Audio Science Review = Rebuttal and Further Thoughts

Agreed!

My problem is the absolute conviction/statements that cables that measure the same, sound the same. That tweaks that address vibration, acoustics and just plain static are worthless, These items especially if they are considered expensive and possibly too profitable to the manufacturer, are snake oil and bogus.

The transition from CD player to digital separates was difficult and I lost "some" money testing out transports, DACs and cabling. In that time, I rediscovered an old CD player that better than my more expensive 2005 EAR Acute which is now ensconced in my 2nd system. I sold the EAR. Eventually, two years later, I acquired fantastic digital separates and a cable which raised my digital playback to the level of my analog playback, still for much less money than my analog playback cost (table, arm, cartridge, vibration platform, SUT, phono-preamp, cabling, VPI and Kirmuss cleaning machines, etc). I’m happy as I have great R2R, DAT, 78 rpm, LP and CD playback sound.

I can share freely here, on What’s Best Forum, Audiocircle, etc. without qualifying every subjective statement I’ve made. I think that’s the point of not liking ASR.

I’ve read many Audiogon forums on CD transports and many posts state that the Cambridge CXC is adequate at $600. I tried one from Cambridge. I let it play for several days and tried it. Of course, I may have received a bad unit, but my neighbor had a boxed one ready for sale and let me compare it. Nope, it was just as mediocre, thin, flat sounding, limited dynamics. I sent mine back and I note that there are so many better CD players, new and recently discontinued, which sound superior just by improving the power caps. I tried a Marantz CD-1 and 5004 units after the caps were upgraded. A little dark sounding and lower in resolution but at least they were pleasant sounding compared to the Cambridge. A Denon DVD DBP 1611UD, just changing the power caps and putting a pigtail for and IEC power cord for a total cost of $200 results in a transport that is clean and clear with great resolution, depth and soundstage What it lacks is some body to the sound and deep bass; otherwise, in a warm, tubey system it should be a real winner.

This is where I provide my subjective experience to evaluating other’s opinion of the same unit and provide inexpensive better sounding alternatives. I don’t expect everyone to try out a $1500 digital cable as I did. It probably won’t have the great appeal for low end equipment users. On the Denon DVD transport which I tried, it was noticeably better but at 7.5 times the cost of the transport, not too practical or cost effective.

@prof

I think it’s understandable to a degree. For one thing, doing blind tests can be a hassle, sometimes totally impractical (speakers especially). And generally speaking I think the members there can and do rely on the relevant tests having been done by other parties. For instance all the research by Toole/Olive/Harman Kardon et al, for selecting the relevant measurements in speakers. And also they can look to measurements of DACs and amplifiers to see that distortion levels are below known thresholds of audibility. So in many cases they don’t really need to perform their own blind tests, depending on what approach they take to buying equipment.

On the other hand, it is fairly galling to be disparaged as some pure subjectivist-in-sheep’s-clothing by folks there who haven’t really "put up or shut up" themselves in terms of personally having experience blind testing.

Don't read to much into my comment but yes you've covered it. DBT aren't convenient and insisting others do them when you don't yourself is bit disingenuous.

The two reasons they may not be needed are 1) difference is non-existent, and 2) difference is obvious. In-between however we have the uncanny valley.

I can share freely here, on What’s Best Forum, Audiocircle, etc. without qualifying every subjective statement I’ve made. I think that’s the point of not liking ASR.

Yes I absolutely see the value in that.

We buy hifi for several reasons, what it sounds like, what it looks like, what it feels like and for some how it measures. Most use a combination with one factor often taking precedence. Discounting hifi based on measurements can be problematic. If you rate components on measurement alone that may be due to an obvious failing.  However today most hifi, above a given price, tends not to have obvious sonic flaws. Measurement orientated sites are obviously ranking products, does a product ranked 1 sound different to a product ranked 500? Can measurements tell you that. When we have metrics measured that are 1000's of times lower than can be heard what is the measurements relevance?