Controversy

Joules · « **on:** 11 Jan 2006, 01:31 pm »

Hugh - You've got quite a controversy going on over at the DYI site

skrivis · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Jan 2006, 04:36 pm »

Quote from: Joules

Hugh - You've got quite a controversy going on over at the DYI site

Which site is this? Is there a URL for the thread so I can check it out?

ctviggen · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 Jan 2006, 04:41 pm »

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=c37c91793079b649d7518447d5d4791e&threadid=71249&perpage=10&pagenumber=1

Joules · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Jan 2006, 04:53 pm »

I find it all very amusing - The poeple that have heared the AKSA and the poeple that have not heard the AKSA.

AKSA · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 07:07 am »

I quite enjoy a little mild stirring on DIYaudio. But perhaps I should stop; it's a time waster, and some people get VERY upset.......

Cheers,

Hugh

Geoff-AU · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 08:30 am »

A stir is great fun, but it gets tiresome when you're talking to someone who's so set in their ways that they won't actually think for a minute and consider someone else's viewpoint. aus.hi-fi is like that, most posters in that newsgroup are so pig-headed you could tell them 1 + 1 = 2 and if they believed it was 3 they'd never come round even if you proved it

Haven't been on DIYaudio in ages, but i flicked through parts of that thread and found it amusing

dogears · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 11:07 am »

i love this post from rabbitz:

When you buy an AKSA, you don't just get an amp, you become part of the AKSA family with Hugh at the head of the table. Even with all the pressures of running a business, he's always willing to make time to chat, help and advise.... money can't buy that. If you have a problem, he's there, when running and amp in and the sound is going strange, he's there to reassure you that after x hours it will come good... and it does. He's lived and breathed these things for so long.

rabbitz · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 11:49 am »

... and I stand by that.... anyone want to start an arguement over it

To me that thread is good advertising and Hugh's prospective buyers are above that sort of stuff. Hugh's products are marketed at a certain demographic that put more weight on actual sound quality than measurements IMO. Personally, I couldn't care less what's inside the amp as Hugh's done all the hard yards and I just have to put it together.

Your first AKSA is always a large leap of faith but once you become part of the "family", there are no further doubts.

I still wonder about the motives of the thread starter as under his avatar has references to power amps etc.

ctviggen · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 01:07 pm »

I like DIY Audio. Although there are many boneheads, there are also several people who are extremely knowledgeable. They also tend to be very scientific -- one discussion of using diodes in power supplies had people not only simulating the effects, e.g., of soft-start diodes, but also building circuits and measuring the effects. As with any forum on the Internet, there's a lot of chaff before you get to the good stuff.

Seano · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 09:26 pm »

My impression of diyaudio is that it seems to be the place that EE's go when they don't want to do any real work.

If I actually asked a question over there I reckon I'd end up more confused than before.

Obviously there's DIY and there's DIY.

AKSA · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 10:32 pm »

I too like DIYaudio and have found it very useful as a source of information from time to time. Some of the links are extremely interesting and there are some very smart people there whom I often contact privately.

Peter, Joules, and others; many, many thanks for your support. It makes it much more difficult for the enemy to land a bullseye if there are people there trying to cover the target. I really appreciate it - but I never take it personally when these guys circle round and zap me, it's just pack behaviour and a lot of fun when you land a target!! I subtly provoked Greg after he really got stuck into me, and he finished up frothing with apoplexy and was carried off to Texas, the sinbin!! Somehow, I don't think he learned from it.

The personalities are just that. No intelligent human being comes without one, but all too often you need a can opener to get to the goodies. But I find the same as Sean; many are so concerned with the minutiae of math and device operation that they completely lose sight of the goal; I wouldn't want to be employing these guys. As a general rule, all the EEs are math and measure people, concerned with lowest measured distortion. I've had some fulminating arguments with them, but walked away ultimately, just no point. Once, a Czech engineer really got to me and I almost never returned. Just lately, I'm being savaged by Greg Ball, a clever EE from Queensland with a history of great amps and bad businesses. There's another, also a Czech, who keeps taunting me for being an electronics neanderthal since my circuits are so old - it's quite a challenge!! None of these fellows have heard an AKSA, incidentally. I've found that even if I can't match some of these guys for their deep math knowledge, I can learn something from them and I certainly enjoy the keyboard work!!

I hope I don't come across as arrogant and lofty; I think it's a good marketing opportunity if handled well but it's tough going sometimes.

Cheers,

Hugh

PSP · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Jan 2006, 10:55 pm »

I'm sure these guys wouldn't take a Maserati if you gave it to them "because it uses wheels".

We live in a community where many claim to hear the effect of a solder joint or a slightly oxidized copper wire, yet some will not/cannot understand that standard designs have variations, the variations can be tweaked, and that in the hands of a patient master the sonic reprecussions can be profound.

By the same argument, "all women look alike." Now I know for a matter of fact that that ain't so...

Peter

rabbitz · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Jan 2006, 01:59 am »

DIYaudio is a great forum and the majority of members are well behaved and sensible. It's one of the best resources for DIY around.

That Czech taunts almost everybody, but he's a very smart cookie and part of his games and fun... he's a cool dude. The clashes between him and Carlosfm are entertaining but it's all done with the right spirit and respect is shown by both.

