FredT300B
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New Book: "Audio, Acoustics, and Perception"
Monty
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I started reading the guys web chapter until I reached the part where he likens claims of perceiving sound differences in cables to "faith." Was he a former contributing editor to Stereo Review or something?

FredT300B
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Quote:
I started reading the guys web chapter until I reached the part where he likens claims of perceiving sound differences in cables to "faith." Was he a former contributing editor to Stereo Review or something?

Sorry, but I got into this hobby after the demise of Stereo Review and don't understand this reference. My own opinion, for what it's worth, is that on a scale that runs from completely subjective to completely objective, most audiophiles' equipment evaluations (mine included) are done at a very subjective level. As Geddes points out in the first chapter, these "faith based" perceptions aren't necessarily wrong and they certainly aren't less valid than his, but someone who is serious about audio should be willing to test their subjective perceptions against some objective reality (As I do when I audition a component, read a Stereophile review of it, then compare my perceptions and the perceptions of the reviewer to the test data).

So much for my supporting Geddes views (I disagree with some of them). If you want to read more about this there's a thread that he has been participatin in at http://audioroundtable.com/General/messages/2528.html

Monty
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I fully understand subjectivity and there are certainly many things in audio that are subjective. Cable happens to not be one of them. Sure, whether one cable or another sounds better is entirely subjective, but to suggest that audible differences in cable is an exercise in "faith" pretty much destroys credibility in my book. He could make the arguement that not all systems can reveal differences in cables and I would be cool with that, but he doesn't make that arguement.

My reference to Stereo Review is related to Julian Hirsch and his obvious lack of hearing. Hirsch pretty much believed that if he couldn't measure it, it wasn't audible and that equal measurements resulted in equal sound.

FredT300B
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...to suggest that audible differences in cable is an exercise in "faith" pretty much destroys credibility in my book.

Yes, some of Geddes' statements turn people off to the extent that they're understandably inclined to dismiss him rather than listen to what he has to say. Too bad, because he is only arguing for the understanding and use of science along with purely subjective criteria in the evaluation of audio equipment.

Here's a link to a slide presentation on "The Science of Audio", by Floyd E Toole, PhD, VP Acoustical Engineering Harman Intl. The message is similar to Geddes'.

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/Loudspeakers&RoomsPt2.pdf

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