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- Dec 7, 2010
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Quote:
Let me suggest NuForce a slogan:
We evaluate the sound by the ears, nothing else.
Pretty viable concept.
It's really not a very viable concept. There's literally NO downside to conducting measurements. None. The company is certainly free to ignore them if they want but at least they know. Measurements also provide the only reasonable way to publish specifications that are close to being accurate (something NuForce apparently has trouble with). Measurements can reveal unknown problems, that when corrected, will almost always further improve the sound of a product--not somehow make it worse. Measurements can also help make a product more reliable and more compatible with a wider ranger of other gear.
Even if you ignore all the well rational reasons, research, studies, etc. (see my review for links) that prove "design by ear" doesn't work the way most companies do it. That still leaves you with something like one particular wine reviewer deciding what kind of wine everyone else will like. That reviewer (or small group of reviers) may will have their own ideas about what sounds best. They will have their own favorite headphones, favorite music, volumes they like to listen at, and lots of specific qualities they prefer in the sound.
Let's say NuForce developed 4 different versions of a new uDAC-3 that all sounded slightly different. They might, as a company, decide version "A" sounds best so that's what they put into production. Kostalex on the other hand, with his music, headphones and tastes, might have liked "B" the best. The next person might prefer "C". And so on. If you only judge products by their subjective sound, you get something very much like a wine, food, or restaurant reviewer's choice as to what's best. Just like a reviewer, you might get a small but loyal group of customers with similar tastes. But there will be an even larger group that doesn't agree.
Objective measurements, at least, provide a much more consistent way to evaluate products. That's why even well respected audiophile magazines conduct them. They don't prevent a company from tuning some things by ear, but they do help them avoid obvious flaws in their product, help them publish honest specifications, and prevent being surprised by independent reviews--all things NuForce apparently could use some help with.