The Unmeasurable Aspects of High-End Audio – PS Audio

Way back when, several golden ear writers finally agreed to a blind test. I forget which magazine, I read several in those days.

All SS, high end brands, New equipment, all broken in:

none of them could reliably/repeatedly choose anything better than the Pioneer Receiver slipped into the mix that was selected by them as inconsistently as any other.

Tubes: a whole different world, now we get to 'preferred' not better'

We should give this unknown "ether" a name like Dark Energy. No one knows what it is, but they mostly agree that something is there.

I agree with koestner.

One thing for sure is no one has an identical system, or identical listening environment.  Not identical media.  This alone makes the hobby so unique to each individual!!

You’re never going to get anything better than it was mastered at. Personally I think it’s hilarious what audiophiles will spend on something that does nothing extra at all.

<edit> I don’t mean to sound like a troll here, I’ve just seen a lot of crap devices over the years that do nothing but cost an arm a leg and a few pieces of genitalia. </edit>

<edit2>  This type of data would be really useful for anyone that enjoys music, even those of us with moderate means.  </edit2>