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

@analog_aficionado ..."I’ve built, lived with and loved tube amplifiers with rather embarrassing distortion figures compared to the modern benchmark. I’ve also built solid state amps following the guidance of famous objectivist Douglas Self, and while the result measured extremely well (~0.004% THD), the subjective listening experience of my earliest efforts was... disappointing to put it mildly. I kept using my tube amps while spending years trying to decipher how to build a better sounding solid state amp."...

I’ve always been fascinated about this part of amplifier design and the few remaining OG designers who still choose to use their ears to decide what sounds right to them for the final version that goes to production.

As for the amplifiers that I’ve owned or borrowed and enjoyed the most, none really offered what anyone would refer to as spectacular measurements.

@hilde45 "Measurements" is too crude a word. @prof was pointing at this issue and this comment ignores it.

Some measurements are, say, 2nd harmonic distortions -- those may upset some at ASR, but the rest of us understand that those measurements are NOT aligned with "bad sound" as some of us experience that. (Others here do NOT like that 2nd harmonic. So, this varies.)

ASRs whole approach of anything that measures bad sounds bad, and the inability to describe how things sound or what people prefer sometimes - is a nonstarter for me. It all comes back to what people hear and what they enjoy most, and no metric tells us this very well. The human ear/brain is sophisticated, and enjoys a lot more than todays graphs demonstrate. I believe today’s sensors and tools fall short, by a lot.

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Tube amplifiers are known for their "euphonic" distortions, which can add a pleasant warmth and richness to the sound. Tube amplifiers tend to produce even-order harmonic distortion, which is more musical and pleasing to the ear.

Even-order harmonic distortion means that the distortion components are harmonically related to the original signal, creating a sound that is perceived as fuller and more natural. This type of distortion can enhance the listening experience, especially for musicians. I’d rather ask a musician what they prefer.

@devinplombier "Then folks wonder why younger people are flocking to ASR"

Ya know, you bring up a very valid point. The decades of going into audio stores in my region and listening to a wide array of systems is something I cherish to this day. Going to listen to other peoples systems, all great learning experiences. Most of this is gone any more - so, how do younger people learn and decide, today.

It’s easy to see why they are in search of data to try and make more informed decisions -vs- sifting through forums, or watching reviewers with opinions pedaling gear, then trying to figure out who to trust and follow about their hopeful audio purchase. And then, any remaining local dealers sell what they sell too. I guess all of us need to be mindful about what we post, and who’s reading.

While on the topic of the best measured dac ever. Benchmark designer made the Benchmark Dac 1 and for years he insisted it’s the best dac. It cannot be improved further.

But people did not like the Dac 1. Some years later, the Dac 2 was released.

Been there, done that. Had DAC3B. One of the least engaging DACs I’ve owned. My prior two dacs and subsequent two dacs after the Benchmark DAC3B all measured worse, and they all sounded more engaging, more fun to listen to. What’s being measured and what is being suppressed and filtered out does not always correlate for me in translation to good sound,

It only matters to those who can hear a difference.