Drubin, balance, as usual, is where the truth lies. What you say is true, but
it would also be intellectually sloppy to not balance one's perspective with
the probability that the scientific explanation has, indeed, not been found
yet. When one considers how much we are still learning about our
universe, that perspective is not unrealistic at all.
Now, why exactly, is it so important for the skeptics to want to "set the
record straight"? Why does it matter so much that some are
convinced that the perceived reasons are real? Many seem to take on the
role of "protectors of the naive". Please! Here's what I do know;
and without a doubt:
- None of this is essential for the enjoyment of music. That fact is the great
"balancer". It's great fun (for some) and can certainly add to the
enjoyment. It can also take away, if one is not careful; but, the true music
lover doesn't have to worry about that. If one can let obsession over tweaks
distract from enjoyment of the music, then I would question just how
important the music is to the listener.
- I don't have experience with "high-end" fuses, but being both a
musician and audiophile I can say that the parallels between the tweaking
that musicians and audiophiles do are many. The differences in sound that
many musicians concern themselves which are a result of tweaks to their
instrument are usually much more subtle than those that audiophiles
experience via tweaks; and, these differences are very real. Sound, being
both the exciter and the victim of resonances is affected by just about ANY
change that one makes to that which is creating the sound. How this
happens in the electrical domain I will leave to the more technically astute,
but it does not seem much of a stretch to me to assume that the
phenomenon is real. You think that it's weird that fuse direction might affect
perceived sound? What if I pointed out (as but one example) that some
very fine and successful saxophone players feel that wether the little screw
that secures the saxophone's neck in place is gold plated or is silver plated
makes an appreciable difference in the response and sound of the
instrument? To the player, anyway.
- The problem is when a musician who needs much more attention paid to
his intonation or other rudiment obsesses over the tiny changes to his
sound by having the little screw gold plated. I think the parallel to
audiophiles is obvious.
- Not everyone has the same hearing acuity or interest in hearing small
differences in sound like the ones being discussed.
