Did Amir Change Your Mind About Anything?

@ghasley what kind of cat? I love cats 

Perfectly measuring gear is just spin for sales. Everything made goes through measurements and is made to spec and gets that CE approval so you know it won't burn your house down.

Now if a designer wants a certain sound and it means adding some distortion in order to achieve that goal, there's nothing wrong about doing that. It's already been pointed out by musicians, technicians and recording engineers. Again, nothing remotely wrong about that. 

So what if something has 40-50db of headroom? You're not going to appreciate it in your room unless you want to blow your ears out. That's very misleading. All those graphs that make some go "oooh" and "ahhh" make me laugh, a little.

It's great that something can be so fiendishly designed so as to look picture perfect but the proof is in the listening and how it jives with your long established tastes and not meant for one to surrender their wallet. Some think they've caught the audio brass ring on the cheap without giving it a serious listen, relying on someone who says "it's perfect because, measurements."

As for cats, I like the dark grey ones with the bright green eyes.

All the best,
Nonoise

Back to the cable thing, is this gentleman saying that the entire cable industry is without musical merit?  If so, he's literally deaf, or has a terribly low quality playback system/room 

Was not familiar with this fellow until just now.  I will only say as a musician and engineer that it's silly for someone who is not a highly experienced recording engineer, highly experienced musician, or a respected music maker in any legit capacity to claim definitive hearing abilities.  And if he is claiming that balanced audio interconnects are all basically the same sounding things, nothing past that is of value.

Sensitivity and repetitive practice are key to build our listening skill.  AB comparisons at times are needed, yet it's always with the intent of learning how to trust our evolving listening skill.  Frame of Reference is key.  If our frame of reference is objectivist measurements, we've missed the point of music making and music listening completely.  Music is not a science project.  Faulty premise. 
 

Measuring one thing in a chain of things as a way to judge it is good for those who have not learned to trust, or who are afraid to learn to trust themselves. 

This is exactly the point that Amir seems to be missing. Music is an art form. The reproduction of music is a combination of art and science. IMO, the art aspect is at least as important as the science, which I think Amir completely dismisses. 

Back to the cable thing, is this gentleman saying that the entire cable industry is without musical merit?  If so, he's literally deaf, or has a terribly low quality playback system/room

Absolutely correct. +1

As just a “normie” who spends some money on audio, a pox on both your “measurements rule” and the “golden ears” side that dismisses anyone not “trained”..

I buy what is pleasing to me.  Don’t give a dang about “measurements” which mainly are measuring that which is beyond audibility for anyone over 40 that has actually had any kind of “blue collar” job.  
 

Got it.  Thank you.

Can I tell the difference between consumer grade klipsch vs magnepan and tektons? Absolutley.  (I have all 3).

Nobody was debating that but thank you again for stating that.

Can I tell the difference between an underpowered amplifier and one with sufficient power for the dynamic range of what I listen to and how loudly I listen to it?  Yep.

Excellent.  Again, no one was debating that.  Question is how you can tell that before you get the equipment to listen to.  I provide that information with measurement and sometimes with listening tests.

Can I tell that I prefer tube amplification for mids and highs, using SS amps for lows and subs for under 100hz (for music)? Yep.

So you say.  We have no way of knowing if you really can or not.

Can I tell the difference between a 192/24 vs mp3, especially as volume increases? Definitely.

So you say.  We have no way of knowing if you really can or not.

Can I tell that I prefer a $2000 tube amp over the same power $20000 tube amp? 

Or at least hear no difference..? Yep.

The second part I can believe.  The alternative, "we have no way of knowing if you really can or not." :)

What I buy, and what equipment provides me with hours on end of continued listening enjoyment,  at a price point I am willing to pay, has NOTHING to do with some elitist, sneering,  snob telling me that I am “wrong” because my equipment doesn’t “measure up” or that my choice is wrong because some “golden ear” says so.

Again, got it.

THAT is “my kind” @amir_asr 

Very clear now.  Thank you again.