I have a guess as to which speaker company it is. They are getting great exposure from another audio site, so I imagine that they would like that here as well. With your interest in objective listening, measurements and trusting one's ears, I think it would be very interesting for all parties if you accept their offer and report your findings on this forum. It sounds like a great opportunity and a lot of fun. You and we should benefit from the experience.
Quandary: please help me decide
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
Guess I will be the first to say no, don't go on their dime.
I don't mistrust you on this. Don't think you would make anything other than an honest report.
Yet, well, it is a conflict of interest. Being paid for a nice trip by these nice people means you will need to be nearly inhuman to not be effected by that. To not pull any negative comments or thoughts, to give the same opinion you would if you paid for the trip.
With the assumption you are human, I say no.
Industry reps, advisers, all types want to grease the skids anyway they can. Why? Because it works. It works a little or it works a lot, but it works. Buy lunch, provide a little something here and there. We'll pay for a trip to our factory because we are so proud of what we do and we respect your reporting integrity. Etc. etc, etc.......... It all adds up, and it will effect you. Even if they are being as honest as you would and they really are proud it still alters one's opinion and judgement. It would do that to anyone.
Go on your own dime or don't go. Harsh, and makes me sound like a killjoy, but how much does your integrity cost?
I don't mistrust you on this. Don't think you would make anything other than an honest report.
Yet, well, it is a conflict of interest. Being paid for a nice trip by these nice people means you will need to be nearly inhuman to not be effected by that. To not pull any negative comments or thoughts, to give the same opinion you would if you paid for the trip.
With the assumption you are human, I say no.
Industry reps, advisers, all types want to grease the skids anyway they can. Why? Because it works. It works a little or it works a lot, but it works. Buy lunch, provide a little something here and there. We'll pay for a trip to our factory because we are so proud of what we do and we respect your reporting integrity. Etc. etc, etc.......... It all adds up, and it will effect you. Even if they are being as honest as you would and they really are proud it still alters one's opinion and judgement. It would do that to anyone.
Go on your own dime or don't go. Harsh, and makes me sound like a killjoy, but how much does your integrity cost?
OK, you guys are killing me now.
Just a word of clarification. My goal is not to go there and write a speaker review. It is to learn about their design and manufacturing process. This is what interested me and what led to their proposal. In that regard, what you mention will still enter the equation some so the question is, does it still matter to you guys?
I am sure it will be a great experience for you to be there, and telling us back with your own words what you saw there - enjoy!
Passage of time
#1
Tell the manufacturer that you will ONLY discuss their machining & materials online.
If the manufacturer does NOT have a problem with that limitation; go on their dime.
#2
Voice coils & cone materials can take 100s, if not 1000s of hours to break-in / some also need the passage of time; many years.
Therefore a listening report may have little value.
zz.
#1
Tell the manufacturer that you will ONLY discuss their machining & materials online.
If the manufacturer does NOT have a problem with that limitation; go on their dime.
#2
Voice coils & cone materials can take 100s, if not 1000s of hours to break-in / some also need the passage of time; many years.
Therefore a listening report may have little value.
zz.
Since I believe all posts on WBF should only result from the purest motives and exhibit the highest moral standards, I change my mind.
Amir, I believe you must sell all of your belongings and take up humble abode within walking distance to this manufacrurer's factory. You really need to assume the life of an audiophile monk to make this work. You could make ends meet by giving away audio gear to needy audiophile families. Your new website should be called www.saintamirdigital.com. This way, the manufacturer in question couldn't pay for any transportation or lodging and meals.
Michael.
Amir, I believe you must sell all of your belongings and take up humble abode within walking distance to this manufacrurer's factory. You really need to assume the life of an audiophile monk to make this work. You could make ends meet by giving away audio gear to needy audiophile families. Your new website should be called www.saintamirdigital.com. This way, the manufacturer in question couldn't pay for any transportation or lodging and meals.
Michael.
Amir,
I can not see any issues with this subject.
As long as you are traveling and reporting on an individual basis, you should be free to accept the company offer of paying your travel expenses.
Such matters were never a problem in WBF -e.g. you own a company that sells products you frequently refer to and use in your tests. You openly debate principles, details and opinions about the products you represent and others you do not. All this is possible because you plainly and fairly disclose your interests, as anyone can read in your signature, in accordance with WBF TOS.
Since you are getting this offer because of WBF and are one of the owners of the forum, we appreciate that you informed us about the arrangements.
