Some Audio Designers' views on the Role of Measurement:
http://www.herronaudio.com/images/Measurements.pdf(It's from 1999 but still a good read. I love Nelson Pass's levelheaded approach.)
RE the broader conversation.
As with any contentious topic, it's impossible to resolve unless we all operate off the same Base Assumptions (BA's).
So it's always worthwhile to do a Base Assumption Analysis (BAA™).
In this 'hobby' of ours, there are many prevalent BA's.
Faithfully recreating the live musical event.
I don't attend live musical events. I don't like crowds, I don't like noise, I don't like concerts, I don't like dressing up and going to auditoriums, I don't like any of that stuff. If anything, I
might be trying to recreate a live
studio event. (Actually, also nonsense given the amount of processing, conversion and mixing involved.) I like to listen to
Led Zeppelin and
Doors albums. Simple as that.
The pursuit of 'high fidelity'.
I'm not pursuing anything. There is nothing lofty or noble about what we do. I like to listen to music. I prefer certain pieces of equipment over others in terms of
how that music
sounds to me. I accept that this is subjective, but if I'm deceiving myself (or letting myself be deceived) about the role of the specific equipment in all of this, then so be it. I'm more than happy to believe a beautiful lie. And if I actually enjoy the sound of distortion, then so be it, leave me be.
The Practice of 'Critical Listening'.
That doesn't sound like any fun at all. No thanks.
The Pursuit of Neutrality.
Switzerland is neutral. Can you think of any Swiss a) Rock Stars, b) Marvel Superheroes or c) Supercars? Didn't think so.
My point is, most of the disagreement/debate/anger I've encountered RE this most contentious topic, flows from the assumption (haha) that all 'audiophiles' subscribe to some or all of the BA's listed above. As if we need that kind of validation. I certainly don't. I don't susbscribe to any of the above. In fact, those BA's end up being the sticks that objectivists try to beat us with, e.g.
Ah, but you said you're after high fidelity, then why do you listen to this tube amp, you're deceiving yourself. Or whatever.
Anyway, I've said too much already.
BAA™ and other topics will be covered in my forthcoming book
BAA™ and other topics.
Catch me on the lecture circuit.
