Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.
Return to Propeller Head Plaza
Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded
Searching for truth?
96.25.74.167 |
||
Posted on November 3, 2014 at 09:52:30 | ||
Posts: 6230
Location: Oregon Joined: August 11, 2005 |
I ran across a link to something yesterday whilst noodling around on my local university's web-site that got me thinking. Since at my age that's pretty impressive I thought I'd pass it on... "All scientific measurements must contend with some level of background noise or statistical fluctuation. But if the signal-to-noise ratio cannot be improved, even in principle, the effect is probably not real and the work is not science."* It turns out that the author is (possibly was) sort of a professional skeptic and I don't much hold with that anymore than I do with "believers". However membership in either group does not automatically discredit their thoughts and experiences in my book, it merely taints them... Having spent most of my life tinkering with electronic systems I know that the key to fixing or improving them is to "get a handle" on the problem. Usually this involves observing the "problem" while futzing with as many variables as possible to ferret out those that affect it. That process is a discrete filter which improves the S/N of our understanding of the problem. The key is to focus on what's wrong, not what's right because unless the system is really rummy it's already far more right than wrong so the errors get washed out by the 'noise' of the desired signal. As audiophiles we want to optimize the various factors that go into our listening experience, but the battle ironically requires first improving the S/N of our ability to sense the problems to where we can understand and control them. Then maybe we can improve the S/N of the desired information... I'd never considered being able to alter the S/N as a test for understanding, maybe even as a proof that there is something to understand, but I like it! Rick |
RE: Searching for truth?, posted on November 4, 2014 at 05:37:22 | |
Truth is a lot like Poe's The Purloined Letter. The letter was not hidden but out in plain sight, right in front of the dude's nose. |
RE: Searching for truth?, posted on November 19, 2014 at 12:35:14 | |
Yes, most likely a coincidence.
|
So, let me ask, what's that got to do with the price of spinach? Nt, posted on December 3, 2014 at 13:40:25 | |
Nt |
In afraid you are pissing up a rope, sir. Nt, posted on February 22, 2015 at 14:13:33 | |
Nt |
RE: The Universe IS an open system, you had your chance @ not exposing your ignorance, fail~nT, posted on February 28, 2015 at 10:43:06 | |
US army war college. That explains it. |
RE: The Universe IS an open system, you had your chance @ not exposing your ignorance, fail~nT, posted on March 1, 2015 at 13:18:20 | |
I may be slow but I'm ahead of you. That much is very clear. |