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Topic: What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like? (Read 7312 times) previous topic - next topic
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What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

To put it mildly, HA members can be a pretty hard-nosed bunch when it comes to audio, raising an eyebrow at anything significantly more expensive than it needs to be in order to achieve sonic transparency! But what about outside of audio? Are there things you guys gladly pay a premium for, even though a part of you knows that it makes no sense at all? 

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #1 –
I don't know about anyone else, but for me coffee is one area where I approach diminishing returns on investment.  For example, I own a burr grinder, which typically costs 3-4 times as a normal blade grinder.  The return, however, is that grind size is very consistent.

On top of that, I know where my local coffee roasters are and can tell you the date that my coffee beans at home are roasted at (last week monday).  However, I partially do this to support local business as well as getting good coffee.

There's nothing very scientific about this, but I didn't think I enjoyed coffee without cream or sugar until I had a properly made one.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #2 –
I really hate to spend more on anything than I absolutely have to.

That includes good angling gear, boats etc.

And re: coffee - I like a good cup, and after having spent two weeks on the Azores island of Faial where the smallest restaurant have a coffee machine you maybe find in a North American specialty store I think I will spend the money again to go back there...just not for the coffee alone.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: sthayashi on
I don't know about anyone else, but for me coffee is one area where I approach diminishing returns on investment.

So no kopi luwak (aka civet poop coffee), I take it? I expect a person would be able to pick that one out in a blind taste test, but somehow I feel disinclined to try.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: kraut on
And re: coffee - I like a good cup, and after having spent two weeks on the Azores island of Faial where the smallest restaurant have a coffee machine you maybe find in a North American specialty store I think I will spend the money again to go back there...just not for the coffee alone.

Sorry, no way is spending time in a beautiful part of the world silly, and doubly so if the food and drink are good! I guess I couldn't expect anyone here to 'fess up to owning an expensive luxury automobile or high-end timepiece unless it was either inherited or gotten at steep discount.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: sthayashi on
I don't know about anyone else, but for me coffee is one area where I approach diminishing returns on investment.  For example, I own a burr grinder, which typically costs 3-4 times as a normal blade grinder.  The return, however, is that grind size is very consistent.

On top of that, I know where my local coffee roasters are and can tell you the date that my coffee beans at home are roasted at (last week monday).  However, I partially do this to support local business as well as getting good coffee.

There's nothing very scientific about this, but I didn't think I enjoyed coffee without cream or sugar until I had a properly made one.

Good coffee is a rare thing, whichever way you like it.

Most people are satisfied with a push-button espresso, plus various revolting adulterations, served up at a ludicrously inflated price by some goateed bink who calls himself a 'Barista', which probably isn't even a real word. Just to rub it in, they insist on you ordering it in infantile mock-Italian jargon.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: JabbaThePrawn on
Quote from: sthayashi on
I don't know about anyone else, but for me coffee is one area where I approach diminishing returns on investment.  For example, I own a burr grinder, which typically costs 3-4 times as a normal blade grinder.  The return, however, is that grind size is very consistent.

On top of that, I know where my local coffee roasters are and can tell you the date that my coffee beans at home are roasted at (last week monday).  However, I partially do this to support local business as well as getting good coffee.

There's nothing very scientific about this, but I didn't think I enjoyed coffee without cream or sugar until I had a properly made one.

Good coffee is a rare thing, whichever way you like it.

Most people are satisfied with a push-button espresso, plus various revolting adulterations, served up at a ludicrously inflated price by some goateed bink who calls himself a 'Barista', which probably isn't even a real word. Just to rub it in, they insist on you ordering it in infantile mock-Italian jargon.


My old land rover ninety costs me a fortune to keep on the road,  seven years ago it had a complete tear down and but and bolt rebuild, I'll probably be doing it again this winter. Its not a practical vehicle, its uncomfortable, thirsty , unreliable, it leaks oil all over the drive, its noisy, smelly, cold in the winter and did I mention the running costs?
But I couldn't imagine ever having to do without it.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #7 –
Talking of unscientific things, how about damascus steel knives? It doesn't really make a blade better, as far as I know, but by God it's pretty. I rarely need a penknife, but recently splashed out a little extra on a Laguiole-pattern one with damascus blade - lovely.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #8 –
This is kind of practical but frustrating to setup after every reboot

(I run windows)

I use Reaper
VB Audio's Hi-Fi audio cable (windows sound to ASIO bridge)
Jack Audio (aka jackd)

I use this to process all audio on my system.
Benefit is I can use Reapers amazing FIR (96k a must for latency issues) to clean up my mic noise, and use a compressor and gate, or use the ringmod to annoy friends emulating Darleks or Cybermen

I can apply a system wide EQ, or even load up a VST like bauer audio so YouTube isn't so wide.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #9 –
I'm not even hard-nosed and expensive-taste when it comes to audio. I used cheap $10 JVC Marshmallow earbuds until I got my foobar2000 kickstarter RHAs. The "Good Enough For Me" refrain is often seen here. My HD280s were my "high-quality" gear.

I take pride in my ability to be very pleased while spending very low amounts of cash.

What silly, overpriced & unscientific things do you like?

Reply #10 –
I like to travel to adjacent cities or even states occasionally to visit a good book/music shop or a quirky restaurant for things which are not available locally.  Probably not too expensive in the grand scheme of things, but undoubtedly silly and unnecessary sometimes.