Comments on: The $650 wooden block http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 16:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: dvandok http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155330 dvandok Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155330 I don't get it; how is this better than $0.10 worth of styrofoam? I don’t get it; how is this better than $0.10 worth of styrofoam?

]]> By: AnthonyC http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1156358 AnthonyC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1156358 Obviously, the block of wood described here is absurdly expensive, but $2500 isn't necessarily overpriced for a pair of speakers. Don't get me wrong, I've heard $100k speakers I thought sounded like crap, but sometimes the $20000 pair of speakers really is much better than the $5000 ones. I'm not an audiophile. I don't care that much, it isn't worth it to me. But my dad is, and I've learned a lot from him. If you take the time to program your equipment to know how far you are from each speaker, and carefully angle each (200 pound) speaker half an inch and a few degrees back and forth, you really will notice the change. Sometimes a small piece of sound-absorbing foam, carefully placed, makes a huge difference. Obviously, the block of wood described here is absurdly expensive, but $2500 isn’t necessarily overpriced for a pair of speakers. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard $100k speakers I thought sounded like crap, but sometimes the $20000 pair of speakers really is much better than the $5000 ones.

I’m not an audiophile. I don’t care that much, it isn’t worth it to me. But my dad is, and I’ve learned a lot from him. If you take the time to program your equipment to know how far you are from each speaker, and carefully angle each (200 pound) speaker half an inch and a few degrees back and forth, you really will notice the change. Sometimes a small piece of sound-absorbing foam, carefully placed, makes a huge difference.

]]> By: Gulliver http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155336 Gulliver Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155336 The lumber yard is your friend. I prefer rosewood for audioblocks, though. But heck, you could make them out of bloodwood and still come out well ahead of those prices. At $650 they ought to be made of agar! The lumber yard is your friend.

I prefer rosewood for audioblocks, though. But heck, you could make them out of bloodwood and still come out well ahead of those prices. At $650 they ought to be made of agar!

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155350 nixiebunny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155350 If you're looking for an opportunity to spend money, why not a block of wood? If you’re looking for an opportunity to spend money, why not a block of wood?

]]> By: dougp http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155357 dougp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155357 It's expensive so it must be good! It’s expensive so it must be good!

]]> By: alllie http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155361 alllie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155361 The sad thing is I want to buy it. To dampen the vibration that gets to my turntable. It won't take many fools like me to give them a profit. Luckily, I can't afford it. The sad thing is I want to buy it. To dampen the vibration that gets to my turntable. It won’t take many fools like me to give them a profit.

Luckily, I can’t afford it.

]]> By: noonereallycares http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155362 noonereallycares Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155362 I much prefer the full-sized version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0kWqJJZa4 I much prefer the full-sized version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0kWqJJZa4

]]> By: CastanhasDoPara http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155874 CastanhasDoPara Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155874 Ah, morons... I mean audiophiles. Always good for a laugh, and not the cheap kind either. Makes me want to 'invent' some almost reasonable BS to make a killing off of these chumps. But that would be slightly less ethical than just laughing at their expensive follies. Ah, morons… I mean audiophiles. Always good for a laugh, and not the cheap kind either. Makes me want to ‘invent’ some almost reasonable BS to make a killing off of these chumps. But that would be slightly less ethical than just laughing at their expensive follies.

]]> By: Jerril http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155622 Jerril Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155622 I think the only way they could possibly remotely justify that price for such a simply made chunk of varnished wood is if the used high end imaging to check every piece to make sure there weren't any knots, internal wobbles, or inauspicious twists in the grain that would somehow disrupt your "audio chi". It would still be snake oil, but at least they would have put some effort into it. I hope it's at least a *well made* simple chunk of varnished wood... I think the only way they could possibly remotely justify that price for such a simply made chunk of varnished wood is if the used high end imaging to check every piece to make sure there weren’t any knots, internal wobbles, or inauspicious twists in the grain that would somehow disrupt your “audio chi”.

It would still be snake oil, but at least they would have put some effort into it.

