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In Reply to: Absolutely posted by Dave_K on February 18, 2021 at 08:27:24:
I couldn't agree more Dave_K!
If measurements were THE deciding factor, how many of us would be on this website and viewing this forum? It wouldn't be needed. We would be creating spreadsheets infused with dollar amounts and measurement columns and equipment rows. Sorting would be done for the best at the cheapest price - over and out, easy peasy and as Dave_K said it's: "an easy way to buy".
Countless hours of critically listening effort and learning our personal reproduction preferences could be circumvented. Having the best because it measured the best, would quash the need for any of those pesky listening efforts; which would remove purchasing-doubts and contentions. There would be no buyer's remorse, no second guessing and in fact there would no need to even listen. Viewing and savoring our component's measurements would be sufficiently satisfyingly!
Historically, measurements have been published since HiFi became HiFi. They tell us something about a component. But over my decades in this hobby, I could have cared less about measurements when purchasing. And until folks with an on-line presence like Amir began ranking equipment, buying decisions based purely on this spec, or that spec, rarely existed.
For that matter, I have never actually found myself listening to measurements. Measurements don't correlate with the reasons why I've sought the best reproduction to my ears and for my money. Measurement ranking excludes my very reason for seeking out this hobby - my sheer enjoyment of the emotional impact and satisfaction of listening to music!!
Bypassing the question of whether the bench testers and their equipment can be trusted (especially if a fractional minus here, or there, puts a component 3rd. or 5th on a spreadsheet) what measurements capture the playback each of us prefers? When auditioning a component, it would be rare for any two of us to identically prefer the same playback. It would be more unusual than not, for any two of us to value the exact same things sonically.
Attempting to take a purely subject activity and lump it into an objective shoot-out is an antithetical exercise. Measurements can't be trusted to capture all the subtleties many of us have learned to value. Once one gets beyond a certain point, the sounds are equal to, or less than the importance of the you-are-there illusion -- i.e. the instrument(s) is in my room illusion. My goal for years now has been to suspend belief. The better that's done, the better I like it. Until measurements provide a correlation between my perception of soundstage and imagining -- my you-are-there illusion -- I will stick with subjectivity (verses Amir's, or anyone else's measurements), just as I will stick with my reason for being an avowed music listener -- my subjective enjoyment!!
-Mike
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Follow Ups
- RE: Absolutely - MRMB 22:17:43 03/02/21 (0)
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