markl

Good morning! LOL, re-reading in the cold light of day is educational. Went through a whole bottle of wine before I realized it last night when I got sucked in over here. Apologies for any off-color remarks (although I suppose I was getting into the spirit of the site which is, after all, 80% off-color remarks ). I see that I wasn't as articulate in expressing certain things as I could have been and got side-tracked; a case of what you mean and what you type aren't completely in sync. Let me try again. As for this post by me: The point I was attempting to make (incoherently), was related to the many remarks I've read here and in the past on this iste that I'm a shill or a paid stooge. That smarts, and that really does make me mad. If folks are going to make charges like that, back them up with some evidence. You can't because there isn't any because my opinions are not for sale. The puffery was a botched attempt to defend myself against these charges by presenting my "resume" of past activities to try to show that I'm not just some random guy who only showed up yesterday to shill for some company. People who have been around a while know me; if I was some kind of shill, I'd have been found out years ago. I would also not keep changing my gear around and discarding older stuff for newer stuff I liked better. I must be a very disloyal shill who abandons the gear he was paid to hype as soon as he hears something better. I mentioned my Positive Feedback gig to make the point that I was the one who came forward immediately and resigned due to my activities mod-ing headphones, a shill probably wouldn't have. I was looking forward to being a regular contributor there, it was going to be fun. They also didn't take me on because they thought I was some shill; they "hired" me because they checked me out and asked around. In any case, if I wanted to be some kind of shill and bash everyone else's headphone but the one I mod, I could have had a platform to do that, but I quit. As far as the comments about my being trusted by "many", yeah I read that now and see how that could be seen as ego-inflating. I do get asked every day for help with people's systems and direction and opinions, that is true. However, a bit immodest to have worded it quite so bluntly as above. Again, the point was not that I'm so great, it was to refute the idea that I'm a shill and provide more evidence that I'm not just some jerk with a keyboard and 20 bucks from a manufacturer to spam a website. A shill would be quickly found out, and no one would be asking his advice on anything. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- swt61, With all due respect, I think you've misread what I wrote in this other post that you seem to find so offensive. It wasn't about me and my "importance" (this time ), it was pointing out how important Head-Fi is (and this site, too, to some extent). I'll re-post it so you can see. I'm saying that *anyone's* posts on some new product can make or break that product, it may never get a second chance if the first guy to review it hates it. That makes that person, whomever he is very powerful. So is the group-think that can happen WRT to certain products, opinions that become inherited and passed around and become "true" just by being repeated. If there was no Head-Fi, for example, and only head case, Ray Samuels would likely be out of business due to the prevailing negative attitude toward his stuff here. That is power, gentlemen. I'm saying the things you say just in passing about a product can have a huge ripple effect you may not be conscious of. If you are a highly visible member of that community (and that goes for anyone, not just me), you are known to manufacturers, you better believe it. Which only makes sense, they are looking for influencers and someone well-known with a high-post count has more weight and credibility than a new name that just showed up that day to talk about their product. It's on that basis that folks (including me) get sent stuff for review. Did you read what he wrote about my review? Who was getting "trashed" by those comments? So I reponded. I simply said I was disappointed it seems he shows one face somewhere else and another one here. If he wants to critique my review I can critique his review of the TakeT. I din't name call or trash him personally in any way, in fact I said I liked him and admired his writing. As far as Head-Case, in general, no it's not really my style FWIW. It can be a bit "clique-y" and frankly a bit elitist, too. If you're not in the "club", watch out! It does feel to me like this is the place people go to talk behind the backs of other people in the community. I think the free-wheeling nature of the forum encourages people to say things to each other through a keyboard they'd never say to their face. Maybe I'm a bit square, but I actually like the (relative) civility over at Head-Fi, and don't mind the moderation. Your hobby should be something that you do to relax, not fight about. Head Case is not a relaxing experience for me. Also, from what I can see, the site is anti-cable, anti-subjective, possibly anti-audiophile which puts me on the outs. Is that a fair assessment, or have I just not hung out here enough? After a nice bottle of red wine, anyway.

