Originally posted by Prune
Regarding ppl's statement concerning how most would differentiate between the sound of OPA-627 and AD-8610, I wonder how many would manage to tell the difference in a properly conducted blind test :veryevil: :veryevil: :veryevil:
People don't typically listen to their equipment under the conditions of a formal blind or double-blind test, so does it really matter? You set up an artificial context for a test that doesn't mimic the way people listen in real life, will that test say anything of real importance? Maybe, maybe not...
BTW (and FWIW) I'm neither an objectivist nor a subjectivist... I like to think in terms of looking at things as a given situation calls for it, rather than holding beliefs that may be true under a certain set of conditions and false under another. Sometimes objectivity and objective measurements come in handy (and when they do they make great tools), but in other situations it's like trying to fit square pegs into round holes. I've found that measurements can be a big help to ears in areas where they're weak, and ears are important in areas where measurements don't seem to give the whole picture.
IMO, "measurements only" (the map is the territory) tends toward bad sound, and "ears only" (maps are never helpful) tends toward superstition and wasting money. Just my 2 cents...