Another Nail in the Golden Eared Audiophile Coffin..

[TheOctavist]

http://www.matrixhifi.com/ENG_contenedor_ppec.htm


http://www.head-fi.org/t/486598/test...and-myths/1410

[SBGK]

http://www.matrixhifi.com/ENG_contenedor_ppec.htm


http://www.head-fi.org/t/486598/test...and-myths/1410

I would be more persuaded by this torchured logic if the main proponents immediately saw the error of their ways and sold off their multi thousand $ dacs etc

I have never used blind testing because I believe humans are best suited to A/B testing, works for me, had my amp 12 years, speakers from 1985 etc

xx

[aubuti]

I have never used blind testing because I believe humans are best suited to A/B testing

How's that? Given that blind testing is typically A/B done by humans....

[SuperQ]

I have never used blind testing because I believe humans are best suited to A/B testing

Only someone with something to lose (money, pride, whatever) would have an opinion like that.

[Archimago]

I would be more persuaded by this torchured logic if the main proponents immediately saw the error of their ways and sold off their multi thousand $ dacs etc

xx

Personally I know of 3 audiophile friends give up on expensive cables and convert everything over to excellent Mogami or Belden cables over the last couple years (we're talking Nordost and Synergistics) after doing tests for themselves.

As for DAC's, I've done A-B shootouts between China-made $200 DAC's with those costing thousands with friends (easy to do) and have never heard a significant difference. Each time, the folks owing the expensive stuff saying something to the effect of "I could live with that!"

I believe the majority of audiophiles are economically well-to-do folks willing to spend thousands of $$$'s on the hobby (nothing wrong with that IMO). However, IMO most of it is just pride of ownership rather than the idea that many of us have ever conducted controlled trials of the stuff. Naturally, it does seem odd to own $20+K speakers and then show your buddy the $200 DAC. It seems unintuitive just like how sampling theory may seem unintuitive as well (in reference to another thread). However, that is exactly what my experience has been... As I type this, I'm totally happy driving my Sennheiser HD800 with the above $200 DAC/headphone amp combo and "know" based on experience that I'm not missing anything of significance.

[RonM]

Personally I know of 3 audiophile friends give up on expensive cables and convert everything over to excellent Mogami or Belden cables over the last couple years (we're talking Nordost and Synergistics) after doing tests for themselves.

As for DAC's, I've done A-B shootouts between China-made $200 DAC's with those costing thousands with friends (easy to do) and have never heard a significant difference. Each time, the folks owing the expensive stuff saying something to the effect of "I could live with that!"

I believe the majority of audiophiles are economically well-to-do folks willing to spend thousands of $$$'s on the hobby (nothing wrong with that IMO). However, IMO most of it is just pride of ownership rather than the idea that many of us have ever conducted controlled trials of the stuff. Naturally, it does seem odd to own $20+K speakers and then show your buddy the $200 DAC. It seems unintuitive just like how sampling theory may seem unintuitive as well (in reference to another thread). However, that is exactly what my experience has been... As I type this, I'm totally happy driving my Sennheiser HD800 with the above $200 DAC/headphone amp combo and "know" based on experience that I'm not missing anything of significance.

So the question is why you or anyone else needs anything other than the SB device DAC (aside from the headphone amp). I suspect the Touch, and certainly the TP, is superior to the $200 China-made DAC.

R.

[Archimago]

So the question is why you or anyone else needs anything other than the SB device DAC (aside from the headphone amp). I suspect the Touch, and certainly the TP, is superior to the $200 China-made DAC.

R.

For me, I have a DAC/headphone amp because the MacBook Pro's audio out is inadequate to drive my HD800. Also, the Mac's audio output is audibly more noisy thus not good enough of a match with the Sennheiser when I listen thru the computer.

I have a TP because I can afford it and it looks cool :-). Sure, I do believe the TP's output is measurably better than the $200 job with the oscilloscope, but I haven't reliably been able to hear it...

[JJZolx]

I would be more persuaded by this torchured logic if the main proponents immediately saw the error of their ways and sold off their multi thousand $ dacs etc

They wouldn't sell their Rolexes when they discover that a Timex works just as well. Most high end audio gear is electronic jewelry. Especially for a certain age-group.

I'd be willing to bet that at least a few of the testers now question the value of their gear. It often takes a slap in the face like that to wake someone up.

[ralphpnj]

I would be more persuaded by this torchured logic if the main proponents immediately saw the error of their ways and sold off their multi thousand $ dacs etc

Perhaps they don't sell off their expensive equipment because in so doing they would have nothing to gain and plenty to lose. For example, the average price for used audio equipment (that does not have a MacIntosh nameplate) is somewhere between 40% to 70% of the original retail price. 40% would be for much older or less "well reviewed" equipment and 70% would be for newer or very "well reviewed" equipment. Add to this less than optimal return on investment the cost of replacing the sold equipment with less expensive new (or used) equipment, which is hopefully the sonic equal of the old equipment, and selling the equipment makes little financial sense. Sure one could turn a profit by replacing some very expensive equipment since the selling price of the used equipment might be much higher than the retail price of the replacement equipment but add in the hassle of that buying and selling and what's the point.

I find that I am now much less of kool-aid drinking audiophile but that in no way invalidates how nice my system sounds, a system which includes some very expensive cables and wires which I now know really aren't worth the money. But replacing these cables isn't going to make my system sound "better" so again, why bother?

As for amps, DACs, speakers, etc. I don't know what the correct answer would be since it would be more a matter of just how much money can be gained by swapping out the equipment and whether the extra money is worth the hassle. However my attitude going forward has always been to keep the more expensive stuff but to look for less expensive, more bang for the buck equipment whenever I need to buy some new equipment.

[michael123]

http://www.matrixhifi.com/ENG_contenedor_ppec.htm


http://www.head-fi.org/t/486598/test...and-myths/1410

Can you tell the difference between $2 and $50 shampoo in a DBT?

Oh, yes
I recommend Paul Mitchell