Better Sounding Systems, Objectivists or Subjectivists?


When these two camps retire to their listening rooms, which school of thought tends to get better sound? Those who ultimately place their faith in measurements above actually listening to their systems? Or those of us who look at measurements, but ultimately make our decisions based on what subjectively sounds best to us?

128x128ted_denney

Who says ’objectivists’ don’t listen? As an electronics scientist I consider myself an ’objectivist’ in the sense that I’m not a ’believer’ in cryogenic treated fuses and super expensive cables that after a 100 hour run in time magically improve the sound. Passive components can only act as a filter. (Before someone says ’have you ever listened to them’ ... yes I have, and I did’t hear a difference. Which doesn’t mean to say no one can hear a difference, if you do and if it’s worth the money to you, that’s great.)

But that doesn’t mean I don’t listen to speakers, amplifier, source and room acoustics to decide which sound ’better’ ... with that I don’t rely on any measurements at all besides my own ears and my dB meter.

The subjectivists seem less worried about being duped by some unusually clever nasty capitalist. 

The subjectivists seem less worried about being duped by some unusually clever nasty capitalist. 

There may be various explanations for that and not all of them are complimentary.

It is way to easy today for people to loose focus and get lost in their system to the point of no longer enjoying the music. For me it is a overweighted compromise or music first system second.  

@rudyb 

Who says ’objectivists’ don’t listen? 

Do you want names named?  That wouldn't be very nice.