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Did Amir Change Your Mind About Anything?

It’s easy to make snide remarks like “yes- I do the opposite of what he says.”  And in some respects I agree, but if you do that, this is just going to be taken down. So I’m asking a serious question. Has ASR actually changed your opinion on anything?  For me, I would say 2 things. I am a conservatory-trained musician and I do trust my ears. But ASR has reminded me to double check my opinions on a piece of gear to make sure I’m not imagining improvements. Not to get into double blind testing, but just to keep in mind that the brain can be fooled and make doubly sure that I’m hearing what I think I’m hearing. The second is power conditioning. I went from an expensive box back to my wiremold and I really don’t think I can hear a difference. I think that now that I understand the engineering behind AC use in an audio component, I am not convinced that power conditioning affects the component output. I think. 
So please resist the urge to pile on. I think this could be a worthwhile discussion if that’s possible anymore. I hope it is. 

chayro
stuartk
2,759 posts
 

@tonywinga 

So do you tune your musical instrument with an auto tuner or with a tuning fork/piano note?

I tune my guitar with an electronic tuner to begin with, then make further adjustments by ear. 

I research gear specs and read reviews when in upgrade mode. The choice to buy or not buy is based upon hearing the component(s) in my room. 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@milpai

It’s good to read ASR and the measurements. About changing opinions - I think he confirmed it. I stopped visiting that site once I saw that people who fell for his measurements, purchased the equipment, only to find them lifeless or unmusical

This is not an uncommon occurrence it seems. Some have been satisfied with the components they have rated high. Others not so much. The priority seems to be great test measurements and inexpensive product price. Actual listening evaluations from people posting there are often mocked and treated dismissively. If @chayro has found some meaningful value from the ASR site, good for him. Experiences with their approach/concept surely will vary.

Charles

chayro OP
2,983 posts
 

Making one’s writing perfectly clear is not an easy thing. Most people here are subjectivists - if it sounds good, it is good. I include myself firmly in that camp. But was there not a sliver of information at ASR you found valuable or at least interesting that made you question the way you view any aspect of audio? Maybe not.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
5,943 posts
 

hilde45

Claims here that he is a "clown" or some kind of Svengali just betray dogmatism and intolerance.

It’s impossible to like everyone and Amir sure seems like a clown to me. I think I’m not alone in forming that impression of him.

He is a serious person with a point of view. Deal with it.

He doesn’t seem serious to me and I don’t have to deal with him or any of his self-serving, self-promoting YouTube brethren.

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

My point was: do you trust your ears or do you trust a measuring device?  Not saying either is right or wrong.  I’m an engineer and a musician (although the only thing I have played the last few decades is my stereo).  So I do a mix of both myself.  But this guy seems to think he can measure everything with an analyzer.  Reminds me of someone with a hammer.  To that person with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

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