They can't help themselves.
The Totalitarianism of the Rational Audiphile
I read not too long ago a blog post by some one who called himself a rational audiophile. I found it amusing across multiple dimensions.
Among the first, the idea you can be rational without being emotional. In fact, nothing is further from the truth. Our emotions are motivating. The words even share a similar etymological origin. Even if you want to be rational, you’ve made that choice based on your emotions. The entire concept of personal choice and values is emotional. Those without emotions lack the energy to make choices. In other words, if you’ve made a choice, you have done so using emotions to push you towards a goal.
Further, as an audiophile, I buy for pleasure, not for numbers. What I mean is, the precision of the experience will not trump what I hear. I’m not buying a CNC machine, or laser cutting device. Nor am I buying an oscilloscope when I buy audio gear, or listen to music. I’m buying to sense and to feel. Even when I’m designing speakers, I rely heavily on tools to explain where my design is going, but the tonal balance I choose is very much based on gauging my listening pleasure.
The other thing that struck me about this person’s’ blog is this: They were not actually engaging in science. They were using 50 year old measurements (for the most part) to gauge the value of a product. If your measurements are this old, you aren’t doing science, you are doing quality control. Science involves research, invention, the discovery of new ways in which our ear/brain mechanism interprets sound. That would be science. Using THD to make absolute judgements between two pieces of gear is hilarious.
Science ceases as well when you believe you have defined everything that can be known about human experience with a dozen or so numbers. Repeatedly in mechanical sciences, medicine, etc. the one's who advanced science did so in spite of those who went before them who insisted nothing more could be learned. So, in this case you go from scientist, to egoist. A very very irrational and emotional take.
Among the first, the idea you can be rational without being emotional. In fact, nothing is further from the truth. Our emotions are motivating. The words even share a similar etymological origin. Even if you want to be rational, you’ve made that choice based on your emotions. The entire concept of personal choice and values is emotional. Those without emotions lack the energy to make choices. In other words, if you’ve made a choice, you have done so using emotions to push you towards a goal.
Further, as an audiophile, I buy for pleasure, not for numbers. What I mean is, the precision of the experience will not trump what I hear. I’m not buying a CNC machine, or laser cutting device. Nor am I buying an oscilloscope when I buy audio gear, or listen to music. I’m buying to sense and to feel. Even when I’m designing speakers, I rely heavily on tools to explain where my design is going, but the tonal balance I choose is very much based on gauging my listening pleasure.
The other thing that struck me about this person’s’ blog is this: They were not actually engaging in science. They were using 50 year old measurements (for the most part) to gauge the value of a product. If your measurements are this old, you aren’t doing science, you are doing quality control. Science involves research, invention, the discovery of new ways in which our ear/brain mechanism interprets sound. That would be science. Using THD to make absolute judgements between two pieces of gear is hilarious.
Science ceases as well when you believe you have defined everything that can be known about human experience with a dozen or so numbers. Repeatedly in mechanical sciences, medicine, etc. the one's who advanced science did so in spite of those who went before them who insisted nothing more could be learned. So, in this case you go from scientist, to egoist. A very very irrational and emotional take.
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Actually science is the process of establishing functional relationships between independent and dependent variables. The process involves testing of hypotheses with the collection of observable, measurable, verifiable and repeatable data (which, by the way, eliminates so called climate “science” as it is a prime example of the untestable hypothesis). For example, to cite a common misconception, the practice of medicine is technology, not science. |
Nobody measures anything anyway so who cares? Measurements are like controlled blind tests. Everyone claims they’re the greatest thing since chunky peanut but nobody does anything about it. Let your ears be a lamp 🕯 unto your feet 🦶🦶 From what I can tell the only ones interested in measurements are newbies and pseudo skeptics. |
If our, "Enlightened rationality" becomes gospel, we become audio fascists. Faith (in our enlightened rationality) precludes reason. Martin Luther, was not specifically remarking about audio, although there certainly could have been.discussions about what materials to use for musical instruments. Just imagine the heresy of switching from "natural" wood to mixed up alloys! |
jond, What do you mean you do not know what this thrad is about? About rational audiophiles. Which makes it two of us as we, me maybe not that much, drive old Passats. I have done virtually no work on it, except oil and tires, over the last 135 000+ miles. It still runs like new and is as quiet as an....(insert the name of your favorite amplifier here to stay within audio topic). |
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glupson nice I was lucky to find a site called PassatWorld where I learned just how lucky I was to find my car used in 2007. A few years back I gave the engine and suspension a total makeover and it drives like a dream. I drive about 7k miles a year and at 118K this is hopefully my last car. I would apologize for hijacking the thread but who the hell knows what this thread is about? :) |
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glennewdick
A lot of music is crap, perhaps there is a market for vintage crap equipment to listen to it with. I just saw Quest Love drummer for the Roots band on a late show. His LP collection is up to 130,000 lps and growing. He says he is now collecting the worst music he can find. |
jond, 2003 is among the last of the real good ones. I still keep 1999 insured, inspected, garaged, pampered, loved, driven 500 miles a year at most. For simple reason, it has been the most pleasant single purchase ever. I think 2003 was still a big time Audi. Later it diluted into something amorphous. |
Johnson Jacks...Crescendo Cable....(hmmm, that one is likely already taken)....Sudden Surge Splitters...Handy Hookups...Hard Wires... A Mind of It’s Ohm DACs’.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB3VNOuERlM 'Trolltalitarianism' as 'alt amusement'....*G* |
"Music is emotional or why bother listening to it." I agree. MUSIC is emotional. This is where I have a problem with people saying, "I didn't like system xyz because it didn't connect to me emotionally." I don't understand this term regarding the hardware. You either like the sound, or you don't. No emotion involved. IMHO. |
@erik_squires , opening gambit....Amen. *S* @geoffkait , (re 11/3 @ 4:43 & 5:05 pm) 'Perhaps' to both...;) *L* ...and as to the '20 vette... As to 'hillbillies vs. Eyetalians', let's both go see "Ford vs. Ferrari" on Day One and get back to me. *L* I remember that fracas...;)...and the Stingray could use a new chapter. I knew the Faithful would be less than enthused 'bout it. (Daily drive? Focus hatch. I WILL pass you, eventually. Tactics vs. torque....*smirk* Grew up driving in L.A. Most of my 'street tactics' are banned by the Geneva Conventions...) Yeah, off topic....but cars and cables ( and the like) have this strange similarity 'round here....testosterone I suspect...'silly boyz'....;) "Next!" *L* |
"...the man with the brain the size of a mature cucumber 🥒" https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/heaviest-cucumber/ If it were only the brain... |
Nothing wrong with Porsche philes! Even better would be a second Porsche, though, rather than the Vette :-) To get back to the topic at hand, though, I of course agree with pretty much everything in Erik’s posts above. But I would add that there is something that perhaps could be referred to as enlightened rationality, that is driven by BOTH intellect and emotion, the two driving forces acting together in a complementary and synergistic manner. Best regards, -- Al |
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