The Audio Science Review (ASR) approach to reviewing wines.

Kennyc hits it on the head.

I think it has more to do with reinforcing what some hope to be true. 

Exposing the virtues of a $ 1000 USB cable isnt the same as making a person feeling foolish for not buying one. 

On a personal note, my brother an engineer, bought both Topping mono amps and the $ 350.00 Topping DAC and sent both back within the return period. The DAC fared better than the amps, but neither were very good.

Well I guess since Amir admits he listens to less than 50% of the products he reviews, those who believe a proper review can be conducted without listening, should be comfortable with ASR's methods. To me even the suggestion of a review based simply on measurements should cause even the faithful to run for the hills.

Check out the photo of Amir's reference system. See any problems? 

devin I cant remember where I saw a photo of his system. It may have been when Amir was responding to ASR related posts on Audiogon and I may have found it clicking on his monicker and then system specifics.  All I can tell you is that it appeared to me that he placed his system along a long vacant wall, not purposefully, and that he had a big screen TV between the speakers. 

The quality of the gear is not in question.

The real question is why do the doubters care?  

Amir is not a scientist! Wouldnt make a bit of difference if he was.

ASR takes an extreme view and attracts the disgruntled along the way.

Our audio group routinely does simple double blind tests and I can tell you it is not a relaxing experience. I am convinced that people listen very differently under testing conditions than they do normally. 

But the real issue is why should you even care? After decades of 2 channel listening, I no longer doubt my senses. To me this is ridiculous argument that will yield nothing. A discussion which has been going on for decades, I just dont remember there ever existing a worse ambassador for the measurement side than Amir.

Amir is absent from this thread because of the damage he did to his "brand" the last time he got involved.

Textbychoice is correct with numbers 1,3 and 4 listed above. Didnt know about the engineer video.

ASR, I think by design, takes a fairly extreme and militant stance precisely to get responses. Not a question of being pertinent rather one of being hard to ignore.

Would the ASR folks say if you cant measure the difference between the flutes there is no difference? Hard to think like these folks. 

I love it when Amir mentions Mr Hsu as being someone who is interested in learning. Learn from Amir? 

I have friends who have heard Mike's system and they were very impressed. If Amir had liked the system I would be very worried. 

I will say that I didnt think these speakers were as good as others, but have only heard them at shows.

Well I am not so sure that any reviewer worth his salt would condemn a speaker off-axis. Might comment on off-axis response.