Here is a variation of something elsewhere posted but also relevant here:
Please allow me to take this opportunity to express my creed with respect to science and my chosen work. I should clarify to all concerned that my knowledge and expertise on cognitive neurology approaches zero. This means I am limited to my observations rather than other current experts in a field where said science is not completely known. In fact, the technology of very few, if any such sciences are completely known. My next statement is that I view this as a learning process until all experiments have been run.
I am an engineer first, scientist second – that means I build things, compare them with others, and then decide whether to build them or not as a production item. My chosen experiments for the most part, are the comparisons above. The comparisons are not just adjudged by myself; I also choose others for input and observation. Not to so would keep me too much in a vacuum. More on that later.
The science is I believe that all valid sonic differences should measurable. If the standard regimen of audio tests (frequency response, distortion, etc.) cannot measure a sonic difference, then either the sonic difference is invalid or a measurement to verify is not yet known. Simple. Either outcome is what it is. If it cannot eventually be measured, it must eventually be dismissed as para-audio.
Turning to DBTs. I have written elsewhere that I have been the subject of many of these tests, usually with my own gear and someone else's most of them 35 years or so ago. Such determinations were difficult, but I could detect my own gear at the time consistently 7-9 times out of ten. Granted, this was over tube-solid state gear boundaries and differing RIAA equalizations. My point is that while subjecting myself to ABX tests, it is a form of listening that is completely different than listening for enjoyment. In an ABX test, I am in a much more alert and stressed (must perform) state of mind, listening to micro details of the passing parade of music in a competitive effort to differentiate them; when listening to music for pleasure, it is a much more macro and integrative view of the entire parade – the pressure is gone and I can focus on the music creator's intention or message. I cannot be arrogant enough to believe that all is scientifically known about ABX differential tests of audio gear to declare them the sole test of value judgement or value equality. If that makes me a “real science” deviant, then so be it. Now this applies to me and the equipment I build only.
I have also written elsewhere that I rely on narrative and observational information to form a hypothesis. This is precisely how detectives solve murder cases. If experiments verify, then a hypothesis becomes scientific. Therefore I freely admit I rely on observational and narrative constructs in my engineering. Not to do so places any scientific progress in peril. As I have written before, my wife's favorite album of all time is Supertramp's Crime of the Century, so much so that she wants parts of it played at her funeral. When I play it with a multibit Bifrost and Yggy, she repeatedly cries. When I play it to her on a variety of DS DACs, she does not. She has no dog in any fight, and does not give a Schiit what DAC she is listening to. There are many, other similar experiences I have witnessed. I am investigating them at the expense of a lot of my time. More may be revealed. I also freely admit that (although I do not know all of the reasons why – still working on it) that while practicing my hobby of listening to music in a relaxed manner I prefer multi-bit. That is for me only. You may judge me delusional, agree, or prefer DS. All that is none of my business.
I build DACs at Schiit from $100 to $2300. The more expensive ones may (or sometimes may not) be adjudged sonically superior by narratives and observations. Schiit does not, and never will, portray or warranty any of our DACs (or amps) to perform in any sonic or subjective way. We publish and are proud of all of our specs. Our website on the $100 DAC states that “This may be the only DAC you ever need” and that is very true.
None of this missive is intended to be an indictment of anyone else's views. You are entitled to them. Cherish them. In any event, the above is applicable to me. One of my philosophical influences is below:
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.”
BERTRAND RUSSELL, Mortals and Others
One more:
"Trust but verify" RONALD REAGAN