This hobby we have is a very personal one. IF I say I hear something and it cant be measured, so what? I am speaking for me. What else needs to be understood?
True or False?
The following is a common sentiment from some who claim to be audiophiles.
If you hear something but can’t measure it, you only think you heard a difference.
This notion is also common among people who claim to possess an accomplished understanding of audio, especially when achieving a high level of performance for a minimal investment.
So who’s right? On the one hand we have Objectivists who claim if you can’t measure it, you can’t possibly hear it or if you do, its expectation bias and self delusion. Are these people correct? Do they get as good as a sound, or better for far less money by ignoring cables, power cords, mechanical isolation, basically any accessory that many have found to dramatically improve performance despite a lack measurements? Do those who dismiss expensive digital to analog converters as being no better than rather common digital components with decent measurements get just as high a performance level as those of us with MSB and DCS? Do people who claim it’s all about finding perfect speaker placement, do these people outperform those of us with systems that cost multiples more than what they pay (Who also pay close attention to speaker placement as well as everything else)? Or do those of us who pay attention to cables— digital, analog, and power, what we set our components on top of, how we place our speakers, acoustics, and tweaks, expensive DACs and the like, do we get better sound? Who’s right? And how do we ultimately determine sound quality?
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There are the 4 classic categories of information: 1. The things you know you know 2. The things you know you don’t know 3. The things you don’t know you know 4. The things you don’t know you don’t know We can only construct devices to measure things we know about. Those devices typically have a much higher sensitivity, accuracy, and repeatability than an unaided human is capable of, including all types of outlier hyper acuity. By definition there is a category of things we just don’t know to measure. Maybe there are things we could measure if we thought of it. Or things we wouldn’t even know how to. That’s where subjectivity picks up. I’m not sure why I like it better and I can’t describe exactly what the difference is, but I like it better. Joy is a state of mind. If you tell me that objectively two things are the same and if I have a clear preference then it’s all in my mind, how is that any less valid? So I’ve fooled myself. Maybe someone will come up with a meditation program for better sound. If a breathing technique and guided visualization can get people to walk on hot coals, then why can’t it make your stereo sound better? Keep your ear on the prize. Better sound. By any means necessary. That doesn’t mean I’m going to spend money I don’t have though. I’m not signing up for a meditation retreat either. I’ll just keep muddling through doing the best I can with what I know and what I can learn. It’ll probably take the rest of my life. I’m okay with that. |
@cat_doorman , +1. *L* I know I don't know enough about what I don't even know I don't know about..🤦♂️😏.. @noske ...well, I suppose... I've never been exposed to a 'conservative arts' exam, but will concede that such may exist.... Come to think of it....I've never had to take the version you mentioned, either.... *Zounds!* Sounds like a conspiracy of some weight....however light....;) |
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