As I peruse social media sites and audio forums the science crowd often disputes any sonic benefits without evidence of ABX testing and rests on specifications as the bible for sonics. Thoughts?
My key findings over 30 years in this hobby are:
- While specs / measurements are important and often required (I worked in biomedical and defense system electronics), for audio they don't capture all sonic differences that can be heard.
- Not all systems have the ability to resolve at a high enough level to yield deltas / benefits of components, cables, tweaks.
- Not all people have the ability to resolve at a high enough level to hear deltas / benefits of components, cables, tweaks.
- Inherent bias often overshadows open mindedness (e.g.: "cables are cables", "snake oil!!", etc.)
- Many (most?) listening environments are far from being acoustically optimal often diminishing any sonic benefits.
All that said, who has experienced ABX tests? Results? I've done a few informal ones with interesting results. Thanks in advance for any comments.
My key findings over 30 years in this hobby are:
- While specs / measurements are important and often required (I worked in biomedical and defense system electronics), for audio they don't capture all sonic differences that can be heard.
- Not all systems have the ability to resolve at a high enough level to yield deltas / benefits of components, cables, tweaks.
- Not all people have the ability to resolve at a high enough level to hear deltas / benefits of components, cables, tweaks.
- Inherent bias often overshadows open mindedness (e.g.: "cables are cables", "snake oil!!", etc.)
- Many (most?) listening environments are far from being acoustically optimal often diminishing any sonic benefits.
All that said, who has experienced ABX tests? Results? I've done a few informal ones with interesting results. Thanks in advance for any comments.