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I don't want to beat a dead horse but I'm bugged.

I just can't clear my head of this. I don't want to start a measurements vs listening war and I'd appreciate it if you guys don't, but I bought a Rogue Sphinx V3 as some of you may remember and have been enjoying it quite a bit. So, I head over to AVS and read Amir's review and he just rips it apart. But that's OK, measurements are measurements, that is not what bugs me. I learned in the early 70s that distortion numbers, etc, may not be that important to me. Then I read that he didn't even bother listening to the darn thing. That is what really bugs me. If something measures so poorly, wouldn't you want to correlate the measurements with what you hear? Do people still buy gear on measurements alone? I learned that can be a big mistake. I just don't get it, never have. Can anybody provide some insight to why some people are stuck on audio measurements? Help me package that so I can at least understand what they are thinking without dismissing them completely as a bunch of mislead sheep. 

128x128russ69
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 

Atmasphere has numerous posts about amplifier harmonic distortion and listener perception.  Simply stated, vanishingly low harmonic distortion is not necessary.  The harmonic spectrum and linearity of the distortion are more important.  So whether THD is .001% or a hundred times greater is pretty irrelevant.  Clearly measurements matter, it's just that the most commonly cited amplifier measurements aren't the most important regarding sound quality.

IMO a well designed amplifier should both measure well and sound good.

russ69's avatar
russ69 OP
3,504 posts
 

that's why tubes still exist, to make it sound more like real music.

That is way more than most people can understand but that is exactly the point of this hobby. 

deludedaudiophile
493 posts
 

What does "real music" sound like. I don't remember my tube amps sounding any more real or less real just different. The bass was less real.

adameos
66 posts
 

Amir is a good resource as an alternative viewpoint. His ‘truth’ is a series of measurements, that can tell a lot about how some components will perform. But he does miss some of the picture no doubt. A couple of his component reviews are way off the mark. Maybe a faulty product? Or his measuring system at fault? Who knows? Take Audio Science Review for entertainment value, and some worthwhile information.

russ69's avatar
russ69 OP
3,504 posts
 

IMO a well designed amplifier should both measure well and sound good.

But what if it doesn't? If it sounds good but the measurements are not great, what is wrong? What we hear or what we measure?

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