I read through it. While it is generally well written, it is not beyond criticism itself. Here is an example. On the issue of listeners observing higher volume with better cable Archmiago says this:
"As for the comment about lower noise floor and "perception of loudness". All I can say is - prove it. This is easily demonstrated by measuring the noise floor and showing us the difference especially if it's that obvious to be audible in such a suboptimal playback environment! Notice how none of these presenters ever provide proof of theories like this. I can say that I have never experienced such a thing over the years using a good quality DAC neither in subjective listening nor when measuring the output. "
Well, I have heard the volume difference perception many times and have reported the same. Examples include cable AB tests I have done and heard the same at shows. And the Synergistic Research stuff.
At higher level, we can't dispute listeners actually reporting higher volume with us not hearing it. Unless we can prove the listeners lying, what they think they have heard, they have.
Now, do I believe the volume has actually gone up? No. As he says the best proof of that would be using measurements and such measurements would show no such difference. Why we perceptually hear higher volume is something I have not seen explained. I can explain hearing more air, more detail, or even lower noise floor (as a result of the former). But higher volume? From two identically performing systems? Why does that occur? But occur it does. It is a powerful false positive and one that needs more thought than outright dismissal of listeners never actually experiencing it.
He also says:
"Seriously folks, it's time to stop worrying about jitter with modern USB, ethernet, and even HDMI DAC's unless there are actual objective results to go by."
That statement regarding HDMI is only justified in the one AVR (Yamaha) that he tested. I tested half a dozen a few years back and they universally output lower performance over HDMI vs S/PDIF input using a high quality USB to S/PDIF converter. I should test a more modern AVR to see if there is improvement but for now, that is suspect.
