Much of this falls under what the late scientist Steven Jay Gould called “argument from personal incredulity.” That means a person simple cannot accept the truth of something because it is so far outside their personal experience or prejudices that it’s literally unbelievable. Needless to say, they are wrong, or at least not very scientific. So if you choose to believe there is nooooooooo way a cable or capacitor or resistor can make an sensory change in sound, because that’s what the technical measurements say, then you’ve missed the science.
Audio Science Review = Rebuttal and Further Thoughts
@crymeanaudioriver @amir_asr You are sitting there worrying if this or that other useless tweak like a cable makes a sonic difference.
I don’t worry about my equipment unless it fails. I never worry about tweaks or cables. The last time I had to choose a cable was after I purchased my first DAC and transport in 2019. I auditioned six and chose one, the Synergistic Research Atmosphere X Euphoria. Why would someone with as fulfilling a life as me worry about cables or tweaks and it is in YOUR mind that they are USELESS.
@prof "would it be safe to say you are not an electrical designer or electrical engineer? If so, under what authority do you make the following comment" - concerning creating a high end DAC out of a mediocre DAC.
Well, I have such a DAC, built by a manufacturer of equipment and cables for his and my use. It beat out a $9,000 COS Engineering D1v and $5,000 D2v by a longshot. It is comparable to an $23,000 Meridian Ultradac. Because I tried all the latter three in comparison I say this with some authority, the authority of a recording engineer (me), a manufacturer (friend) and many audiophiles who have heard the same and came to the same conclusion.
Another DAC with excellent design engineer and inferior execution is the Emotiva XDA-2. No new audio board but 7! audiophile quality regulators instead of the computer grade junk inside, similar high end power and filter caps, resistors, etc. to make this into a high end DAC on the very cheap ($400 new plus about the same in added parts).
@russ69 We must be neighbors. I frequented Woodland Hills Audio Center back in the 70s and 80s. I heard several of Arnie’s speakers including a the large Infinity speakers in a home.
- ...
- 326 posts total
if you choose to believe a cable or capacitor or resistor can make an sensory change in sound, even though technical measurements say otherwise then you’ve missed the science. It works both ways. Skepticism isn't a one way street. If I make a positive claim they don't then I should be able to show credible evidence to back it up and vise versa. If Gould was anything he was a confirmed skeptic. |
That could be said of people who just find it impossible to doubt their personal experience, right? Like "Sorry, there's no way I was imagining it!"
|
@laoman +1 "Blue VU meters -McIntosh, the Harley Davidson of the Hi Fi world." yep, stylish gear always sounds better! |
- 326 posts total