I hope it’s at least a *well made* simple chunk of varnished wood…

]]> By: davejenk1ns http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155372 davejenk1ns Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155372 A few months ago, my wife and I were walking through the bookstore in downtown Tokyo. On the 4th floor, a wood craftsman had a table set up, and he was carving little wooden doo-dads and hawking his stuff. Most of it was wooden fountain pens, business card holders, tissue boxes-- things I would expect (but wildly expensive). At the back of the table were two little tweeter speakers encased in some rosewood. Price? USD$2500. I blinked and blinked again, and then I crassly asked him if the price was correct. It was, he said, and he sells quite a few of them. There are quite a few audiophiles in Japan (probably the same as anywhere else, I'm convinced it's a psychological issue combined with some genetics toward sensitive ears). There is also a huge obsession with wood. Wood is pure, wood is traditional, wood is the True Art before the westerners arrived with their metal and plastic and cheap pursuits. Anyone with money will have a 和室(washitsu - Japanese room) in their house that is all wood, bamboo mats, and the Buddhist cabinet containing the photos and memories of their ancestors. Often, these rooms have a huge chunk of polished wood in some interesting shape. These objects can go up to USD$20,000 in some cases. So, combine those two obsessions, and it makes sense this guy makes bank selling wood-enclosed speakers. It also makes sense that people would pay good money to invoke the "purity of wood" into their stereo sound system. A few months ago, my wife and I were walking through the bookstore in downtown Tokyo. On the 4th floor, a wood craftsman had a table set up, and he was carving little wooden doo-dads and hawking his stuff. Most of it was wooden fountain pens, business card holders, tissue boxes– things I would expect (but wildly expensive). At the back of the table were two little tweeter speakers encased in some rosewood. Price? USD$2500. I blinked and blinked again, and then I crassly asked him if the price was correct. It was, he said, and he sells quite a few of them.

There are quite a few audiophiles in Japan (probably the same as anywhere else, I’m convinced it’s a psychological issue combined with some genetics toward sensitive ears).

There is also a huge obsession with wood. Wood is pure, wood is traditional, wood is the True Art before the westerners arrived with their metal and plastic and cheap pursuits. Anyone with money will have a 和室(washitsu – Japanese room) in their house that is all wood, bamboo mats, and the Buddhist cabinet containing the photos and memories of their ancestors. Often, these rooms have a huge chunk of polished wood in some interesting shape. These objects can go up to USD$20,000 in some cases.

So, combine those two obsessions, and it makes sense this guy makes bank selling wood-enclosed speakers. It also makes sense that people would pay good money to invoke the “purity of wood” into their stereo sound system.

]]> By: AudioTherapist http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155377 AudioTherapist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155377 I'm really hoping the post is ironic but I fear it may not be I’m really hoping the post is ironic but I fear it may not be

]]> By: Summer Seale http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155378 Summer Seale Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155378 It certainly is absolutely laughably ridiculous... ...but I sure as heck wish I had thought of it. I really have to find a way to part rich fools with their money. It certainly is absolutely laughably ridiculous…

…but I sure as heck wish I had thought of it. I really have to find a way to part rich fools with their money.

]]> By: AudioTherapist http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155381 AudioTherapist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155381 Phew, having clicked on the link for http://boingboing.net/2005/11/07/astronomically-overp.html I'm now 99% sure irony was involved in the post Phew, having clicked on the link for http://boingboing.net/2005/11/07/astronomically-overp.html I’m now 99% sure irony was involved in the post

]]> By: MattF http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155389 MattF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155389 Grr. This makes a mockery of actual artistic woodwork. You can do the audiophile thing and pretend you hear a difference between identical sounds-- or you can purchase gasp-inducingly beautiful stuff for $500 and support a real artist. It's your call. Grr. This makes a mockery of actual artistic woodwork. You can do the audiophile thing and pretend you hear a difference between identical sounds– or you can purchase gasp-inducingly beautiful stuff for $500 and support a real artist. It’s your call.

