Why do many discussions about sonic performance disintegrate into technical discusions?


Guys I have noticed that certain members start with technical back and forth in discussions which look like they are self serving, to prove how smart or knowledgable they are, rather then forwarding the OP's original question.

Shouldn’t these discussions be moved into a separate post about technical stuff ie the techical merits of bibolar vs mosfets for example, if these members want to do that?

I think most member don’t care if a Krell amp uses brand x or y for transistors vs a Pass or any other amp, I think most people are more concerned with what the sonic differences there are vs specific technical arguments that are not related to the sonic flavor or design methodologies that these product use to produce their sound, what do you guys think?
128x128audiotroy

As I mentioned previously, a lot of the explanations regarding problems in sonic performance are really technical in nature.  When people start off a conversation with "I think" the hair on the back of my neck rise.

What are the facts?  That is the important thing.  If people hear a sonic difference using certain fuses, that is fine and quite possible.  Anytime that the signal passes through or interacts with a component, it is quite possible that it my negative/positively impact the signal. even fuses.  I won't argue that. 

The why is always technical. the internal wiring within the fuse may not be as conductive as other wiring, the end connections may be worse, the conductor may not be satisfactory, etc.  There will be a technical reason.  Certain wire types and configuration conduct better than others.  Some cables have an impedance curve that is so bad over frequency range that they become a very bad load on the system. It is a technical reason.  Yes, the non-technical person heard a difference and many technical people are hard pressed to provide a technical answer, but (the huge but), there is a technical answer.

Some may not be able to answer in a technical manner and that is fine.  But to me, subjectivity really has no place in this reality.  Science is all about being able to repeat situations under the exact same circumstances.  If it isn't repeatable under the same environmental and physical circumstances, it is not science.

people sitting in a room talking about differences in cables.  Either you hear the difference or you didn't.  However, unless one's hearing is faulty, all will hear the same things in the same room with the same equipment.  When they understand what they are listening for.

Amp differences, to me mean simply remove one amp and connect the other without changing anything else.  Anything else is not an apples to apples comparison and is not scientific, but subjective.

Two amps that have the same general specifications will sound very different.  Why?  Because unless they are using the exact same circuitry and have the exact same transfer function they are not the same and will react very different over the frequency and power range. That is a fact.  So no, all amps can't sound the same.  Impossible unless the transfer functions are the same.  which can't happen unless they are the same amps.  or unless you are Mr. Carver who figured out how to design some of his amps to match the transfer function of some high end known amps.  this was quite the feat.

So, don't be mad or upset when some step up with attempts at technical answers.  its all technical. even room acoustics, standing waves, reflection points, inductance, electromagnetism, conductance, even why we hear the way we do. 

I'll leave by saying this, the long standing argument about fuses is funny to me.  of course they may make a difference.  As an Engineer I have to acknowledge this.  but, is it worth it to me or you?  maybe. I like the way my amps and pre-amps sound with stock fuses. I did when I demo'd them in the store and at home and saw no reason to fuse roll.  they sound great to me.  Would they sound better with $100 fuses?  maybe, but at this time in my life it isn't an interest to me. For others it is.  I would not disparage them for it.

most "normal" people think we are nuts anyway in this hobby.  but look at car enthusiast or watch enthusiast or people that go absolutely crazy over clothing, they are just as crazy are we are.  Actually, some of us fall in those categorizes also.

enjoy

It’s a two way street. Yes, science can sometimes help explain things. And help design things. But one can be blinded by Science, too. There are a great many examples in this hobby that are difficult to explain. It’s really the nature of the hobby, has been for some time. So I wouldn’t get too upset or disappointed if explanations are not forthcoming or, if they are, not very palatable.

Give me some examples, you say? How about the Green Pen, Schumann Frequency Generator, Silver Rainbow Foil, VPI Brick, Mpingo disc, Cream Electret, tiny bowl acoustic resonators, the Intelligent Chip, crystals, directionality of fuses and cables, conductors the diameter of a human hair, Lessloss Blackbody, vibration isolation for solid state electronics, copper foil Flying Saucers for Windows, Shakti Stone, Shun Mook Original Cable Jacket, Teleportation Tweak, WA Quantum Chips, Graphene cables, fuse and contact enhancer and liquid cables?
mapman
If most normal people think one is nuts, one probably is.

>>>>>I raise my glass to the normal people. Good on ya, mates. 😛
kosst_amojan
@geoffkait
I googled it. "geoffkait’s generic name-calling smear in the face of anything that violates his mythology". It’s like you don’t actually know what the term means because you never use it in a context that coincides with it’s definition.

>>>>Gee, I was wondering what happened to the real costco_emoji. That’s more like it! Welcome back! The DMT Express is back in town, baby!