"Smarty"
** The explanation for many things is often simple enough to understand but
very hard for those not familiar with the matter to BELIEVE - Einstein is
said to have made such a remark about his theory of Relativity.
The usual solution to "wise up" the doubters is by use of a convincing
demonstration - however those same doubters can invent their own test then
come up with damn near anything.
What NEVER works is to hold a "mid air" debate using hypothetical examples
and thought experiments - cos that is little more than playing mindless
word games.
The nature of web forums IS such that it lends itself only to the latter
approach and renders the former near impossible.
** See above for the explanation.
Anecdote:
Many moons ago, I came up with a simple demonstration that showed clearly
how a number of different make and model stereo power amplifiers sounded
exactly the same. This was to clear up the notion strongly held by their
various owners that each possessed its own, distinctive "sound".
Most who tried the new test were flatly unimpressed, returned to their old
and discredited test method and continued to believe in non existent
differences as before.
My simple test is explained here:
http://sound.westhost.com/absw.htm
.... Phil
As a forum for lively conversation, the internet is arguably unbeatable
given its scope both demographically as well as the global reach, but
sadly it does indeed create the very hollow and unconvincing exchanges
you describe.
On the subject of amplifier comparisons, I share your belief that much
of the purported differences people supposedly hear and pay a huge
premium to own are non-existent, or at least highly exaggerated. Biases
arising from "golden-eared" pretentious reviewers add to the deception,
as does the fundamental greed which causes dealers and manufacturers to
create artificial claims and product distinctions which unwary consumers
pay needlessly to own. Pretentious buyers and their egos are also ripe
for being exploited. Simple differences in amplitude correlate highly
with "goodness" in the ears of the uninformed.
Some of the earlier studies on perceptual coding which were done at the
onset of mpeg compression and other lossy techniques amply demonstrated
how very easily the ear and brain can be fooled. The human hearing
apparatus is an awesome and miraculous thing, yet it has virtually no
memory nor quantitative ways to compare A/B, and is, in the final
analysis, mediated by a very imprecise thinking and cognition process
which is highly subjective and, to this day, not well understood.
Human frailty and limited perceptual range put aside, we also have the
ultimate issue of creating "high fidelity" simulations of things which
never can be absolute. The Cleveland Philharmonic sounds a lot different
in the orchestra pit than it does from the balcony. And the acoustic
impact of a full audience on reflected energy may differ from season to
season based on something as simple as heavier winter fabrics filling
the concert hall. In the final analysis, any pretense that there is some
form of "best" solution need only look at the same type of market-driven
hype surrounding wines, cigars, gourmet foods, and many other
discretionary purchases. The world is loaded with "experts" who
pontificate and critique and extol and denounce, but they are,
ultimately, narcissistic, have hidden agendas, or feel their judgement
somehow matters more because they have a journalistic megaphone. Sadly,
the internet has enlarged their audiences.
End of rant--------------------------------------