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Audio Science Review = "The better the measurement, the better the sound" philosophy

"Audiophiles are Snobs"  Youtube features an idiot!  He states, with no equivocation,  that $5,000 and $10,000 speakers sound equally good and a $500 and $5,000 integrated amp sound equally good.  He is either deaf or a liar or both! 

There is a site filled with posters like him called Audio Science Review.  If a reasonable person posts, they immediately tear him down, using selected words and/or sentences from the reasonable poster as100% proof that the audiophile is dumb and stupid with his money. They also occasionally state that the high end audio equipment/cable/tweak sellers are criminals who commit fraud on the public.  They often state that if something scientifically measures better, then it sounds better.   They give no credence to unmeasurable sound factors like PRAT and Ambiance.   Some of the posters music choices range from rap to hip hop and anything pop oriented created in the past from 1995.  

Have any of audiogon (or any other reasonable audio forum site) posters encountered this horrible group of miscreants?  

fleschler
kota1
2,706 posts
 

@mitch2, have you seen the vitriol on ASR for people who don't sing there tune (or measure their tune, LOL). Are they afraid of something? Is Amir afraid of something? If you want "science" good, stick with peer reviewed journals:

 

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,846 posts
 

It stands to reason that there is a scientific, measurable and objective way to rate audio components

Rate them how? That they'll work when turned on? That they'll make sound when hooked up? That they'll work well with other components within reason?

That's about the extent of how to rate an audio component that's been "scientifically" measured. As to how it will actually sound is another matter.

All the best,
Nonoise

sngreen
36 posts
 

Ok, this may seem like a silly question to some; many of us know that it takes time for the amplifiers to break in. I have been observing it again and again, with every amp I have or have had in the past. Can the breaking in differences be measured? Like before and after. Before is when it is out of the box brand new, and after, say, 100 hours of listening. 

 

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,846 posts
 

I've read here on other threads that there's no difference in measurements before and after break-in. Yet, like you, I heard the differences, even during the break-in period. 

On another thread about measurements, I mentioned that I read on a review that despite the different options for selecting filters (on a CDP), they all measured the same on the component. I even cut and pasted the section on it.

 Hmmm? Different filter settings resulting in obvious sound differences yet they all measured the same. Could it be that the analyzer could only "measure" the summing of the signal and not the "flavor" of the settings? 

I never got a cogent answer for that.

All the best,
Nonoise

td_dayton
320 posts
 

worth noting that you’ve got several other fairly prominent measurement focused reviewers out there (atkinson, erin, goldensound) and ASR members have argued, downplayed, & criticized all of them. and who here has a problem with any of these reviewers? i think they do great work.

and i personally don’t think it’s really about objectivity or "science" to some of those asr guys, and i don't think most so-called subjectivists have a problem with an engineering-based critique of a piece of equipment. it's really just about not being a jerk and pretending you have all the answers about hi-fi because you can perform a test tone sweep. 

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