Hype, expectations and choices we make

[ssf]

I have bought all my equipment blind. And then spent a considerable amount of time convincing myself that my equipment is the best there is.

 

[ZzZzZ]

The U18 has two inputs, I believe. USB and BNC.

For digital audio the only input is usb while the BNC input is meant for using an external clock with Gustard U18.

 

[Shammi Dang]

Hype is defined in a dictionary as extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion.

We experience Publicity and promotion everyday. It could be a product, a movie, a dish, a gadget, a car, a pet, a diet, a public personality…., the list seems endless.

But in our audio hobby, hype is of particular interest and concern. Big companies with deep pockets are able to do this more,while small boutique companies seem to rely on specialist reviewers and audio forums to spread the word.

Note the above definition of the term hype does not imply it’s dishonest or untruthful. Other definitions may vary. We all do however make choices based on information that we find, research or are told (unless we inherit or such)

Given that we all have personal preferences in a highly subjective field and are influenced by peer pressure, how do we make sense of it all and make better choices and decisions on components that will work well together to sound good to our ears and tastes ?

Ok, with the above confounding context set, the question I actually want to ask is “how do you make your decisions when choosing audio components for your set up?”

I am not sure of other countries but here in India where Hi-Fi audio showrooms are practically NIL one has to rely on online reviews for purchase decisions. Sometimes the decision of purchase totally go wrong and one ends up buying a hyped product at exorbitant price. I have also observed that the opinion of majority is tilted towards imported articles and they highly discourage audio products that are made in India saying the quality is not good. I understand to some extent because the variety/choice over here is limited. I am of the opinion that one should first see their own spending power and buy a product suiting their budget. Rely on self experience of listening if demo available and leave the hype of you tube/other forms to one side.

 

[arj]

I am not sure of other countries but here in India where Hi-Fi audio showrooms are practically NIL one has to rely on online reviews for purchase decisions. Sometimes the decision of purchase totally go wrong and one ends up buying a hyped product at exorbitant price. I have also observed that the opinion of majority is tilted towards imported articles and they highly discourage audio products that are made in India saying the quality is not good. I understand to some extent because the variety/choice over here is limited. I am of the opinion that one should first see their own spending power and buy a product suiting their budget. Rely on self experience of listening if demo available and leave the hype of you tube/other forms to one side.

Actually there are some really great Indian products and I hope they do even better in the coming days.

Even in other countries Hifi Showrooms are getting rare and many folks buying based on online purchases..unless you go to really small city countries like hongkong/Singapore.

Global brands are preferred because they have a brand value and hence a resale value. isnt that the same in Cars / soft drinks and so many other items.

I really hope indian products thrive since due to Forex rates/import duties etc importing is only going to get more and more expensive and with more folks in audio, indian brands will only become stronger.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

We all are gullible to hype and we all are also prone to creating hype. It’s a human falling - we are social beings who cannot be objective like computing machines. But we also have the ability to be self-aware.

It helps maintain that self-awareness and witness the subjectivity in our perception. Not necessarily to eliminate it. But at least to see it as subjectivity. The witnessing is usually enough, but difficult to call upon unless it’s made a habit. If I fall anywhere (as I often do), it’s here - in not witnessing my subjectivity, whether as a hype-bunny or hype-monger (the latter being even more so challenging).

P.S. Don’t we spectacularly deviate from the subject of the thread when we pick up one part of someone’s reply and convert in into a tangential discussion (usually on our pet subjects) ? Another behaviour perhaps to be self-aware of.

 

[Naturelover]

For digital audio the only input is usb while the BNC input is meant for using an external clock with Gustard U18.

Can the BNC be used to connect something like a CD transport?

 

[coaltrain]

We have also seen the numerous sale of "Denafrips DACS" in this very forum. The same Denafrips which require 'burnin' to perform adequately as if it has a piston and cylinder like an automobile for the metal to get smoothened. Also remember that these denafrips are R2R dacs without capacitors which do change property after usage.

Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance - Plato

 

[mbhangui]

Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance - Plato

View attachment 77289View attachment 77290

That burnin that was mentioned was for the firmware upgrade where none of the above capacitors of the above power supply were changed . Here is that post https://www.hifivision.com/threads/denafrips-dac-fpga-firmware-upgrade.92616/