True or False?


The following is a common sentiment from some who claim to be audiophiles.

If you hear something but can’t measure it, you only think you heard a difference.

 

This notion is also common among people who claim to possess an accomplished understanding of audio, especially when achieving a high level of performance for a minimal investment.

So who’s right? On the one hand we have Objectivists who claim if you can’t measure it, you can’t possibly hear it or if you do, its expectation bias and self delusion. Are these people correct? Do they get as good as a sound, or better for far less money by ignoring cables, power cords, mechanical isolation, basically any accessory that many have found to dramatically improve performance despite a lack measurements? Do those who dismiss expensive digital to analog converters as being no better than rather common digital components with decent measurements get just as high a performance level as those of us with MSB and DCS? Do people who claim it’s all about finding perfect speaker placement, do these people outperform those of us with systems that cost multiples more than what they pay (Who also pay close attention to speaker placement as well as everything else)? Or do those of us who pay attention to cables— digital, analog, and power, what we set our components on top of, how we place our speakers, acoustics, and tweaks, expensive DACs and the like, do we get better sound? Who’s right? And how do we ultimately determine sound quality?

 

 

 

128x128ted_denney

I hope I am not off the point.

I do use many measurements to decide if I am interested in a product. For example: Speaker impedance, sensitivity. Amps- power rated into 4 ohm/ 8ohm.

And cables I look to see what they consist of. How they are made. There is a thread going now on Audiogon that describes $5000 cables as the holy grail. Yet it is made from copper wire sleeved into cotton and finished off with cheaper connectors. Yet poster's claim it sounds fantastic. To me it is a nonstarter but if I could actually hear them then perhaps my impression would change.

Is there new technology used? I admire those who think outside the box and come up with creative, innovative items.

Once I zero in on those perimeters then I use my ears/ mind to decide.

ozzy

@pesky_wabbit 

” no, just snother thinly veiled advertorial platform.“

Absolutly +1

The latest in a series of naval gazing threads  from the OP ( who just happens to manufacture highly subjective products aimed at the HiFi crowd whilst offering no credible empirical information to support the validity of said products )

Well Gow_Leeeee 

The latest in a series of naval gazing threads from the OP

My series of posts serve to expose bad players who give bad advice, and should be ignored where matters of high-performance audio are concerned.

I do use many measurements to decide if I am interested in a product. For example: Speaker impedance, sensitivity. Amps- power rated into 4 ohm/ 8ohm.

Exactly correct. Measurements will tell you if something can work, if it has the potential to work based on your system requirements. However when two or more competing widgets meet a basic threshold, measurements will not tell you which component will sound best in your system. For that we listen. Simple.

My series of posts serve to expose bad players who give bad advice, and should be ignored where matters of high-performance audio are concerned.

Your posts serve one purpose and one purpose only.