Pleasurably better, not measurably better


I have created a new phrase: pleasurably better.

I am giving it to the world. Too many technophiles are concerned with measurably better, but rarely talk about what sounds better. What gives us more pleasure. The two may lie at opposite ends of the spectrum.

I use and respect measurements all the time, but I will never let any one of them dictate to me what I actually like listening to.

erik_squires

Get your measurements perfect and you will have perfect sound.

You will only have perfect sound when musicians play perfectly, recording and mastering engineers do a perfect job and you find perfect playback equipment, none of which will ever happen.

“Get your measurements perfect and you will have perfect sound.”

Sure… if you have them all. The problem is the measurement problem is so oversimplified… it does not come close to characterizing sound as heard. It is like using stick figures to describe a person running across a field… you are only getting the gist.

 

"Measurements" seem like it refers to a unified set of practices. But it's a plurality; measurements are of different phenomena, with different scales, all with variable bearing on audibility, let alone "pleasing" audibility.  

Imagine if cooks just took "pro-seasoning" vs. "anti-seasoning" positions -- without any further qualification. It would be laughable.

 

Enjoying how it sounds to you is all that’s important.

Agreed. I was enjoying things a lot and then I decided to try measuring the reflections and frequency curve in my room. After mitigating some peaks and troughs and eliminating some reflections, I enjoyed it more.

Measurements facilitated more enjoyment. That’s why I like measurements and why they are also important.