inexpensive.
I think somebody mentioned in an old thread, cutting tennis balls in half do the trick. I'm tempted to try that! 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

A salutary reminder to avoid any product with nano or quantum in its name! Shunyata and Nordost are firmly on my ‘fabulous to look at, but a complete waste of money’ list. YMMV.

That is why I don't have the slightest bit of remorse in purchasing faux Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables from AliExpress.
Don't cost an arm and a leg, constructed well and are very very very GOOD!

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Has anyone here, been daft enough to try one of these? https://www.audiodestination.co.uk/...-ten-grounding-points-includes-entreq-cleanus

 

[nopiano]

Has anyone here, been daft enough to try one of these? https://www.audiodestination.co.uk/...-ten-grounding-points-includes-entreq-cleanus

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

 

[Cricketbat70]

Has anyone here, been daft enough to try one of these? https://www.audiodestination.co.uk/...-ten-grounding-points-includes-entreq-cleanus

Eh what. Or dear lord.

 

[RoA]

Placebo's or not, if you enjoy it and think it works, it works.

We also eat with our eyes. If it looks like dog poo ...

I was once banned from a site because I argued about fuses. In hindsight it was absolutely pointless, the arguing that is.

 

[JoelSim]

That is why I don't have the slightest bit of remorse in purchasing faux Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables from AliExpress.
Don't cost an arm and a leg, constructed well and are very very very GOOD!

I'm not a cable sceptic, like you I think they all have a certain character.

I'll never understand buying a fake product though.

 

[Jasonovich]

I'm not a cable sceptic, like you I think they all have a certain character.

I'll never understand buying a fake product though.

Genuine Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables are solid silver and can cost in excess of £10K, the fake ones are silver plated and cost per meter is about £100-£120 depending on the seller.

I rather they call it by another name because no one seriously can mistake it for the real product, I suppose it gives people bragging rights, like those dodgy Rolex watches someone is selling under the table.
These cables are excellent in there own right, beautifully constructed; they really are that good. I was using AudioQuest cables and these fakes bettered them in every department.


Also beware, not all fakes are equal but those sold by Lewe Audio Store on AliExpress are top quality.

 

[Rui]

i saw a couple of fuses from hi-fi tuning ,now i see Vin Diesel, this headphones matter it´s hard to get what one finds best as there are so many,

that one buys a new set of headphones and in the next week someone shows you others with a somehow improved sound,

i just don´t want to feel them(in my head) and sound like in a big room with a highest quality high-fidelity system, either than a tube headphones amplifier,

i´m going to ,look for some low weight with a sound that feels like a very high quality audio system in a perfect acoustic room, i´m repeating my self but it´s what i can describe as being good.

I do like this before wires or anything else,

• • 
    
  • 
  • 
  • 

Meze Audio POET Isodynamic Open Back Headphones​

Now, i think of Mogami cables and neutrick plugs, but which section and what plugs to buy from, and a nice tube headphones amplifier is also still to find the one that meets my budget and satisfy my hearing, let´s see and listen

 

[Al ears]

Simple tweaks shouldn't cost you almost as much as your setup. I totally agree with speaker/amp/turntable absorption pads, really do help in isolating unwanted vibrations that can adversely affect the sound quality.
AudioSerenity ISO pads are my favourites, do the job well and inexpensive.
I think somebody mentioned in an old thread, cutting tennis balls in half do the trick. I'm tempted to try that! 🙂
View attachment 10204

Squash balls are better...
😎

 

[davidf]

I don't click on anything from that clickbaity site.

 

[good_enough]

One thing that has always baffled me is so-called 'isolation' with spikes (see eg https://www.richersounds.com/norstone-bergen-2-satin-black/)

Spikes on the bottom of speakers are in fact there to achieve the exact opposite: to firmly root the box to the floor so the minuscule backward rocking involving Newton's third law and the bass driver is minimised. Yet I see endless versions of these racks boasting that metal-to-metal/metal-to-wood/metal-to-glass spiky things provide 'isolation'.

I get it that putting squidgy bits between all the shelves might make the whole thing as satisfyingly sturdy as a BurgerKing Big Whopper, but what are these spikes supposed to be achieving?

 

[Rui]

the Mcintosh MAH200, looks very good but too expensive for the purpose , headphones will sound even better but price wise above a respectful price

 

[nopiano]

One thing that has always baffled me is so-called 'isolation' with spikes (see eg https://www.richersounds.com/norstone-bergen-2-satin-black/)

Spikes on the bottom of speakers are in fact there to achieve the exact opposite: to firmly root the box to the floor so the minuscule backward rocking involving Newton's third law and the bass driver is minimised. Yet I see endless versions of these racks boasting that metal-to-metal/metal-to-wood/metal-to-glass spiky things provide 'isolation'.

I get it that putting squidgy bits between all the shelves might make the whole thing as satisfyingly sturdy as a BurgerKing Big Whopper, but what are these spikes supposed to be achieving?

I quite agree that isolation and coupling are often used interchangeably, even when the meaning seems to get lost along the way!

 

[Jasonovich]

Has anyone here, been daft enough to try one of these? https://www.audiodestination.co.uk/...-ten-grounding-points-includes-entreq-cleanus

The cost of this empty unit wouldn't be so bad, had they stock them up with the best vintage wine. Californian Zinfandel maybe?

I suspect this empty box probably costs as much as the one that came fully stocked with your finest Malbec!

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

The cost of this empty unit wouldn't be so bad, had they stock them up with the best vintage wine. Californian Zinfandel maybe?

I suspect this empty box probably costs as much as the one that came fully stocked with your finest Malbec!

I’m not a wine drinker but, do like real ale from time to time. One of my favourites, Exmoor Gold, is brewed just a few miles away in Wiveliscombe.

 

[Entrigo]

Has anyone here, been daft enough to try one of these? https://www.audiodestination.co.uk/...-ten-grounding-points-includes-entreq-cleanus

Hahah did see one of these - not sure if the same brand/model or similar a year or so ago. Laughed for two days straight...

Then hey, maybe it's just my massive ignorance but I am perfectly happy without a £14K wooden box with a handful of ground posts in my life.

 

[Entrigo]

Talking about isolation feet - just got a SL1300G and as I was swapping places with its 1500C predecessor, I could not help but notice the massive difference. The 1500 feet are fairly stiff, to the point they can seem/feel solid/fixed. The suspension on the 1300G is pretty "bouncy" in comparison which I assume would help with microvibration and damping.

Now I don't think my TT has much vibration (it sits on a fairly chunky, wall mounted shelf and the speakers are front ported, with the closest about 40cm away) but it's kinda reassuring.

That said, I probably would not spend £150/200 on aftermarket feet unless I had a serious vibration issue.