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The myth of "best" in audio needs to be addressed by all of us

After spending a year and half deeply immersed in audiophilia (with so much enjoyable benefit), I've identified my tendency (seemingly share by many) to chase the fantasy of "best" in this perfectionistic hobby/pursuit.  It leads to obsessiveness, second-guessing, acrimony between audio tribes, and personal insecurity when reading these forums and all the reviews.  

But, thinking about it, how could there ever be a "best" component, cable, or speaker for listening to music.  This is a subjective experience!!! 

From a purely measurement/engineering perspective -- "best" could mean a lot of things (but they don't automatically mean more enjoyable sonics). 

In listening and enjoying music, there is no "best" -- only "favorite".  And even "favorite" can change -- it certainly has for me.  I've gone back and forth multiple times on all sorts of gear preferences. You can like what you like, you don't have to defend it, and nobody should mess with it!

Anybody else want to fight the harmful myth of "best" in audio?
redwoodaudio
yyzsantabarbara
4,794 posts
 
Good, Better, BEST

https://www.stereophile.com/content/goodbye-house-mike-kay-built

redwoodaudio OP
413 posts
 
@yyzsantabarbara great link, thanks!  that about sums it up!
speakermaster
738 posts
 
There is so much interaction between a system and room as well as the interaction between components, wires, power cords, power conditioners, etc. that there is no best in every case just the best you have heard in your situation.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,003 posts
 
There is so much interaction between a system and room as well as the interaction between components, wires, power cords, power conditioners, etc. that there is no best in every case just the best you have heard in your situation.
It is not a question about the "best"...Save for the fact that we all hope to buy the best possible components and the gear make a difference for sure...

BUT the room acoustical controls are the more powerful upgrade possible for ANY system...So huge that if you had the best possible room controls you dont need and dont dream to upgrade even with relatively good average components...

And it is not necessary to listen to other system to be sure about that...

If you want to know if your room is good, listen to The Three penny opera 1958 by Kurt Weill with Lotte Lenya and if you could listen the orchestra playing in front of you, seating in front of your speakers, but the singers voices coming from your back wall where there is no speakers, your room is under acoustic controls....If not, buying a cable AT ANY PRICE will not give you this nor buying most tweaks or a costly dac or amplifier.... Acoustic is key....

I will not speak about voice timbre or instrumental timbre which sound unnatural even in many very costly systems or very tweaked one i listen to...

Then in audio forget price, think acoustic....

And audio is not about "taste" but about acoustic.... 


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