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Most egregious scams perpetrated by high-end audio vendors

post #1 of 38
1/18/10 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 
Please feel free to add your own. Denon's $500 ethernet cable: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/06/snake-oil-alert/ Lexicon puts a $500 Oppo in a new case and sells it for $3500: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/t...icon-outside-1 Waipuna Sound's audiophile-grade chunks of wood: http://www.waipunasound.com/Originalversion.html Silver Rock's $500 volume knob: http://gizmodo.com/031918/the-500-wooden-knob More Silver Rock, a $3500 pair of potentiometers: http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Me...ry_Code=VOLUME Tara Labs's 1m long RCA cable, $16000: http://www.taralabs.com/the-collecti...&category_id=1 I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention: http://www.monstercable.com/ A great wrap-up of several scams: http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/10-01-06#feature
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post #2 of 38
1/18/10 at 5:59pm
That wooden knob actually looks pretty sweet.
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post #3 of 38
1/18/10 at 6:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
Please feel free to add your own.

Tara Labs's 1m long RCA cable, $16000:
http://www.taralabs.com/the-collecti...&category_id=1


Exactly how dumb a man must be to buy this cable?
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post #4 of 38
1/18/10 at 6:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post
That wooden knob actually looks pretty sweet.
I will make one for you (bespoke) for only $425
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post #5 of 38
1/18/10 at 6:38pm
The lexicon thing was bad, and I think it could really damage their reputation. Every company shares parts and platforms, but that they didn't modify a single thing and said they did is pretty damning. Hell, even Oppo will modify their blu-ray players to give you a special edition with a better audio section, better DACs, improvements to the PS, etc.
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post #6 of 38
1/18/10 at 9:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention: http://www.monstercable.com/
i came into this thread specifically to post "the very existence of the Monster Cable company". well done.
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post #7 of 38
1/18/10 at 10:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HRoi View Post
i came into this thread specifically to post "the very existence of the Monster Cable company".

well done.

+1000000000
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post #8 of 38
1/18/10 at 10:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unbreakable View Post
+1000000000

+ ∞
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post #9 of 38
1/18/10 at 10:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
The lexicon thing was bad, and I think it could really damage their reputation. Every company shares parts and platforms, but that they didn't modify a single thing and said they did is pretty damning. Hell, even Oppo will modify their blu-ray players to give you a special edition with a better audio section, better DACs, improvements to the PS, etc.

Which still costs far less than the Lexicon.

lawl.
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post #10 of 38
1/18/10 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
I will make one for you (bespoke) for only $425

Ah, but can you guarantee harmonic dismolecularzation?
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post #11 of 38
1/18/10 at 11:02pm
very good thread--- buy my 1.3A hdmi Cables for hdtv from: http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...02&cp_id=10243
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post #12 of 38
1/18/10 at 11:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dusty View Post
Tara Labs's 1m long RCA cable, $16000:
http://www.taralabs.com/the-collecti...&category_id=1

Is anyone moronic enough to buy this? I mean that with all sincerity.
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post #13 of 38
1/18/10 at 11:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Is anyone moronic enough to buy this? I mean that with all sincerity.

Dipped in some Tuscan Whole Milk it tastes great.
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post #14 of 38
1/18/10 at 11:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi7474 View Post
Exactly how dumb a man must be to buy this cable?

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post #15 of 38
1/18/10 at 11:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by harvey_birdman View Post
Ah, but can you guarantee harmonic dismolecularzation?
Just tell me what you want guaranteed and I'll make up a professional certification for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
Is anyone moronic enough to buy this? I mean that with all sincerity.
Normally I'd say no, but the breathless exaltations in their sales pitch have me reconsidering:
Quote:
Using specially designed RCA and XLR connectors, the ZERO Gold uses a tube and vacuum system that means that the un-insulated conductors will not oxidize. The theoretical ideal of 2 conductors suspended in a vacuum has become a reality. The ZERO Gold delivers lifelike sounding vocals, pin-point imaging and resolution of fine detail with ease. You will hear a vanishingly low noise floor and a complete absence of distortion. The reproduction of the recorded space can only be described as holographic.
[an engineer is going to hell for writing this]
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