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A challenge to the "measurement" camp

I’ve watched some of his video and I actually agree on some of what he said,
but he seems too confident on his insistence on measurement. For those
who expound on the merits of blind test and measurement, why not turn
the table upside down?

Why not do a blind test of measurement? That is I will supply all the measurement
you want, can you tell me which is a better product?

For example, if I have a set of cable, and a set of measurement for each
individual cable, can you tell me which is the best cable based on measurement
alone? I will supply all the measurement you want.
After all, that is what you’re after right? Objective result and not subjective
listening test.

Fast forward to 8:15 mark where he keeps ranting about listening test
without measurement.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=katmUM-Xelw

By the way, is he getting paid by Belden?  Because he keeps talking about it
and how well it measures.  I've had some BlueJean cables and they can easily
bettered by some decent cables.  
andy2
speedbump6
760 posts
 
I so agree with those statements about the oscilliscope not judging. It’s like someone trying to compare one piece of music to another by the beats per measure, or the range of the notes within the measures. You’re ( the non believers) determining the tests by which I have to measure what I hear, and have become the sole judges of that? I don’t think so. On the other hand, if you chose not to use your ears to dictate your listening preferences, that is your choice and it won’t bother me in the least. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 

, which measurement parameters are you inquiring?  
Just a 20hz to 20khz sweep from your speakers. Use two different speaker cables in the same system and room. I can tell from that which gives the flattest response which will be the best cable. What do I win? 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Audio is a subjective hobby. Sure there are obviously some things that need to be measured, but you can’t measure soundstage height, air, warmth, naturalness, liquid-ness, realism, presence, instrument separation or closeness to the original recording. The sound that arrives at the listeners ears is - after all is said and done - what matters most and it’s the least measurable. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but what about frequency response? 
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"It’s like someone trying to compare one piece of music to another by the beats per measure, or the range of the notes within the measures."
Isn't that at least a part of what those programs for analyzing music do? You know, those that give you suggestions based on your previous listening choices.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"The sound that arrives at the listeners ears is - after all is said and done - what matters most and it’s the least measurable."

The sound may be unmeasurable for now as it is person's perception of outside-of-the-body events.


What arrives to the ear is air with its dynamic properties and that is fairly measurable in 2020.


Just to add a little bit to confusion, the "sound" is not transmitted exclusively directly through the ear. Head contents do influence it to a great degree.

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