I dont have any beliefs. I am open to measurements. However, this is recreation, not medical science. Enjoyment is the name of the game. I am open to nutritional science, but I don’t use it to order food at a restaurant. I follow my taste. Why do I need to prove something to you? I am having fun listening to great music…. This is all money we have set aside as disposable for recreation. The path to sonic bliss is the best path—obviously! Not the path to what a computer says I should value. Measurements can help show if a product is disfunctional, but it cannot measure the subjective value of the product. Also, remember all the Chord dacs measured “excellent” according to Lord Amir. If measurements are all that matters and no subjectivity is involved in Lord Amir’s review process, then why are the Chord dacs not spoken of as “excellent” since they fall in that category? I posted this in another thread, but I will repeat here:
ASR dudes are party poopers. Who would want them at a listening party? The people I hang out with and listen with have epic disucssions that are as enjoyable as music. Who wants to hang out with a condescending know-it-all?
Futhermore, I do NOT think their way is a valid approach to bliss, Nirvana in your stereo. The dudes I know who are happy, have learned to listen and to understand their own taste and then saved up enough to get the gear that satisfies their taste as well as the room to let the equipment shine (if speakers). I would highly recommend avoiding following Lord Amir and instead follow your own taste.
IMO the way to bliss is to learn to listen, understand your taste in sound and music and learn to articulate it (for your own sake and for the sake of conversation with others, which is precious). Hang out with more experienced hobbyists and have meaningful conversations and listen to them and to their systems. Dealers are hit or miss, and some are just pushers, but if you can find one that is trustworthy and willing to get to know your taste, that will be a precious key to developing your system. The best ones offer home demo, even if it is for a fee. That is a wonderful tool. Reviews, measurements and forums can add some spice, but are of limited value (unless the measurements display complete dysfunction in some way). If you find a reviewer with tastes similar to yours, their voice can increase in value. In general, not all expensive things are nice, but all nice things are expensive. There are exceptions to this principle, but it is broadly true. That said, most companies have sweet spots in their lines, where you get almost everything without having to spend a lot more for the final %. Stay within your budget—every budget has good options. Remember, this is recreation. It needn’t be so serious. Have fun, even with your mistakes as you learn and grow. Have fun. Enjoy music, enjoy listening to music and learning about music and gear.
That is my recipe for good stereo-building. YMMV.
There are plenty of sites/magazines that include measurements without being snarky, condescending know-it-alls. Stereophile has measurements in every review and Goldensound also includes them. Both use them as an addition to subjective impressiions and look at them open-mindedly, wondering how to interpret them and how they matter. And, most importantly, they do it while maintaining a love for music and the enjoyment of music and present conversations that would be welcome at a party, not as snide condescension. If Lord Amir presented measurements with such a voice, we wouldn’t need these silly “camps” in our hobby, They are pointless and wasteful. Such scientific rigor is needed in medicine or other serious fields, but not in the world of sensual enjoyment. Personally, what I am paying for is bliss and immersion, greater joy and connection to my music. I don’t care which bias gets me there. Too much critical, objective approach takes me out, reduces my engagement and leaves me apart from the music, using songs to evaluate gear instead of gear to evaluate songs…. I want to forget the gear, lose the stereo. My current system has speakers that completely vanish….
The mindset Lord Amir suggests is itself an obstacle to true immersion in music and bliss!