You can't buy that marketing.... great exposure to the DIY community.

soitstarts · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Jan 2006, 02:26 am »

That was a nice read, most of it way above my head.

Destroyer X hit the nail on the head with one of his posts... Amazing that a man with splintered English was able to put into words such a reply.. Takes the passion of a South American, I 'spose...

Its worth reading his reply on the second or third last page alone, if you haven't already..

AKSA · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Jan 2006, 09:48 pm »

I know Carlos (aka Destroyer X) pretty well, spoke to him only yesterday on Skype.

For a man raised in Brazil, with Portuguese the native tongue, his English is just remarkable. I have no trouble understanding him at all; his English exposure is very narrow but he is a gifted linguist. I admire such people; they have extraordinary mental flexiblity.

His life is difficult and he could well be divorcing his third wife. He has a colorful history with women, and a beautiful voice. His health is not marvellous these days, and he adores his little 7 year old Larissa and will have to leave her. My heart bleeds for him, it's very sad.

He is the son of a lawyer from Copacabana in Rio, and has quite a good career behind him as a TV station technical manager. His first love is audio, however, and he's built more amps than I've had hot dinners......

He has been a tireless crusader for the AKSA, and has two 55Ws.

There is a profound wisdom to Carlos, delivered with flair and passion. He has certainly lived! I wish when I meet individuals like him that there was some way I could help, but from this distance and with our limited resources, it is difficult.

Cheers,

Hugh

amplifierguru · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Jan 2006, 11:23 pm »

Well Hi all,

So this is Hugh's little bastion of misinformation.

Firstly, I have not posted on DIYaudio as I have been away for a (planned) week holiday (surfing, etc..) with my kids before they return to school next week and have not posted in that time, only checking my emails at internet cafe's.

Secondly I am not an EE but a Physicist/Mathematician (double major) and I don't have a string of bad businesses! I was threatened out of my Eidetic amplifier business on the lives of my wife and 1yo daughter - because my amplifiers had taken over the Hi End market in Australia and local agents couldn't compete with their Krells, ML's ( for whom I once worked as a consultant but they failed to pay so I pulled the plug), Classe's...

As a result I had a nervous breakdown and, while doing a subsequent consulting design contract in Thailand ( in which I designed the Magnet 300F and PR9R folded cascode preamp which were rebadged and won TAS golden Ear for the associated US firm), my thyroid shut down and I almost died. Thai docs couldn't diagnose it so I had to return to Australia.

If I get a little hot headed at times it's because of this type of continual innuendo and snide misinformation. My amplifier design approach spanning 30+ years has always been sonic results driven backed up by sound measurement methodology not dry figures or, at the other extreme, tweaking without scientific direction. My earliest designs were for musos and broadcast studios and I was very 'hands on' .
Cheers,
Greg

ShinOBIWAN · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 01:57 am »

Very sorry to hear about your troubles Greg, I can sympathise.

Its good that you've put your point across to balance the equation but I hope that Hugh's forum remains a mild mannered and pleasant place to visit.

ShinOBIWAN · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 02:20 am »

Quote from: amplifierguru

If I get a little hot headed at times it's because of this type of continual innuendo and snide misinformation. My amplifier design approach spanning 30+ years has always been sonic results driven backed up by sound measurement methodology not dry figures or, at the other extreme, tweaking without scientific direction. My earliest designs were for musos and broadcast studios and I was very 'hands on' .

Sounds like you Hugh do actually have something in common

I don't actually understand how you two agreed to disagree on so many points. I saw the thread over on DIYA but it was just a shameless chest beating contest between two decent folk, I was disappointed with both parties TBH, all that intellect and knowledge yet look what it degenerated into. It just so happened that Hugh was more careful with his words and the moderators over their aren't so intiuative.

However this is the AKSA forum and in a way I think its wrong that Greg is participating here. He's clearly a competitor to Hugh since he's selling high quality amplifier kits. Its kinda like having a showroom of cars for say, Audi only to have a BMW rep come into the showroom and start to talk to customers. Its awkward for everyone including the customer.

I really don't won't to sound like I'm preaching and in no way am I trying to do that, please don't get me wrong. It was just my initial reaction when I saw that you were posting here Greg.

amplifierguru · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 02:36 am »

Hi shinOBWIN,

Just right of reply to correct things when my name or background is mentioned - otherwise I wouldn't have bothered!

Cheers,
Greg

rabbitz · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 02:46 am »

Quote from: ShinOBIWAN

However this is the AKSA forum and in a way I think its wrong that Greg is participating here. He's clearly a competitor to Hugh since he's selling high quality amplifier kits. Its kinda like having a showroom of cars for say, Audi only to have a BMW rep come into the showroom and start to talk to customers. Its awkward for everyone including the customer.

I disagree as it's always good to get another point of view.... besides the AKSA can hold it own against all comers. Greg's not pushing his wares here and can offer a lot to discussions as he is very similar to Hugh but with different methodology to achieve a similar result.... great sonics.

I have a commercial interest but do not pedal my products here. I am a member so I can participate on AKSA discussions and learn by other's experiences and knowledge.