$10k golden ears AMP challenge! (1 Viewer)

[Larry B]

Lee or Larry? are any of you taking the challenge?

Not me. The human auditory system has very short memory, and it is extremely easy to "trick it." In fact, I wouldn;t be suprised if many individuals failed to get 24 our of 24 even when cpomparin gtwo sets of spealers that most would consider to be quite different sounding. This is part of the reason why I don't put enormous faith in auditory DBT. (Though I should mention that, as a scientist, this does disturb me.)

Larry

 

[Yogi]

Phew that was tense

 

[Larry B]

So, should we call it a day, at long last?

 

[Yogi]

Now we all can go home and rest easy since I won

 

[Saurav]

Or maybe the one with the biggest tubes win.

That's starting to get phallic.

I missed the "magic moment", I was ordering parts for my new speakers. Perhaps you will find it in your hearts to forgive me.

 

[Yogi]

I missed the "magic moment",

The magic moment came and it went, and I was orgasmically thrilled (is that even a word or is it my subjective mind cooking up terms)

 

[Saurav]

So who's up for 2000 posts? *evil grin*

 

[Larry B]

So who's up for 2000 posts? *evil grin*

Count me out as I'm already too old for this stuff.

 

[mike_decock]

So who's up for 2000 posts? *evil grin*

I've been thinking about that... I'm game as long as it isn't a silly countdown.

Between the bickering and the silliness, I think some of this thread has been quite interesting.

-Mike...

 

[Yogi]

I am out. Winning once is good enough. I would agree there were some lessons learnt between the silliness and the bickering. But I would be more interested in any change of opinions. Did someone learn enough to cause a paradigm shift?

Over and out (once and for all)

Cheers.

 

[Lin Park]

Is it just me, or did the posts get really short (and meaningless) the last 2 pages?

To keep in line with "it's not how big but how you use it", shouldn't it be the best biased tubes? Ah well, only 2 more tubes to bias and I win - see ya.

Lin

 

[mike_decock]

shouldn't it be the best biased tubes?

My tubes are self-biasing so I should win
-Mike...

 

[RobertR]

My tubes are self-biasing so I should win

What? You're going to let a mere machine bias itself? Subjective human judgement should always reign supreme.

 

[Manuel Delaflor]

damn Yogi, I wanted that!
Funny to see the conclusion of this thread, objectivists were unable to demonstrate their point, or maybe subjectivists were unable to demonstrate it? Well, maybe I (that tried to be in the middle) was also unable to demonstrate anything...
Anyway, sometimes this thread was fun, sometimes it was just ugly (specially when "stubbornisism" is the main drive of some responses). As some have posted it even become risible or just painful at some time (seeing the race of ego's is either fun or not depending on the point of view).
In any case what we saw, again, was the human nature at its best.
Good job gentlemen.

 

[mike_decock]

Subjective human judgement should always reign supreme.

My subjective opinion is that the machine can bias itself better than I can. That is, as long as I keep feeding it good, clean power.


-Mike...

 

[mike_decock]

My conclusion is as follows:
The objectivists may be right that, except in extreme cases, all amplifiers do sound the same. The subjectivists may be right that these "extreme cases" are more common than assumed and that there are audible differences in many situations. Those audible differences are generally more subtle than the "night and day" differences often claimed.
Using either a subjective or an objective approach are simply different methods in our common hobby of achieving greater satisfaction from our audio systems. Both of these methods will result in an increased enjoyment and neither one is inherently "better" than the other.
Even though I know that the perceived differences may be due to my biases rather than demonstrably audible difference, I still choose to be a subjectivist for the following reason:
The subjectivist can change his mind.
The objectivist cannot change the truth.
At least that way I still have the power to change something!
-Mike...

 

[Terry St]

Now is Bryston considered a high-end company by the typical objectivist?

I own a Bryston amp, so nope. High end is what crazy people with more money than you buy.
Personally, I went with Bryston because they're accurate, respected, have an unrivaled warranty, and are built like freaking tanks. Not to mention the fact that they're quality Canadian engineering. Gotta support the local boys. If I dropped the sucker out of a window onto a 2002 beamer I'm pretty sure it would still work, but the beamer would be toast! I'll back that claim up too! If anyone wants proof I'll supply the Bryston and pick the window. You supply the beamer.
-----
In any case, we can probably milk a couple pages out of the 1000 vs 1001 debate. Then if we revisit the bose bashing, come up with some more BMW analogies, and argue about money some more we should be well on our way to P2K.
However, what is the ultimate post? The last one.

 

[mike_decock]

I went with Bryston because they're accurate, respected, have an unrivaled warranty, and are built like freaking tanks.

I picked my Audio Research preamp (used) because they're accurate, respected, have a great tradition of supporting discontinued products, are built like tanks and have been well-reviewed by the audio community.
What I perceived was increased dynamics, a bigger, more cavernous soundstage, greater separation of instruments, more natural tonal quality and greater musical satisfaction. Being a subjectivist makes it so much more fun than "it sounded exactly like my other preamp" .
-Mike...

 

[Lee Scoggins]

Do you meant the AVERAGE consumer needs to be more educated? Why? Most of THEM are MORE satisfied with their boomboxes and Bose AcoustiMass systems than the "informed" audiophiles are with their expensive systems!

Mike,
I am not sure I agree with this. This seems to indicate that just because there are people satisfied with poor sound, we should not educate them about better sound ?!
I have a better plan: educate everyone and their brother so at least when I go to friend's houses who are not audiophiles I hear better sonics!

 

[Lee Scoggins]

I picked my Audio Research preamp (used) because they're accurate, respected, have a great tradition of supporting discontinued products, are built like tanks and have been well-reviewed by the audio community.

I have an amp and preamp from Audio Research and they are the best built components I have ever used. More importantly they sound great! The factory is very pleasant to deal with and they are very selective about using only the best dealers.

It's like a car: the product is half the value and the after-sale support is the other half.

I am very impressed with the new tube amps as well. Will try to get the 55 watter for a new "budget" living room setup.