Subjective vs. objective? Or subjective and objective?


 

The question is explored in this 32:02 video. Though it's not for me to say, I would hope that only those who have actually watched the video respond. Thank you.

 

https://youtu.be/sS_ZIvMjStM?si=cdLNltYHlQldRaUg

 

bdp24

II didn't listen to the video, partly because I didn't have the time but mainly because it's a subject that has been part of my hobby for six decades and have seriously thought about it ever since. Plus I have had friends who were designers and who were among subjectivists. For one thing I even wrote for Stereophile when Gordon Holt who is the person most responsible for 'subjective' reviewing. And the answer is both and not either or.

Both subjectivity and objectivity should be used to their maximum. But while the final answer is sort of subjective, the more the objective the better just because objective is precise and agreed upon by most. While subjectivity has a lot more wiggle room. And making final subjective decisions it depends a ton on who makes the decisions. They vary from person to person. Although I do believe when a number of experienced subjective reviewers basically believe that comes almost close to objective subjectivity or is it subjective objectivity.

And finally there is the ultimate subjectivity but it only applies to yourself. I always advise those looking for audio advice that the most important factor is know thyself. You need to know those attributes that offend you because no matter what a device does that you like or even love if it offends you at all it will never satisfy. And it's good to know the attributes you want in a device, the more the merrier but I do think if it has many of them a few missing are less a problem than even one negative characteristic.

By sheer happenstance watched this video just prior to visiting this forum. I couldn't agree more with Danny, completely correlates with my experience modding speakers. As for those who don't believe different parts of same value cannot sound different, some years ago I made a simple change of capacitors (same value) in some OEM speakers, got in contact with designer/manufacturer, he incorporated this mod. Not only did he hear the difference, so did literally hundreds of owners of these speakers who incorporated the same mod in their speakers and/or heard the difference in the two tiers of speakers offered by OEM, one with the prior caps, one with the new caps.

As @hilde45 and Danny stated, there is a synergistic relationship between the objective and the subjective as it pertains to loudspeakers and audio in general.

 

Phew, what a relief.

 

I have been avoiding my "How good is the crossover in your loudspeaker?" thread since my post on 5-19 (too many posts by those whose responses revealed an attitude that is of no interest to me). After reading all the great responses on this thread I went back and read all that followed my last one on that earlier thread, and was pleased to see all the well-reasoned posts that followed mine.

Carry on!

 

Each time a subject comes up that is framed as "this OR that," I usually ask, "why can't it be both?"