The myth of "best" in audio needs to be addressed by all of us


After spending a year and half deeply immersed in audiophilia (with so much enjoyable benefit), I've identified my tendency (seemingly share by many) to chase the fantasy of "best" in this perfectionistic hobby/pursuit.  It leads to obsessiveness, second-guessing, acrimony between audio tribes, and personal insecurity when reading these forums and all the reviews.  

But, thinking about it, how could there ever be a "best" component, cable, or speaker for listening to music.  This is a subjective experience!!! 

From a purely measurement/engineering perspective -- "best" could mean a lot of things (but they don't automatically mean more enjoyable sonics). 

In listening and enjoying music, there is no "best" -- only "favorite".  And even "favorite" can change -- it certainly has for me.  I've gone back and forth multiple times on all sorts of gear preferences. You can like what you like, you don't have to defend it, and nobody should mess with it!

Anybody else want to fight the harmful myth of "best" in audio?
redwoodaudio

Showing 1 response by mahler123

I think it’s a natural tendency to eye the grass elsewhere and perceive that it’s greener.  There are days when I think this can’t get any better, and then the next day playing the same recording having a niggling bit of dissatisfaction.  I also think that there addictive aspects to this hobby.  We make a change, perceive it as an improvement, appreciate aspects of recordings that we didn’t before, and get a type of buzz from that.  Like all addicts, eventually I want to feel that sensation again...