[Airborn]

Being "open-minded" means taking the attitude that things should be judged on their merits - do not dismiss blindly, without knowledge.  This is obviously a good attitude in general, based on rationality.  Rationality is the key here: and rationality also mandates taking opinions on things we know, from our knowledge and experience, to be nonsensical.

Believing that such a "tweak" as the one under discussion works, with not only total lack of evidence, but a great deal of contrary evidence from science and experience that should tell us that it cannot possibly work, is irrational.  To even entertain the idea to me suggests a great deal of sheer ignorance in a variety of topics, and I must believe that the gent behind MD is either seriously deluded or essentially a crook, and more likely the latter.

It is seriously disappointing to me to see prominent people in the industry defending this voodoo garbage on any level.  Subjectivity in general is wonderful - nobody knows to any detail how the ear/brain mechanism really works and anybody savvy knows that our machines are not measuring musicality to any real extent.  We just don't understand things well enough.  But this stuff - this has nothing to do with subjective evaluation of hardware - it's just stinky horse crap and is not going to provide any more audio benefit than horse crap - which actually could help quite a bit if your room was bright and you spread it on the walls.

Ciao. 

Very well stated Paul.  Hopefully this thread will end now, as the fun ran out as soon as someone started defending this nonsense.

[Robert C. Schult]

Hi mac.

Until I read this thread I had an open mind about Ridge Street Audio. But after reading the self-righteous posturings of this Robert Schult...

I'm sincerely sorry I've given you that impression. I don't mean to be but hoenstly, I do find that in myself sometimes. I don't like it either. I might come off that way sometimes but I think I'm generally a pretty decent guy to those that know me.

Kindly,
Robert
RSAD

[jrebman]

Paul,

Very well said and thanks for putting some coherent words to the feelings I personally have about this kind of thing.  I try to think I'm fairly open minded -- and 3 years ago I would have sworn up and down that interconnects, power cords, and speaker cables make no difference at all, and until I heard it for myself in my own room, that was my thinking.  But as you say, there are just a few things that are so far outside the bounds of reasonable that they aren't even worth giving a second look.

And, I can't believe I even posted to this thread, but finally I read something that just hit the nail on the head for me.

-- Jim

[patrickperry]

Why do we continue to give MD free publicity by discussing the products in threads?

Tvad4,
     I wouldn't exactly call this thread "free publicity".  If anything, this thread serves more to expose MD and its business practice for what it really is.  Who knows, this thread may even save a few unsuspecting person from purchasing any of MD's "products". 

Rick

Well, I disagree. It brings attention to the MD products, and causes people to investigate them. Many of these people wouldn't even know about the products if it weren't for threads like this.

You've heard the adage "There's no such thing as bad publicity"? It's absolutely true. Every PR person worth his/her salt knows this is an effective method of exposure. Including Mr. Kait.

OK. 'Nuff said on this for me.

     I do understand the concept of "There's no such thing as bad publicity", but I don't think it would apply here....we're dealing with a "consumer product", not Paris Hilton.  I don't think there's any products that would welcome "bad publicity" as a mean of advertising.  This thread may "brings attention to the MD products, and causes people to investigate them" but people should investigate and research any products before purchasing.  And the only way people realize that MD is all BS is to investigate. 

     You say this thread gives MD "free publicity" but do you think anyone would be buying any of MD's "product" after reading it?  I guess we're two individuals with two totally different take on the subject matter. 

[JDUBS]

If you don't like something being sold....don't buy it.  Isn't it that easy? 

-Jim

[lonewolfny42]

WOW ...

Does this mean, if I get LONEWOLF on the fone and then place the fone next to my speakers, that they will sound better? Just like it does in all the photos of him standing next to speakers. 

You'd have to lean the phone against the speakers...

Correct....and you'll need plenty of cold beer there....
It will be sucked up through the phone line....I prefer a good "imported" brew...  

[tweak]

I do understand the concept of "There's no such thing as bad publicity", but I don't think it would apply here

I'm not sure I agree with you on this, but it's not a straight disagreement, either.  

Geoff's game is to play on the polarization his BS 'products' create between people.  The stronger the polarization, the more determined the followers of his cult become to empty their wallets into his overflowing coffer.

There's a huge difference between being open-minded and soft-headed.  Being open-minded means having the ability to see multiple side of an issue, and the patience to consider multiple sides prior to taking a stance.  Being soft-headed is believing you're being open-minded when what you want is to relieve yourself of the burdens of science.  Anyone reading this thread with an open mind would see little reason to invest in something so unlikely to work.  

Merely having threads discussing Geoff's voodoo does not in and of itself generate sales for Geoff, but the polarization that often occurs within the threads does.  For example, if I were a betting man I'd put my money on the chance that Robert is now dying to make a $60 phone call to Geoff - I think this thread has been a factor in nudging him from merely curious to likely determined.  After all, he can't go and tell anyone how wrong they were until he goes thru the ritual, can he?

