ASR provides a helpful ’yardstick’ of objective measurements. In a world where many are either forced or choose to buy components that they cannot audition, I believe ASR provides a valuable service. And even for those of us who have had a chance to audition prospective purchases, when caught betwixt and between two pieces of gear based on our subjective evaluations, again, ASR provides a helpful yardstick. Cheers!
The Audio Science Review (ASR) approach to reviewing wines.
Imagine doing a wine review as follows - samples of wines are assessed by a reviewer who measures multiple variables including light transmission, specific gravity, residual sugar, salinity, boiling point etc. These tests are repeated while playing test tones through the samples at different frequencies.
The results are compiled and the winner selected based on those measurements and the reviewer concludes that the other wines can't possibly be as good based on their measured results.
At no point does the reviewer assess the bouquet of the wine nor taste it. He relies on the science of measured results and not the decidedly unscientific subjective experience of smell and taste.
That is the ASR approach to audio - drinking Kool Aid, not wine.