ACTUAL MUSICAL SOUND VS. MEASUREMENTS


Is it just me or am I the only one that has had it with overly pushy audiophiles that push measurements as the end all be all. I’m not talking about healthy discussions on measurements but obnoxious ones that talk down to you because of the measurements of your system or equipment is not perfect for them? All cables and cords are snake oil to them if it doesn’t register on their meters? Am I the only that feels this way? 

calvinj

Wow, how the hate flows… If ya don’t like or believe mechanical measurements cool, if your happy with what ya hear cool. It should be simple and that is..Shut up and go with what pleasures a person. My system was put together using all forms of information, it’s big IMO looks and sounds great and that’s all that matters.

“Don’t worry be happy”  lol

 

I guess if you don't want to do the work and actually analyze what you are hearing or you're a novice that hasn't been into audio for very long, then measurements can be attractive. Armed with your measurements you can go online and act like you are wise in the ways of the audiophile.

Personally, I listen with my ears, not a spread sheet.

@calvinj 

"I guess I’m surprised about the intellectual arrogance that some of them have towards folks they don’t know and don’t know the level of experience they have "

Can you really be surprised these days? We live in a time of anonymity, vitriol and the need to force your opinion on the world, regardless of its authenticity. 

 

@tony1954 you are right about the way folks talk to each other. People are online thumb thuggin. Hiding behind keyboards saying things online that they wouldn’t in person 

Objective vs Subjective has been around forever.  All credibility is lost when measurements are used to claim a $200 and $2000 piece of gear will undeniably sound the same if the they measure the same.  Not stopping there, any item deemed expensive (typically more than a few hundred dollars) is frequently labeled "snake oil". The next step is to hurl insults at any individual choosing to purchase expensive items.  Finally, the promoter of cheap but well measuring equipment personally spends well into 6 figure land for a system.  Hypocrite with no credibility.

I might have some insight based on my own reactions to my own experience.

 

As a scientist (I am actually a scientist), I really hate the notion that I can hear the difference between interconnects and speakers cables, and it really PO's me that I can hear the difference with power cables.
There is no objective reason that I accept for power cables to make a difference, yet I can hear it. Cost does not seem to be a contributor, I have a pair of Blue Jeans Cables interconnects that I greatly prefer over a "nice" $500.00 pair, and the pair I am using now cost under $300.00.

Not all people deal well with this type of dissonance, and some of them lash out at others because of it.
I really appreciate the hard work that Alpha Audio has been doing. They are conducting the actual research that Amir at ASR only pretends to do. He is certainly not doing science, I am not sure he even knows what a scientist does.

 

In my mind, the issue is we just do not know how to measure a signal for its character. My field is like that, 20 years ago we did not have access to the tech to conduct the research I do on a daily basis today.

 

I suppose some folks really can't hear a difference, but I think most of the hostile ones do, and are angry about it.