Audio Science Review = "The better the measurement, the better the sound" philosophy

I had a boss once decades ago that was obsessed with data.  He just wanted to test and test.  It didn't seem to go anywhere.  He wanted more data and just could not finalize anything.  Testing for the sake of testing is pointless.  It has to mean something.  Compare the data to listening tests or what?  Measurements by themselves mean nothing.  But to conclude something does not sound good because the measurements say it doesn't is circular reasoning.  That is because the key ingredient to how it sounds is to listen to it.  Measurements are a means to an end.  How it sounds is the end- the final word on the subject.  

Kind of like the old adage, " There comes a time in the life of any project when it is necessary to shoot the engineer and start production."

@amir_asr ..."The kits he sells are hugely overpriced. None of his DIY solutions are competitive. By the time you waste all that money on his upgraded parts, you could get far better performing speakers across the board.", unquote.

True Story: As a curiosity test - I helped a close friend who paid for Danny’s service to analyze one of his speakers, test it, to design and layout all new crossovers, parts, connectors. In the process the speakers were converted from a 2.5 way to a 3-way crossover layout on a 20 year old speaker. All drivers were re-coned in the process. I use to build speakers for a living and designed a few myself, fwiw. The Grand Mozart speaker I’m referring to is featured on one of Danny’s videos.

About 1/5 the cost of a new comparable pair. Sounds notably better than stock. Buddy is super happy with the service, design, and parts. Turned out really nice, more musical too. Buddy is quite proud of himself taking the chance to test out Danny first hand.

Nothing better than the measured value of a happy customer.

@tonywinga 

That is because Danny listens to the products.  He also understands and explains what the measurements mean and how it affects the sound.  At least on the videos that I watched.  And his upgrade kits make sense.  Plenty of DIY'ers do the same things.

Once more, he does NOT listen to any speaker he upgrades.  Ever!  He says this in videos from time to time.  Even if he does not, watch one of his upgrade videos.  All he shows are crude before and after frequency response measurements and that is it.  You are supposed to trust him that the sound got better.

As to his upgrades making sense, they do most of the time from technical point of view.  But not remotely on cost basis.  He also detests EQ which can do the same thing for free.  As member said, follow the money.  EQ doesn't make him money so he doesn't like it.  What proof he provides?  He just knows that it doesn't.

@amir_asr , I think Danny gets lots of customers who post a lot of good reviews, is a fair businessman, and a good communicator. Are you still upset with him over that falling out you two had? I saw him very sincerely reach out to you on his channel, can't you let it go by now?

@tonywinga 

Measurements by themselves mean nothing. 

That's right.  This is the reason we follow extensive research into what measurements to use and invest incredible amount of money and time to get them.  The research into speaker design is very authoritative.  But if you have not read and understand them, then you wind up being dismissive.  Membership in ASR will get you that knowledge.  Without it, you are lost forever, throwing random darts at the wall.

Note that I listen to every speaker I review.  Measurements are the foundation but I test them by listening. And equalization.

I also listen to every headphone and every headphone amplifier.  These constitute about half of what I review.

I perform more listening tests in a month than others do in a year or even lifetime!

So the notion that we only measure on ASR is completely wrong. It is a false notion to justify having one's head in the sand regarding authoritative work that we on ASR.