Looking to know the about the company and details about the visit - other audio forums have similar reports and they were missing at WBF. And IMHO, audiophiles are curious people.
I can not see any issues with this subject.
As long as you are traveling and reporting on an individual basis, you should be free to accept the company offer of paying your travel expenses.
Such matters were never a problem in WBF -e.g. you own a company that sells products you frequently refer to and use in your tests. You openly debate principles, details and opinions about the products you represent and others you do not. All this is possible because you plainly and fairly disclose your interests, as anyone can read in your signature, in accordance with WBF TOS.
Since you are getting this offer because of WBF and are one of the owners of the forum, we appreciate that you informed us about the arrangements.
Looking to know the about the company and details about the visit - other audio forums have similar reports and they were missing at WBF. And IMHO, audiophiles are curious people.
Amir,
I can not see any issues with this subject.
As long as you are traveling and reporting on an individual basis, you should be free to accept the company offer of paying your travel expenses.
Such matters were never a problem in WBF -e.g. you own a company that sells products you frequently refer to and use in your tests. You openly debate principles, details and opinions about the products you represent and others you do not. All this is possible because you plainly and fairly disclose your interests, as anyone can read in your signature, in accordance with WBF TOS.
Since you are getting this offer because of WBF and are one of the owners of the forum, we appreciate that you informed us about the arrangements.
Looking to know the about the company and details about the visit - other audio forums have similar reports and they were missing at WBF. And IMHO, audiophiles are curious people.
Amir, with all do respect, why are you asking for our opinion? You should be capable of deciding for yourself whether or not such a trip is acceptable to you and under what conditions. You are part owner of this site and a cofounder. I presume you would disclose your interests and want to provide good content to this site. You possess all of the information needed to decide what to do.
If it is the company I think it is, I would enjoy reading your impressions. Knowing they will be biased impressions, does not matter much to me. All information is useful at some level and a factory tour showing photographs of and commentary about the manufacturing would be very interesting. I would also like to read about your listening impressions. How could you go and not listen to the speakers? And then not also share those impressions with your readers? Your listening impressions will be biased regardless of whether or not the company pays for the trip. You have already expressed an interest in the manufacturing technology of this company and you will know what speakers you are hearing, so you already have some idea about this. But, it will still be interesting to read what you discover.
I am surprised that you find yourself in a quandary.
I'd much rather hear a report on interesting technology from a fallible fellow human (who's trying his hardest to take the highest road he knows), than hear no report at all.
No doubt my own self-serving mental editing of the report will be far more egregious than any subconscious bias that slips past his filters.
"The only person who never makes a mistake is the person who never does anything." - Richard Crosby
No doubt my own self-serving mental editing of the report will be far more egregious than any subconscious bias that slips past his filters.
"The only person who never makes a mistake is the person who never does anything." - Richard Crosby
A question for the manufacturer ( I think I know who it is)-- are you ok with a negative report on how the speaker sounds? Or, can I simply report on your manufacturing process and if so, how much. ( some of it may be proprietary).
If it is the company that I am suspecting, their rep and their owner are very proud of the machining that goes into the drivers. They are going to demo for you a driver strength test, that is impressive.However, what is going to be a factor, is whether you will like the particular 'take' that the middle and lower members of their line elicit. The upper most model is very good in most respects, but will demand a very large room. BTW, I would suspect that the additional publicity that you can give them will be well worth the expenditure of your trip. Even IF it is bad publicity, LOL ( which i doubt it will be IF it is the speaker manufacturer I am thinking of).
If it is the company that I am suspecting, their rep and their owner are very proud of the machining that goes into the drivers. They are going to demo for you a driver strength test, that is impressive.However, what is going to be a factor, is whether you will like the particular 'take' that the middle and lower members of their line elicit. The upper most model is very good in most respects, but will demand a very large room. BTW, I would suspect that the additional publicity that you can give them will be well worth the expenditure of your trip. Even IF it is bad publicity, LOL
( which i doubt it will be IF it is the speaker manufacturer I am thinking of).
How well do you do in the luggage compartment of the plane Bob?Amir, take me take me take me with you.
As I noted, my aim is not to go there and listen to the speaker. I have done that elsewhere. What I can't do elsewhere is a) spend a lot more time with designers and b) see how they are built. I am sure we will listen to some music too but it is not the goal of the trip.
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