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what is a high end component ?

the term "high end" is used to connote excellence of construction and sound.

yet there is no clear description or definition of the term.

sometimes the word is used in the context of marketing, advertsing to increase the probability of a sale.

it is hard to establish a benchmark for or an objective standard for quality of construction.

i have a suggestion for evaluating the aspect of sound quality.

i believe that high end is synonymous with minimal distortion. the question is how to define distortion, as it is multi dimensional and how to measure it.

in addition, an algorithm or equation combing the types of distortion would need to be developed to arrive at a quantitative rating.

i suspect however, that listening is the key and that ultimately it would be useful for expert listeners to judge distortion by listening, or failing that to evaluate a component or stereo system and assign the label high end or not high end. yes there will be disagreement. yes this is not scientific. it would be interesting to see if say 75 % of alistening panel could agree.

otherwise what we are left with is the term being heavily influenced by price of component, manufacturer and appearance.

any ideas
mrtennis
20 responses Add your response
newbee
4,767 posts
 
A high end component is any component I can't afford to buy! :-)
entrope
482 posts
 
Double blind for all component listening can remove some bias but environment, upbringing, genetics, experiences, etc. all contribute in subtle and no so subtle ways to influence perceptions and therefore your reality.

To eliminate them is like trying to change reality.
Post removed 
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
the question still remains, if all opinios are biased, what is to be gained by mentioning them ?
Validation.
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
the question still remains, if all opinios are biased, what is to be gained by mentioning them ?
evita
112 posts
 
Who's on first?
Post removed 
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
et's reconsider the question of bias.

bias entails prejudging.

if i say i don't like certain solid stae amps and specific solid state preamps and i have auditioned each of these for hours and hours.

i have evidence for my opinion. it is not biased even if someone likes one of the amps or pre amps i do not.

i have formed an opinion based upon listening. if i say i do not abarnd x solid state amp without listening to it. that is a biased opinion.

is there no difference between forming an opinion based upon experience and forming an opinion based upon no experience ?

if all opinions are biased, what value are they and what is the point of having a discussion if the substance is biased opinions ?
1markr
594 posts
 
Back to the question...

If you can't buy it at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, then it's high end....;)
Post removed 
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
an unbiased opinion is not an oxymoron. here's why.

there is knowledge and there is opinion.
if there is evidence and no pre judgment. having experiences and then having an opinion as a result of an experience is not bias.

example: if i don't like a food, never having eaten it, it's a biased opinion. if i have eaten a food 10 times and don't like it, it is hardly biased.

if i look at an amp and don't like it before listening to it, it's a biased opinion.

if i listen to an amp, in the context of a stereo system, 50 times and then don't like it, it is an opinion based upon some evidence. that's hardly biased.
entrope
482 posts
 
Gunbei-

I am sure 100% of the audio community buys that way. Unhappily it puts many at the mercy of heavily biased (advertising) opinions which are readily available as opposed to the more moderately biased user opinions which can require some effort to ferret out.

Isn't "unbiased opinion" an oxymoron?
jond's avatar
jond
5,807 posts
 
Um, who cares? I mean if you like a piece of gear then you like it, who cares if some arbitrary expert says it's "high end". I honestly think that it's thinking like that which makes audio so forboding for novices who might appreciate a good stereo.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Interesting idea Entrope. After all, I have based just about all of my buying decisions in the last 11 years of audio equipment on "other's" opinions, whether they were published reviews, opinions of friends or discussion threads here on Audiogon. Kind of a collective concensus.

LOL @ Elizabeth!
Post removed 
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
According to your testing criteria most of my stuff wouldn't qualify as high end. Bummer. :)

Oh well, at least I like the way it sounds.
markphd
667 posts
 
"The World of High Fidelity" is a book written by Gerard Rejskind, the editor of UHF Magazine. At the start of the book just before the Table of Contents, he writes the following acknowledgement:

"To the countless musicians who have, day by day, stepped from my high fidelity system into my living room to entertain me, enchant me and move me beyond words. Because they cannot hear my applause, I owe them this homage."

The ability, or even just the attempt, to do this is what makes something "high end". "High end" is not a product or a measureable spec. It is a philosophy. It is a philosophy of bringing music and emotion to another through their product, whether the product is $500, $5,000, or $50,000, and the passion in attempting to do so.
entrope
482 posts
 
Actually we are most heavily influenced by the opinion of others.

Imagine audio where you have to actually try everything for yourself to see if it is worthy of your system without the benefit of other's experience (opinions).

So is "high end" those items that have the best opinions?

Just a random thought.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Hmm, seems vindication is mine (as if there was ever any doubt). Thanks, Mrtennis -- carry on sir!
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