Brainstorm Thursday. Are we approaching the Audiophile Singularity?

I’m not really a measurement guy because:

• I cannot afford the technology to investigate the measurements
• I trust my ears

But there are a couple of measurements that I have come across which allowed me to explain the why’s of a couple of aspects of this hobby.

e.g.

why does one cable sound more dynamic than another

- "generally" because of the metals used, which translates to CONDUCTANCE - they simply convey the signal faster

why does one cable reproduce the image better than another

- "generally" because of the Geometry of the cable and the lower DIELECTRIC CONSTANT of the insulation material used - i.e. a well designed cables will convey a "cleaner" signal, which builds a more complete image

Combining these "discoveries" of Metallurgy, Geometry and Dielectric Constant allowed me to build some amazing cables.

But up until the last 4-5 years - I had not been clued in to these aspects of cable design and what they can do for a cable

Now it’s not quite "that simple", but it’s about 80% of "my cable journey"

So from my perspective - the "measurements guys" often provide a valuable contribution - even though they might not FULLY understand the full impact of the measurement.


Always brainstormin - Steve

@williewonka 

You’re absolutely right. Nothing happens without measurements. My problem with the measurement guys is that they think it’s the last word   But their problem is that they don’t know what they don’t know. I hope that one day we will be able to look at a specs sheet and know all that there is to know about a piece of gear but we are not there yet unfortunately. I want to know about the specs as much as the next guy but I also want to listen. My ears are the last and final arbiter. 

@millercarbon
 Measurebators sure created an influx of amazing ads, yeah baby yeah!

Regards,
barts

Years and years ago the default for most listeners was a poor quality and distorted sound, and the exception was revealing accuracy and low distortion.  The hobby was to push out of distortion and get as close as possible to accuracy. 
It seems what is happening now is a switch of the defaults. 
It is easy and cheap to get very very accurate, high quality, low distortion, revealing sound.  So of course the hobby has pivoted - it now chases its preferred distortion. The big money is spent on kit which deliberately distorts but in a way that some really like. 
The one area yet to pivot is speakers. This always was by far the most critical, and most inherently flawed, link in the chain. Differences between speakers still massively dwarf any choices made anywhere else in the chain. Nobody yet, I think, is deliberately selecting speakers to build distortions in like the way they select (for example) a tube amp, are they?

How about college football players that crush it in the combine,and flat out suck in the NFL? They sure "measured" well,but seem to be missing some intangible.  I think measurements can probably get you pointed in the right direction,but I think intangibles exist everywhere. Just my 1 1/2 cents.