What is the “World’s Best Cartridge”?

Dear @mijostyn  : " In order to fool the human ear you only need a 0.3 dB difference in volume.  "

You posted the statement as is a " rule " or a measured standard and can't be a rule due to so many variables down there:

- first is that no one has mated ears with the same sensitivity, FR at the same frequency range deviations, almost nothing inside both ears are exactly the same.

-  second, the speakers normally are not exactly mated with the need it accuracy for their sound couldbe " leveled ".

- third, your electronics neither and niether the system cables. Time to time I make a check up in my monobloks about: output levels, bias and FR. Even in my phonolinepreamp the the attenuators with SMD resistors are extremely close in its " linearity " but not exactly.

- you can have mated speakers/cables and electronics but you need along those that the whole audio system have very high resolution and very low noise levels.

- four, you need exactly what to look for in the tracks that you are using for those comparisons ( for years  I always use same tracks in the LPs and at same SPL and seated at near field position. You need to know exactly how is the sound of those choosed LP tracks: knowing it as the fingers of your hands.

- the db levels where we can be foolished depends of what we are trying to " measure ".

It's not easy to have a general rule with. In my examples/first hand experiences where I learned about detection of distortions that " dull " sound makes me to ask for a little high SPL for the " life come on " but I never did it because I learned it's not necessary to disappears that " dull " /"low SPL" modifiying the attenuators position.

Yes maybe we can detect 0.3db deviations but not always because depends directly of what we are " measuring " through our imperfect ears and imperfect system. In other cases maybe we need over 1db deviation to been aware of it.

Maybe theory is what you posted but is different for any one of us. Normally all of us should detect more or less easy sound in the midrange frequency range but not so easy at both frequency extremes that in reality is what matters the more.

Well that's my take about.

R.

Actually, if you look at Mijostyn's syntax, he is not wrong: " In order to fool the human ear you only need a 0.3 dB difference in volume.  "

Literally, this could be construed to mean that, because the human ear canNOT distinguish an SPL difference of 0.3db (because, as Intact Audio stated, 1db is by definition the smallest difference in SPL that can be distinguished by the human ear) then we CAN be fooled by a difference of only 0.3db into thinking there is no difference in SPL between the two respective sources.

@noromance , either you are a master at caring for your equipment or the people I know who have or have had Deccas are incredibly ham fisted. I have personally heard them miss track on material other cartridges handled effortlessly. I was never enamored by the SQ but I never did have one in my own system. At this point I would never recommend anyone get one unless they really did not care about throwing their money away.

@lewm , thank you and you are right. No human ear I know of can reliably call 0.3dB a change of volume but it can trick the ear into thinking a version sounds better.  Using channel balance as a gauge a 0.3 dB change will make a noticeable shift in the center image easily noticed by anyone. Having a digital volume control with resolution down to 0.1 dB I can demonstrate this to anyone. You would not notice it as a volume change just a shift in the center image. 

@rauliruegas , As with any generalization there are always ways to fail but as a useful rule If I increase the volume of one of two exactly identical passages 0.3 dB casual listeners will think the louder version sounds better without noticing the increase in volume. I know this because I make this demonstration all the time. I have a digital volume control with resolution down to 0.1 dB.  If you are doing this in real time on the same system all that other stuff you mention cancels out. everything you say is true but it is all easy to factor out of the equation. 

@intactaudio , it really depends on how you are listening to the volume. If you are just paying attention to a system's volume level then 1dB is a just noticeable difference but if you are listening in a comparative way as you are when listening to channel balance 1 dB is very noticeable and will cause a distinct shift in the center image. This also explains why some systems image poorly. The two channels have to have identical frequency response curves. If one channel is plus or minus a dB here or there the image blurs like an out of focus picture. The same speaker in two different locations will have two different response curves. Variances of 3-5 dB between channels at specific frequencies is common. I have seen upwards of 10 dB!

Have you questioned the calibration of your digital attenuators?

@mikelavigne, sorry about your decision to no longer post and I hope that it applies to this thread only.  Your comments are always appreciated. I respect and enjoy your approach to this hobby with its emphasis on trusting one’s ears.  I understand your reaction to the heavy handed style of some and have to wonder if the rigidity in their approach to this hobby kills the fun and and wonder of the music listening experience.  Listening to music is not a technical exercise.