]]> By: the lurch http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155391 the lurch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155391 I've always LMAO when products like this appear. I particularly enjoy the pseudo-science behind how they work. High-end audio is filthy with things like this. I don't know who to laugh at more..the people designing/selling this crap, or the rubes *actually buying* it. I'm particularly fond of shredding most of what can be purchased here. http://www.shunmook.com/text1.htm I know that 15 years ago the discs were $50 each. And the record clamp was almost $900.00. P.T. Barnum is LHAO somewhere. I’ve always LMAO when products like this appear. I particularly enjoy the pseudo-science behind how they work. High-end audio is filthy with things like this. I don’t know who to laugh at more..the people designing/selling this crap, or the rubes *actually buying* it.

I’m particularly fond of shredding most of what can be purchased here. http://www.shunmook.com/text1.htm

I know that 15 years ago the discs were $50 each. And the record clamp was almost $900.00. P.T. Barnum is LHAO somewhere.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155910 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155910 Why all the grief for audiophiles? I love music, especially that old school warm analog sound. Personally I've seldom invested in audio tweaks, but I can certainly hear the difference between brands of stereo components, speakers, and -- more subtly -- cables. I figure it's all about a harmless pursuit of happiness and appreciation of performance art. Besides, the money goes somewhere... into some small business or perhaps your local economy. On some level, paying $650 for a piece of wood is probably less detrimental to society than buying $100 worth of carcinogenic plastic crap at Walmart. Why all the grief for audiophiles? I love music, especially that old school warm analog sound. Personally I’ve seldom invested in audio tweaks, but I can certainly hear the difference between brands of stereo components, speakers, and — more subtly — cables. I figure it’s all about a harmless pursuit of happiness and appreciation of performance art. Besides, the money goes somewhere… into some small business or perhaps your local economy. On some level, paying $650 for a piece of wood is probably less detrimental to society than buying $100 worth of carcinogenic plastic crap at Walmart.

]]> By: Gulliver http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155404 Gulliver Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155404 All my floors are wood, so I had to build something to dampen the speaker cabinets I built. There's no reason on Earth to spend that kind of money though. You can get or order blocks of better wood at any decent woodworking shop and pay a fraction of the price. Even if you don't want to go the DIY route, there are lots of artisans willing to build you a base for way less, and you can tell them what you'd like. But yeah, most audiophile stuff is pure %100 snake oil, and when, like me, you love music but aren't loaded, you improvise. All my floors are wood, so I had to build something to dampen the speaker cabinets I built. There’s no reason on Earth to spend that kind of money though. You can get or order blocks of better wood at any decent woodworking shop and pay a fraction of the price. Even if you don’t want to go the DIY route, there are lots of artisans willing to build you a base for way less, and you can tell them what you’d like. But yeah, most audiophile stuff is pure %100 snake oil, and when, like me, you love music but aren’t loaded, you improvise.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1156172 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1156172 If you sand off the varnish it'd make a half decent chopping board. If you sand off the varnish it’d make a half decent chopping board.

]]> By: KaiBeezy http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155405 KaiBeezy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155405 . lots more in audio cable aficionado http://kaibeezy.tumblr.com/post/6495196882 . .
lots more in
audio cable aficionado
http://kaibeezy.tumblr.com/post/6495196882
.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155408 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155408 I have an old phone book that will work even better. I'll sell it to you for $1000. That means it is $350 better. I have an old phone book that will work even better. I’ll sell it to you for $1000. That means it is $350 better.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155665 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155665 Even more great questionable tech here: http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina5.htm And here's their answer to your turntable problems: http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina24.htm (wish I could find pricing) Even more great questionable tech here: http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina5.htm
And here’s their answer to your turntable problems: http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina24.htm (wish I could find pricing)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155415 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155415 A great investment so you can hear your low grade mp3's or your dusty, popping vinyl lps. A great investment so you can hear your low grade mp3′s or your dusty, popping vinyl lps.

]]> By: muteboy http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1159770 muteboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1159770 ALL NATIONS LOVE LOG ALL NATIONS LOVE LOG

]]> By: exile http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155422 exile Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155422 .... or, you could spend half that on a visit to an Audiologist, who would save you money by proving that your ears are measurably incapable of hearing the difference. …. or, you could spend half that on a visit to an Audiologist, who would save you money by proving that your ears are measurably incapable of hearing the difference.

