How do you know when a stereo sounds good?

The measurements do not define your ideal, or preference, for what "good" or "enjoyable" are, they are an objective means to adjust to get that sound, and to get it reliably. Phrased the other way I think it says it somewhat backwards, and is interpreted by "pure subjectivists" as *only the measurements matter*. See it all the time. When in fact the opposite is true.

and

measurements can control, they can distinguish, they can provide for reproduciblity and repeatablity

@khughes The twisting of words by folk who eschew measurements sometimes makes my head hurt.

The narrative being presented as facts is upside down and inside out, much as we may observe in some news reports originating in certain countries - selective facts are provided but presented in such a manner as to persuade the reader that something else is actually the situation.

I have addressed (perhaps poorly) this fairly transparent non sequitur pattern of reasoning in one or two previous posts here.

The second quote is of course so perfectly succinct that any elaboration may only spoil it.

@noske 

The arguments are meant to first divide the groups and then once divided to isolate the target group. You will note above I called this post thinly veiled marketing which it is. It is meant to create a division between those who use measurements and those that don't and then isolate those that don't from those that do so that those that don't can be targeted with specific marketing and sales messages which don't work with the scrutiny of the other group.

@cindyment 

The arguments are meant to first divide the groups and then once divided to isolate the target group.

Yes, I think divided only by sleight of hand and in my opinion by the use of some very deliberate and garbled misrepresentations that are abundantly transparent in their intent. I disagree that they are veiled, but I guess I'm just at the 6th standard deviation of cynical.

That this succeeds in many good and honest folk - the target group - being tricked is tremendously "clever" but entirely unethical.

When other systems/equipment are just different and I still find my own so pleasing and not wanting for more.

@noske 

@khughes The twisting of words by folk who eschew measurements sometimes makes my head hurt.

Since you only quoted/referred to me in that response, I certainly hope you are not putting me in the "eschews measurements" bucket?