-Tweak

[eric the red]

WOW ...

Does this mean, if I get LONEWOLF on the fone and then place the fone next to my speakers, that they will sound better? Just like it does in all the photos of him standing next to speakers. 

You'd have to lean the phone against the speakers...

Correct....and you'll need plenty of cold beer there....
It will be sucked up through the phone line....I prefer a good "imported" brew...  

Give me a call

[Robert C. Schult]

For example, if I were a betting man I'd put my money on the chance that Robert is now dying to make a $60 phone call to Geoff - I think this thread has been a factor in nudging him from merely curious to likely determined.

Tweaker - not in the least. I have no desire to try the phone thing so there won't be a thumbs up or down from me. With that, it seems some have completely missed the point of my posts here.

Robert
RSAD (subliminal promo tag that has netted billions of dollars)

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Wow 6 pages on this in just a couple hours!

   Anyway, I can't believe that this guy would come up with this. Pebbles in a jar, clock and etc. You know all of those stuff have BULL SHIT written all over it to me.

   So, what's next? Audiophile butt plug? Insert it in while listening to improve the sound of your system.

   But I do have to admit that I do envy this guy for  making money of this bull shit stuffs.

Take care,
Buddy

[eric the red]

RSAD (subliminal promo tag that has netted billions of dollars)

[Whitese]

What cracks me up is that after spending mucho dollars in top gear...is that 'tweaks' take them to the next level...It seems contradictory to me....i could at least just roll my eyes if someone thinks he/she heard maybe a difference, but when people shout: Took it to the Next Level....please...why upgrade gear at all, if all you need to do is tweak with pebbles and clocks....

Hyperbole...can people please just stop using it when tweaking? it would help the credibility factor.

[bwaslo]

I'd like to nominate "..to the next level" as most overused and least credible phrase.  Can we please lose those words?  For me, at least, it reeks of semi-religious pretensiousness and gullibility.  "Makes the sound better" might be a believable way of talking about a tweak, but "takes it to the next level"???  Ick.  Just what are these levels?  Are we talking stages of enlightenment, here?  Quantum energy levels?  Promotions up the social ladder?  What?

>If you don't like something being sold....don't buy it.  Isn't it that easy? 

Yes, it really is that easy. 
And if someone makes public a web page or post that basically proclaims "I'm guessing a lot of you are really stupid", everyone else has an equal right to say "uh, well, no we're not" if we want to.  Isn't that easy, too?

 Not speaking your mind, when one has one, is what might be difficult!

[arthurs]

Cost of Goods can't be much on this tweak for MD....at $60 I'm actually laughing trying to calculate the margin on top of the cogs of 30 seconds on the phone line with some tapping....why not have anyone who knows Geoff let him know about this thread and see if he'll let a couple of the participants here in the debate have the tweak for free and report back to the thread?     

[dilznoofus]

dozen.

[Bwanagreg]

I'd like to nominate "..to the next level" as most overused and least credible phrase.

In audio conversations I agree. In business and media pundit language, the clear winner is "...at the end of the day...". Barf. Of course, when combined the magic is exponentially greater ...

At the end of the day, your system will be taken to the next level.

Feel the power of my magic words. That will be $60 please.

[macrojack]

Bwanagreg - I think you have a winner there. Certainly it is the low hanging fruit. Would you consider saying it twice for $100? Is there a possibility of a group buy? Has Harmon International contacted you yet?

User friendly, over the top, performance enhancement like the package you offer doesn't grow on trees. We must be ready to reach for the gold ring when it comes around. I'm feeling the need for a surge.

[bprice2]

From Positive Feedback

The Clever Little Clock is based on concepts and products originally developed by PWB Electronics and Machina Dynamica produces the clock with permission from PWB. It is a small; battery powered clock that has been extensively modified. It does not plug into the wall, and has no direct influence on the audio signal, or the house wiring, or any of the audio gear or accessories. As with other products based on Peter Belt theories, this clock does not so affect the sound, but—and in my experience—how the listener responds to the sound.

So I guess one can assume the phone thing - like the clock - does not affect your gear...it affects your mind.

[Philistine]

Well I thought I'd seen everything from this comedian, this one is a real classic.
But equally culpable in this are those cretins over at Audiogon - they allow this nonsense to happen, further raising their credibility to new heights.
Next we'll see one of the online review sites (regular AC contributors excluded) giving out an award.   

[Psychicanimal]

Until I read this thread I had an open mind about Ridge Street Audio. But after reading the self-righteous posturings of this Robert Schult, my mind has slammed shut to RSAD and MD alike.

It raises the old question, "Is he that god-damned stupid.........or does he think we are?"

I don't think you have the  money to buy a Ridge Street Audio System, so it doesn't matter what you say.  If you had the money, you'd listened to it already and would have an opinion.