]]> By: Mister44 http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155459 Mister44 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155459 Audiophiles have a lot in common to the new age enthusiast, with their crystals and orgone collectors or what have you. I have no doubt some of the high end speakers and the like are superior (though at some point the added costs are disproportionate to the added quality). Then there are some products that are snake oil - pure and simple. I have an uncle who is an audiophile, but not stupidly so. He likes to show me the 'idiot product of the moment' from one of his magazines. His best stories involves friends who shell out money for some of them. Audiophiles have a lot in common to the new age enthusiast, with their crystals and orgone collectors or what have you.

I have no doubt some of the high end speakers and the like are superior (though at some point the added costs are disproportionate to the added quality).

Then there are some products that are snake oil – pure and simple. I have an uncle who is an audiophile, but not stupidly so. He likes to show me the ‘idiot product of the moment’ from one of his magazines. His best stories involves friends who shell out money for some of them.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155461 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155461 http://www.sorbothane.com/ http://www.sorbothane.com/

]]> By: sdmikev http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155718 sdmikev Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155718 Audiophile snake oil is the best snake oil I want to buy! I got into a semi-heated discussion with someone who is in love with very high end audio equipment a while back. They are very passionate about their stuff. At one point, I asked how a 20,000 dollar two channel tube amp for playing records can possibly be worth that kind of dough, when a: the guy uses printed circuit boards, and b: I can buy a handmade guitar amp using a hand wired board and the best quality caps, wire, etc, for not much more than a 10th of that that. She fumbled but ultimately failed. Audiophile snake oil is the best snake oil I want to buy!
I got into a semi-heated discussion with someone who is in love with very high end audio equipment a while back. They are very passionate about their stuff.
At one point, I asked how a 20,000 dollar two channel tube amp for playing records can possibly be worth that kind of dough, when a: the guy uses printed circuit boards, and b: I can buy a handmade guitar amp using a hand wired board and the best quality caps, wire, etc, for not much more than a 10th of that that.
She fumbled but ultimately failed.

]]> By: Don http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155989 Don Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155989 "Warm analog sound"? Hardly. I did the audiophile bit on a low budget. Thirty and forty years ago superior sound cost more money. Today it doesn't. Incrementally better sound and its concomitant cost are akin to the speed of light and the absurd amount of energy one would be required to expend to reach light speed. The "warm analog sound" was never my aim. Pops, clicks, snaps, buzz feed, and feed back were what one was trying to keep out of the listening experience. Those who think that digital copies of analog originals are somehow inferior misunderestimate the mathematics behind limit theory. I am pretty happy to be living in an era where nicely middle of the road priced gear generates a superior listening experience. “Warm analog sound”? Hardly.

I did the audiophile bit on a low budget. Thirty and forty years ago superior sound cost more money. Today it doesn’t. Incrementally better sound and its concomitant cost are akin to the speed of light and the absurd amount of energy one would be required to expend to reach light speed.

The “warm analog sound” was never my aim. Pops, clicks, snaps, buzz feed, and feed back were what one was trying to keep out of the listening experience.

Those who think that digital copies of analog originals are somehow inferior misunderestimate the mathematics behind limit theory.

I am pretty happy to be living in an era where nicely middle of the road priced gear generates a superior listening experience.

]]> By: daev http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1156021 daev Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1156021 Jumped to comments, ctrl-F "monster". leaving happy. Jumped to comments, ctrl-F “monster”.

leaving happy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/07/05/the-650-wooden-block.html#comment-1155516 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1155516 I wonder if audiophiles consider the fact that they may be spending lots of cash to get extremely accurate replay of recordings that were probably done on average recording instruments. For all you know that great symphonic album was done by near amateurs on cheap equipment. Now you are spending out the wazoo to try to reproduce every mediocre second of it. There is also the matter of how the masters were made and the copies made from that. I doubt they were made using $100 an inch cables. I wonder if audiophiles consider the fact that they may be spending lots of cash to get extremely accurate replay of recordings that were probably done on average recording instruments. For all you know that great symphonic album was done by near amateurs on cheap equipment. Now you are spending out the wazoo to try to reproduce every mediocre second of it.

There is also the matter of how the masters were made and the copies made from that. I doubt they were made using $100 an inch cables.

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