I only trust what I perceive and hear. If one has been around audio for awhile, you have likely bought, or at least tried, some gear that had amazing specs only to find it sounds like crap. As such, I have very little interest in techno measurements,
Consider that it is a compliment to Blue Jeans that they can make a tested, spec provided 6A Ethernet cable for less than one-tenth of what it costs me to obtain a 2% improvement. I have spent a whole lot more for a 1% improvement. Why? Because if you can get a few percent here and there over a period of years it is a combined 20+% improvement.
As many audiophiles know, improvements in your sound are on a steep exponential cost curve, especially when you have already invested the time and money to have a solid "base" of equipment making excellent sound already. And sometimes this means going in a direction that others consider to be backwards in the areas of technology, cost, design, power, etc.
So, yes, to me a 2% improvement is a "world of difference" because it was an expensive, time consuming and perhaps fun battle to achieve. More importantly, It is more enjoyable to listen, Is there better sounding equipment than mine? Definitely. But the goal we share is to improve our system within each of our own constraints of time, money, desire, wife acceptance (if applicable), hearing and basic reality.
My associates at work occasionally ask as to what kind of music do I listen. The only answer I have been able to pull together as an honest response is that I look for what is "musical.." And that defies all the genre categories.
So, enjoy the music and fiddle with your sound quality as you feel is most appropriate.
Consider that it is a compliment to Blue Jeans that they can make a tested, spec provided 6A Ethernet cable for less than one-tenth of what it costs me to obtain a 2% improvement. I have spent a whole lot more for a 1% improvement. Why? Because if you can get a few percent here and there over a period of years it is a combined 20+% improvement.
As many audiophiles know, improvements in your sound are on a steep exponential cost curve, especially when you have already invested the time and money to have a solid "base" of equipment making excellent sound already. And sometimes this means going in a direction that others consider to be backwards in the areas of technology, cost, design, power, etc.
So, yes, to me a 2% improvement is a "world of difference" because it was an expensive, time consuming and perhaps fun battle to achieve. More importantly, It is more enjoyable to listen, Is there better sounding equipment than mine? Definitely. But the goal we share is to improve our system within each of our own constraints of time, money, desire, wife acceptance (if applicable), hearing and basic reality.
My associates at work occasionally ask as to what kind of music do I listen. The only answer I have been able to pull together as an honest response is that I look for what is "musical.." And that defies all the genre categories.
So, enjoy the music and fiddle with your sound quality as you feel is most appropriate.
