After reading the responses on this forum to Mr Causey's letter in the April issue, I decided to start a new thread.
Hello all,
I think the point of the letter is that after reading "The Audio Critic", Mr. Causey decided to do a little testing and could not hear any difference . I think The Audio Critic webzine is excellent reading. It seems JA is quick to pounce on anyone that might have a view similar to Peter Aczel. Perhaps there really aren't discernable differences in wire, amps and preamps unless they are designed to have a sonic signature. My own informal tests with my gear confirm what Mr. Causey found. Isn't Peter Aczel right that we are really listening to the recording, speakers and room?
The question I have is, if all of this gear really sounds different, then how does one know which is more accurate? Is accuracy whatever the listener determines it to be? If so, then wouldn't a high end system be just a set of expensive tone controls cobbled together to suit the listener's taste in their acoustic environment? Cannot an amp be designed to have any sonic signature or distortion desired? I can't hear the accuracy forest for all the inaccurate trees in the way. Why not just design some high end tone controls and put them on the preamp?! No, wait, that would add distortion and wouldn't be accurate! I thought engineers measure and determine what is accurate and distortion free.
Why isn't more objective and scientific listening performed by the High End review community? This may be the better way to advance audio than solely subjectivism, unless your objective is to help sell lots of very expensive equipment and snake oil treatments. Before I am attacked and labeled a tin ears, what is more probable, that there are differences not heard or really no differences? I think I am just as susceptable to marketing as anyone and I am attracted to shiny objects! 
An interesting link: http://www.cordellaudio.com/rmaf/workshop2.shtml
Since they called this test non-scientific, it was left open for someone to easily discredit but probably offers a glimpse of the truth.
Isn't it more probable that we are all sucked into marketing hype?
Can't we all use a healthy dose of skepticism and/or dissent?
Signed,
a heretic in the High End Religion.
After reading the responses on this forum to Mr Causey's letter in the April issue, I decided to start a new thread.
Hello all,
I think the point of the letter is that after reading "The Audio Critic", Mr. Causey decided to do a little testing and could not hear any difference . I think The Audio Critic webzine is excellent reading. It seems JA is quick to pounce on anyone that might have a view similar to Peter Aczel. Perhaps there really aren't discernable differences in wire, amps and preamps unless they are designed to have a sonic signature. My own informal tests with my gear confirm what Mr. Causey found. Isn't Peter Aczel right that we are really listening to the recording, speakers and room?
The question I have is, if all of this gear really sounds different, then how does one know which is more accurate? Is accuracy whatever the listener determines it to be? If so, then wouldn't a high end system be just a set of expensive tone controls cobbled together to suit the listener's taste in their acoustic environment? Cannot an amp be designed to have any sonic signature or distortion desired? I can't hear the accuracy forest for all the inaccurate trees in the way. Why not just design some high end tone controls and put them on the preamp?! No, wait, that would add distortion and wouldn't be accurate! I thought engineers measure and determine what is accurate and distortion free.
Why isn't more objective and scientific listening performed by the High End review community? This may be the better way to advance audio than solely subjectivism, unless your objective is to help sell lots of very expensive equipment and snake oil treatments. Before I am attacked and labeled a tin ears, what is more probable, that there are differences not heard or really no differences? I think I am just as susceptable to marketing as anyone and I am attracted to shiny objects!
An interesting link: http://www.cordellaudio.com/rmaf/workshop2.shtml
Since they called this test non-scientific, it was left open for someone to easily discredit but probably offers a glimpse of the truth.
Isn't it more probable that we are all sucked into marketing hype?
Can't we all use a healthy dose of skepticism and/or dissent?
Signed,
a heretic in the High End Religion.