What is a mullet ?

I'm afraid I have to admit responsibility for the aforementioned thread title. At the time, I was considering buying a 272 with a disproportionately expensive power amp, which might have resulted in a 'Mullet' system, i.e. one with a source that is much cheaper than the rest of the system. As it happens, I decided that I preferred a more 'source first' system with an NDX.

There's no dictionary definition of the term, as far as I know, and I only used it on a whim. If you've read the thread, you know as much as I do about the origin of the term, as it seemed to generate as much discussion of the word itself as it did of my upgrade plans.

Short at front, long at the back, just like the coiffure of the same name.

A £150 iPod source, feeding a £500 amp that is powering £8,000 speakers would be 'a mullet'.

See also 'source first' etc

Bruce

Bruce @ Chris,

Thanks that makes more sence now.

Sort of system building being more balanced in hairdressing terms

Hence also some lesser used terms...

Monkfish - a system where the source component(s) are vastly more sophisticated than the rest of the system (the monkfish is all head and little else).

Halibut (or Black Boxfish) - a system that is evenly balanced, no bit outweighing any other.

The "idea " of mullet began in the murky swamps of flat earth, when cost per quality was any ones guess. Some sort of visual / mental guide was needed for the thick of brow.

back to the future that is now , these modes of representation are mostly obsolete and only adhered to by the underground sun light Dodgers .

OK, I do have a tase for Dowland and for darkwave!

Somehow the Halibut expression escaped me. I always thought a balanced system was an eel.

The "Halibut" expression brings HH's nom-de-plume to life.

Almost sophisticated - in the modern sense of the word as opposed to the original meaning of sophisticated

Sophisticated.

The word “sophisticated” has two distinct meanings and they are not at all consistent. In fact they are completely opposite.

The first meant deception, dishonesty. The more familiar definition meaning wise, experienced, came later on.

The word is currently undergoing further change indicating an element of “emptiness”

I was using it in its current, more familiar sense ie:

• A person having, revealing or involving a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion, culture and well-made, complex equipment which itself is sophisticated (see below)
• A person who is aware of and able to interpret complex issues; subtle
• A machine, system, equipment or technique that has been developed to a high degree of excellent performance.

Hope this helps and that HH isn't offended.

The older use derives from an insult from the followers of Plato directed against the followers of Sophocles.

For those of us unfortunate [or fortunate according to view] to have been taught what was called Ancient History [the history of Greece and Rome in the pre-Christian era, more or less] at school, the Sopiclean definition of sophistication is the one we tend to put at the top. It is therefore with trepidation that we [of the old Skool!] read advertising blurb that states, for example, that product “X” has achieved new levels of sophistication in its field!

It is a word I try hard to avoid. 

The unsophisticated person is someone not necessarily to be feared - though they may be all the same. Common sense is rarely sophisticated! 

ATB from George

George you are obviously a Sophisticate rather than a Platonist!

Dear Huge,

More than anything else I am a Stoic!

ATB from George

Fairy Snuff!

(It really get's up your nose!)

I am also easily confused by subtlety!

ATB from George