An Interesting Take on Audio System Designs

[John Parks]

I watched these two videos from the Darko Audio site. In them, John Darko is talking to the lead designer of MBL products and it is quite interesting: https://darko.audio/2019/04/onsight-an-afternoon-with-mbls-jurgen-reis/

 

[JerryLove]

"Final voicing – the last ~5% – is done by ear. Why? Because any audible changes brought about by smaller component changes can be heard but, once fitted inside a loudspeaker or pre-amplifier, cannot be measured. "

And right there we move from science to pseudo-science BS.

Also: There's no audible difference between any functioning CD transport and any other functioning CD transport. There *cannot* be. The reads are 100% identical [* note: laser X might be better at getting through scratches on a damaged disk than laser Y]. The fact that they make and market transports at high prices is another.

I've listened to the speakers shown here. I generally liked them but was not blown away. That said: the room was not ideal.

 

[lovinthehd]

Who is John Darko and why would I be interested in watching a video he did? I really dislike watching a video as so often they're just horrible wastes of time I could spend listening to music. Does anyone write anymore? Transcripts of interviews? Lost art? Grouch over

 

[Verdinut]

The speaker cabinets seem to have a cross at the top. Is that a scientology related product? I would definitely stay far away from that kind of product.

 

[TheWarrior]

The speaker cabinets seem to have a cross at the top. Is that a scientology related product? I would definitely stay far away from that kind of product.

No, it looks like a repurposed Holy Hand Grenade....

 

[highfigh]

"Final voicing – the last ~5% – is done by ear. Why? Because any audible changes brought about by smaller component changes can be heard but, once fitted inside a loudspeaker or pre-amplifier, cannot be measured. "

And right there we move from science to pseudo-science BS.

Also: There's no audible difference between any functioning CD transport and any other functioning CD transport. There *cannot* be. The reads are 100% identical [* note: laser X might be better at getting through scratches on a damaged disk than laser Y]. The fact that they make and market transports at high prices is another.

I've listened to the speakers shown here. I generally liked them but was not blown away. That said: the room was not ideal.

Your last sentence leads me to ask- is the final voicing done on site, or where they're built? If they do it anywhere other than the place where they'll be used, it's pointless.

I also have to wonder,. to what degree do they change components in a preamp?

 

[highfigh]

The speaker cabinets seem to have a cross at the top. Is that a scientology related product? I would definitely stay far away from that kind of product.

Why would Scientologists want a cross on anything? Not like it's an actual religion or anything. For that matter, I used to work at a lot of LDS facilities- do you think I saw a lot of crosses at those places? Not a single one- they must bring them out for ceremonies.

 

[highfigh]

No, it looks like a repurposed Holy Hand Grenade....

This might be the modern version-

 

[Grandzoltar]

It’s definitely an out the box design. Pass the COURVOISIER COGNAC it’s Leon Phelps

 

[John Parks]

Hmm - overall some, um, interesting reactions...

 

[mtrycrafts]

The speaker cabinets seem to have a cross at the top. Is that a scientology related product? I would definitely stay far away from that kind of product.

No, it is a fancy light atop a box.