|
Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics. |
|
|
|
Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics. |
|
In Reply to: So what you're saying then is... posted by Presto on September 8, 2006 at 12:52:36:
Presto,I have never, ever purchased a component based on it's specifications. I do in fact, believe the "ears trump all" and speculate the reason manufactuers offer specs is because they do mean something to some people! It makes good business sense to offer the specs to those who use them and support "ears trump all" for those who purchase that way as well.
===================================================================
Presto you asked, Why is science only relevant in audio when it is popular or readily believed? The whole point of science is to dispell belief and quantify - or at the very least, qualify!I'm not sure I can answer that question. In the 37 years I've been in this hobby I've never heard so much about talk about "the science of audio" until I started visiting the internet audio forums.
In all honesty I thought Julian Hirsch and those who thought like him at Stereo Review was for those newbies in audio who didn't know better! I was shocked when I came here to find how many people believe what Julian Hirsch, Peter Aczel and that camp believed.
===============================================================
I believe in trusting my ears, but ONLY after they've been well-trained. The best training is as much exposure to live music as possible. I personally attend a lot of live music, mostly Jazz and a bit of Symphonies as well.Can the ears be deceived? Absolutely! However so can the eyes. Now just because a magician can trick my eyes with a slight of hand demonstration does that mean I'm going to stop trusting my eyes? Absolutely not! Why? Because I know most of the time my eyes aren't being tricked. So as I drive down the road and I see a car stopping I hit my brakes because I trust what my eyes tell me is happening is the truth.
Same thing is true for audio. I believe my ears are hearing the truth most of time, so I trust what I hear. But knowing that they can be tricked I listen over an extended period BEFORE passing final judgement on any audio component. Thus if I was to audition 2 different amplifiers I wouldn't read the specs. Instead I'd listen to both and base my choice on what sounded the most like live music to me.
If after selecting the amp I liked best I discovered the other one which I didn't pick measured better, it wouldn't bother me in the slighest. Why? Well because NO audio component replicates music 100% realistically. EVERY audio component is flawed and we all need to decide for ourselves what flaws bother us the least.
Up until recently as long as I had an accurate midrange, with timbral truth and tonal accuracy. A wide, deep, 3-D presentation (think a hologram vs a flat photo with all else being equal in photography as an analogy) then I could live with out the frequency extremes and wide dynamics. But then I listen to mostly Smooth Jazz and Jazzy New Age music so that probably explains why. Yet I've grown to desire greater extension of the frequencies and better dynamic range as of late, in addition to, not in place of, my other requirements. So now I'm restoring some vintage horn cabinets in an effort to achieve those qualities.
I personally believe there are many paths to an individuals audio nirvana. The path you take might not be the one I take, but they're both equally valid. In the end if you're happy with what your system does, then what does it really matter what others think of it? Just keep an open mind, don't purchase a component hastily and learn to train and then trust your ears and all should be fine in the end.
Thetubeguy1954
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- What I Believe Is.... - thetubeguy1954 09:32:07 09/11/06 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
