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Maybe being discerning isn't that good for us?

A topic I touch on now and then, I think about what the average person hears, what I hear, and what it means to be discerning. What good is it for us, our community, and the industry?

I’ll touch on a couple of clear examples. I was at a mass DAC shoot out and spoke with one of the few ladies there. To paraphrase her, she said this:

Only with DACs made in the the last few years can I listen to digital music without getting a headache.

I never had that problem, but we both experienced a significant improvement in sound quality at about the same time. Lets take her statement as 100% true for this argument.

On the other hand, I am completely insensitive to absolute phase issues which some claim to be. I’m also VERY sensitive to room acoustics, which many fellow audiophiles can completely ignore.

Lets assume the following:

  • The lady really did get headaches due to some issue with older DACs
  • There really are people very sensitive to absolute phase.

I’ve also found the concept of machine learning, and neural networks in particular truly fascinating. In areas of medical imaging, in specific areas such as breast cancer detection, neural networks can be more accurate than trained pathologists. In the case of detecting early cancer, discernment has an obvious advantage: More accuracy equals fewer unnecessary procedures, and longer lives, with less cost. Outstanding!!

Now what if, like the trained neural networks, I could teach myself to be sensitive to absolute phase? This is really an analog for a lot of other things like room acoustics, cables, capacitors, frequency response, etc, but lets stick to this.

Am I better off? Did I not in fact just go down a rabbit hole which will cause me more grief and suffering? Was I not better before I could tell positive vs. negative recording polarity?

How do you, fellow a’gonner stop yourself, or choose which rabbit holes to go through? Ever wonder if you went down one too many and have to step back?
erik_squires
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Larry,it is all a matter of priorities. 
Geoffkait, look in the mirror:)
Absolute polarity does not matter much. I can change it at will by remote control and as hard as I try I can not hear the difference. But, delay a subwoofer 0.3 ms (about 3 feet) and yikes! Changing the absolute polarity of the subwoofers vs the satellites is an interesting subject. Some people prefer it this way but I think that is because their subwoofers are not phase and time correct with the satellites. With corrected subs same absolute phase as the satellites is always better and I'm pretty sure if everyone here could here it they would agree. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I suggest you give candling your ears a shot. 🕯
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
larry5729 ... 

I spent 40 years in the residential real estate business. As a result, I have been inside thousands and thousands of homes. It always amazed me how many homes contained no music and no books. Big-screen TVs? Yes. Video games? Yes. But no music and no books. In that entire 40 years, I only saw two high-end systems. One contained a pair of Maggies, and a Linn turntable with a Koetsu Rosewood cartridge. The other one had a pair of the big Apogees with all-digital, no vinyl.  Go figure

Frank
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,610 posts
 
@cd318....*L*  I'll tell her about your compliment.  Whether or not she'd comply with your request.....*shrug*G*  Don't hold your breath....;)

If she's of a mind to do so....Don't ask her to sing.....('slide guitar style vocals, with a tendency to 'flat'....).....

*S*  My dear spouse has lived with various 'n sundry systems over our years.  A few have been regarded as the 'third member' of our homes with regards to their....'presence'. ;)   She's always enjoyed what 'they' could 'do' with the music we've enjoyed together or individually.

Her biggest request is to have a 'default function' in any and all.
A means of 'lighting IT up' and being able to listen to whatever she'd like to hear at the time.  The current 'main system' is complex, geared towards my 'odd Walsh endeavor'.  The others are her 'puter in her office, streaming Spotify or streamcasters.  The 'home system' at this point is broadcast (mostly NPR) FM, and the SatTV or CD/DVD.  No tapes or LPs' however....

This will change in the near future, with a new home. :))  We're both looking forward to it.
The living area will have the Maggies' she likes and an improved version of my 'mutants'....and be able to play tape and LP easily.
Most of my 'toys' will be relegated to a separate room, which I ought to be able to condition and entertain my interests....*G*

Of course, there'll be a link betwixt the two....and both with the 'enhancements' we've both learned to appreciate and enjoy.*S*

Active EQ, subs, 'versatility'...

."....that audio stuff.  If it sounds good, and I can enjoy it without having an instruction manual to Turn It On, I'm good with it!"  (direct quote, BTW...).  My Evelyn, 'closet audiophile'....*LOL*  She'll either like it, or think you've listening to things too loudly... ;)

Regards,
J
cd318
2,636 posts
 
I think it’s far too easy to be too discerning, even the mere fact of being an audiophile hints at that.

Ultimately it is a question of priorities, if not now, it definitely will be one day.

What matters to you most?

Relationships, children, personal health, financial security, psychological well-being /sense of ease regarding your present or near future, or the fact your system might have a gentle suckout at at 9kHz? 

Life has a funny way of continuously reaaringing these priorities. And for some of us it’s damned difficult to stay ahead of its curve.

But then we don’t really have any other choice, do we?

Right now for me music is a still a great way to give my mind some rest and stimulus at the same time.

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