Aaah, so that's why you're mad. I get it. Actual facts make you mad... Not my problem, though is it? It's your issue. It's a Barack Obama thing.

If I'm a MOT, or my posting is restricted here, please let me know, I don't want to violate any rules. So far, I've been encouraged to post.

Oy, well, that's a major part of the mod. Leaving out the wood is not one of things I do even in the 2/3rds mod.

1. Are there people who know more about how the industry works than others? Yes. 2. Do I know more about how the industry works than most? Yes. What are you arguing with?

You, too? Well, the point of fact remains, which is I can turn your Denon D5000 into a great headphone. No one who has had the mods done has said it was a bad idea, and no one has said the end result is worse than stock. Anyone who can see through the puzzling BS of the angry people here is welcome to contact me on Head-Fi. Cheers. Mark

You make me laugh, thanks EdipisReks. That's all you got-- a mama joke?

Hah-hah! When you are out of legitimate objections you resort to base name-calling. Next time I cash a check from "markl mods" I'll think of you and laugh.

Whether people here like it or not, I am contacted very often to review gear. Maybe you get twice as many offers, maybe not. That doesn't take away from the number of manufacturers who seek me out. It's not bragging; it's just a fact. If that offends you, I can't help that.

A "few times". How 'bout "all the time"? I don't and haven't claimed to be anything but what I am (read my replies before you fly off the handle). You seem to be bitter or angry for reasons who knows? You missed the main point which is, there are folks (apparently including you) who feel it necessary on this site to dis me for whatever reason. YOU are chiefly the one pumping me up beyond my importance. I didn't ask for it; I'm just observing fact that folks like you keep responding to me here as you have just done.

Ugh, more double-blind BS. I have a current customer that purchased both the Full Mod and the 2/3rds mod headphones at the same time. I am hoping he is willing to report his findings on these. Probably won't appear here, but on Head-Fi.

Is this one I modified personally, or someone else's attempt? Either way, knowing your biases toward the R10 (that I once shared), I look forward to your thoughts, purk.

Oh, ouch, you got me, it's over I'm dead. My "study" consists of listening to dozens of sources, dozens of amps, dozens of headphones, doszens of cables, etc. Take a listen to a markl mod-ed D5000 before you claim to have an opinion of it. You just might be surprised. Or, take a listen to all the satisfied customers as well as folks who have done the mod for free. There's been no one who claims the fully mod-ed phone is "worse" than stock. Gotta run, take care!

I am what I am, and my situation is what it is. If this is letting folks in and behind the curtain of Head-Fi, I guess that's OK. Want some truth? Want some reality? Want to know how it works, and how the reviews you see on Head-Fi *really* work? I have some real insight here, I'm an "insider" and I can share with you if you want. Want to know the secrets? I'll tell you. Makers of audio products are VERY VERY VERY interested in Head-Fi. Head-Fi is one of THE primary and most IMPORTANT audio sites on the web. Why? Because most of its audience is made up of younger people who have not yet made their minds up about any brand of gear. Convince them on Head-Fi and you have a customer for life. Don't be fooled, EVERY manufacturer of gear knows about us and is painfully aware of us and what goes on on Head-Fi. We MATTER. We are taste-makers and gate-keepers. The majority of folks coming into "hi-fi" for now and forveer are going to come in via headphones. We are the gate-keepers to "high-end" audio. Our attitudes and opinions matter, and matter more than they do on any other audio-related website (did you know Head-Fi is THE #1 audio website?). Those are REALITIES. I know it seems hard to believe it, but if you are a long-term contributor in the headphone community with a well-known name, you will be SHOCKED to know that manufacturers of gear you've never even heard of know who you are, and know that your opinion may be the gateway to their success. So, the point is, it's not that I'm some demi-god of self-importance. I've been around and I have access to parts of this world you probably haven't seen. You may be amazed at how much weight you're half-hearted, tossed-off comment about some DAC has if you're on Head-Fi. You may just be determining the fate of some small audio business....

Absolutely yes. Over the next several weeks there will be continued feedback on Head-Fi of my mods. Let's see what they say before we decide if they are worth-while or not.