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RE: It's not relevant

"If two bit perfect files null out, then there will be no difference at all, and in dB terms this is not -144 dB, rather it is -infinity dB."

Actually, to be precise, we need to say: "If two IDENTICAL, bit perfect files..." I'm guessing a bit perfect Brahms with a bit perfect Bach will not null out. However, I'm with you about identical, bit perfect files nulling. In fact, isn't nulling an indication that the two files are indeed identical? And as you point out, how can identical files sound different?

I get confused when you dismiss the wave forms as being just "bits." Isn't that like saying coffee is just atoms? Just as the configuration of the atoms determines the type and taste of the coffee, the configuration of the bits determines the melody that makes up the wave form. When we drink coffee we're not worrying about the atoms dancing on our tongues and when we listen to music our ears follow the wave form of the melody, not the individual bits. I'd think that the wave form has quite a lot to do with the analog signal that reaches our ears, just as the type of coffee has quite a lot to do with the sensations on our tongue when we take a sip.

If you have two identical cups of coffee why would you expect them to taste different? If a taster claims that they are different, would you spend your time investigating the identical cups of coffee or the taster? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxlGI4OzeBk

Similarly, we have folks who make no change to their systems except to switch between media players who claim to hear differences in the outputs of their systems as a result. By performing null tests we can determine the different media players are putting out identical, bit perfect data streams. If nothing else has changed, shouldn't the analog output be identical? If, given two identical inputs the analog output differs between the two, doesn't that indicate a flaw in the playback chain? Shouldn't we be able to insist on consistency from our stereos so that if we play the same track twice it sounds the same? On the other hand, if the playback chain is operating consistently and when given two identical inputs the analog outputs are identical yet still the listener insists there is a difference, isn't it time to start looking elsewhere besides the playback chain?

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