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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
cd318
2,636 posts
 

@curiousjim

Yep, I learned decades ago that if someone is happy with the sound of two tin cans and some string, there is little chance of convincing them that your system is any better.

 

I think you’re right.

Bass heavy low resolution high distortion systems probably outsell audiophile systems by a factor of 100 to 1.

If not more.

’No highs no lows’ never bothered with accuracy but Amar Bose himself was left swimming in a sea of cash as a result of his careful crowd pleasing algorithms.

 

Accurate playback is not only extremely difficult to deliver, it’s not even on most people’s radar.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
bruce19
279 posts
 

I like the food analogy. Consider predicting how people will react to a dish by measuring the pH, thickness, saltiness, sweetness. Characterizing the food by single parameters is almost hopeless.  So you have the characteristics of a mixture and peoples values compounding the problem.

@hilde45 @ghdprentice 

Really good anology, I like it! And certainly no well mannered person would ever attack another for discussing the ph of a wine or the saltiness of the soup or the sweetness of the pie. :-)

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,942 posts
 

Pleasurably better, not measurably better.

Love it. There's simply no argument against it save for trolling and insults and it brings us all back to the point of this hobby: it's what we, ourselves, enjoy.

Remove dogmatic objectivism from the equation and you're left with personal preferences, self enjoyment and the (happily) loss of peer pressure from those too tightly wound. 

All the best,
Nonoise

lanx0003
919 posts
 

Technophiles: Is pleasurability measuable?

cd318
2,636 posts
 

Quickly descending into a promo campaign for dealers?

 

Let’s not forget that there are also a few music lovers that do care for accuracy in playback.

Accuracy, not short term attention grabbing rising treble or smiley frequency curves. You can buy speakers like that for a few hundred dollars, so why spend thousands?

 

Accuracy and long term satisfaction is our common goal, is it not?

We don’t want to endlessly flit from one step of the never ending audio roundabout to the next, do we?

Losing money and gaining frustration as you go.

 

The best and most surest way to lasting pleasure is the measured way.

Endgame speakers are few and far between, but all of them seem to measure well.

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