2. misc-audio
  3. 166510-20253

I'm here for the sharing, not the snobery

Just a quick note.  Things around here on Audiogon have been interesting over the past couple of weeks as I've watched a number of trolls shift the tenor of the discussions.

I wanted to say that I fully support information sharing, doing things ourselves, experimentation and ways to broaden who is among us.

The idea that you are or are not an audiophile based on what you have spent, or what exclusive line of products you have purchased is not one I want to support.  We should find ways to share, not exclude our passion and grow our dwindling numbers.

Building kits and systems with the younger generation is a fantastic way of getting them into STEM as well as into audio, not to mention builds light years worth of knowledge in very little time.  As I've said before, our hobby was built by experimenters, tinkerers and lovers of music much more so than by lovers of spending.

I'll support inclusive, fact based discussions and those who are intellectually curious every time I can.
erik_squires

Showing 5 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires OP
15,902 posts
 
Call me a spelling pedant, but "snobbery"
has not one but two "b"s.

Sigh,  discovered too late.  Blame the rift raft.  😄
erik_squires OP
15,902 posts
 
If all text or messages that surround the idea of measurements being a ’god’ that all ears must bow down in front of... are all disallowed...


Absolutely no one has said this.  We are saying that a measurement is not perception and that we should not claim them as even being related unless we can back it up somewhere.  It is a lot easier to show things are related than to prove they are not.  That's just the nature of things.

Also, while dealing with straw men, no one is denying or judging anyone for buying half a billion dollar speaker systems.  Rather I am saying that whether you are or are not an audiophile has no connection to how much you spent.  If you feel attacked by this statement, that's not on me.

Erik
erik_squires OP
15,902 posts
 
Hey @Jdane,

The false dichotomy you describe is clearly not what I discussed in my post which is more about how we discuss and treat various points of view in this forum.

Best,

E
erik_squires OP
15,902 posts
 
I think one thing that's important to get a handle on when discussing with others is objective vs. subjective. We need to give more people latitude when they make a subjective statement, as personal taste and value systems can't be argued.

"I like amps with meters" - Can't be argued.

"Amps with meters improve the sound because of the way they slow the photons as they cross the NP junction in the transistors" - well, that is completely arguable!!

We also need to understand the difference between measurement and science.  Science advances and discovers new connections. Scientists create new models to explain experience. Measurements and technicians do not.  They repeat old methods to put a dot on a chart. Don't confuse measurement with experience, or cause and experience.  Those two are rarely tied well enough together in our field, with certain actual scientists and organizations rare exceptions.
erik_squires OP
15,902 posts
 
Your comments make me wonder about those of us who build systems utilizing our ears, rather than facts/measurements.

Is there a place for us, here, as well ?

Absolutely!!

In the end the personal experience is what makes our building and buying choices worthwhile.  I have no conflict with this approach at all.

What I have conflict with is attribution without backing or poorly informed.  Build and buy what you like, but explanations deserve scrutiny.
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