Addressing Forum Tedium

[mcdonalk]

Many discussions, if not some entire forums here, could easily be replaced with a posting at a top level to the effect:

1) All competently designed DAC's sound the same (and even some that are not so competently designed).

2) All competently designed amplifiers sound the same.

3) All competently constructed cables sound the same.

4) All PCM media 44.1kHz/16-bit and "above" sounds the same unless mastered differently.

5) DSD digital audio sounds no better than PCM, unless mastered differently.

6) Digital transports and streamers (whether dedicated or commodity PC-based) do not affect audio quality because the DAC input stage retimes the digital data stream.

And so on, until finally:

n) All observations and arguments to the contrary are not valid and will not be entertained. Double-blind level-matched test results which contradict the above are either flawed or hoaxes.

Think of the frustrating and tedious condescending and sometimes angry discussions, where no one changes their minds, where the same assertions are made over and over again, could be avoided. I know I wouldn't miss such discussions. Personally, if I see a thread that has over 50 or so entries, I consider it a likely tar pit into which I don't want to step.

Think of all of Mr. Amir's time which could be saved.

On the other hand, forums on electro/mechanical technology like speakers, acoustic treatments and turntables & phono cartridges would still have reason for existing, even though I personally consider turntable technology to be unworthy of my attention. Diverting Mr. Amir's resources and analyses to these products may be more beneficial.

 

[kemmler3D]

I've said something similar before, basically that we could save everyone time with a good beginners FAQ. for whatever reason it hasn't kicked off as an official project but I don't see that the need for one has diminished at all over time.

 

[Chrispy]

You new to the internet or something? Research? LOL.

 

[xanalog]

1) All competently designed DAC's sound the same

I got stuck on the 2nd and the 3rd words used in combination.
Though I think I understand what you are trying to communicate, I am not sure if I am sold off on that "just buy the cheapest" recommendation, that this theory ultimately will lead to.
Sorry!

 

[ztatic]

Surely that post was at least partially in jest, but I'll write anyway that the implication that design competency leads to perfection, and that the usual audio review fare and discussions are tedious, repetitious, and lack objective merit, are themselves suffering those same ills.

In real world design, at least some contingencies must be left aside or considered of diminished importance as a matter of optimizing to a set of target specifications within finite time and budget constraints. This fact alone is sufficient to render the items on that list as debatable as ever.

I won't be doing so, here, but if someday forced or just feeling the urge, I would start a list of better tempered generalizations by asserting that many equipment and cable shortcomings, certain common speaker shortcomings, and some recording and room shortcomings, can be addressed with equalization. FWIW, I think this notion is worth exploring in a series of articles, and would be amenable to clear documentation by way of measurements.

 

[beeface]

imagine if there was a bot that detected a subject, then posted something like this:

 

[JeffS7444]

Not sure what the OP's point is: Should we "keep an open mind" and devote more energies to the possibility that popular audiophile beliefs may actually touch upon truths which cannot be readily gauged by existing methods, such as ABX comparisons? I suppose we could also entertain arguments from those who believe that the Earth is flat, and conclude that "The truth probably lies somewhere in between".

As for new members asking the same sorts of questions, I've got a hunch that many really want to chat about something they're excited about, not read an FAQ or wiki.

 

[DWPress]

I've belonged to technical forums in the past that required a member to answer a short questionnaire before being able to post to certain areas. It sure helped eliminate a lot of tedious beginners and trolls from sidetracking discussion.

 

[respice finem]

Competently designed and executed = can be boringly perfect, yes.
But, as many ASR reviews have shown, by far not every device is such, even the expensive ones.

 

[TimF]

Going back to the 1970's and 1980's I bet you would find that most competently made calculators, remarkably, gave the same or highly similar results.

 

[voodooless]

I think that you can state these things for sure, but unless you can engage with the people who think otherwise, there is no way to convince them. It's already hard enough as it is.

 

[Mart68]

imagine if there was a bot that detected a subject, then posted something like this:

View attachment 459847

Should have got off at Cracktown.

 

[Soandso]

I don't think "Amir's time" is being spent reading every post or a scanned post's comments. As for what seems repetitious to any member(s) well certainly one needn't follow that thread along.

What I do feel relevant here is that we accept any civil member's written attempt to understand or try explaining their concept(s) as something that satisfies a facet of their mental processes. Not everyone formulates ideas using the same methodology and thus certain context of specific information presented may have uniquely personal benefit. Conceivably for many participating in ASR the progression of a polite discussion(s) is more "fun" than reading what some internet search engine A.I. pulls up, or feeling cut short by ASR "…posting at a top level …" precepts.

 

[Mart68]

Was just thinking the other day that recently there's been a paucity of 'You people don't know what you're talking about' type posts.

Maybe I missed some?

 

[mhardy6647]

Apropos of the original post in this thread -- I cannot ever recall being forced to read a thread, whether it was redundant, of no interest to me, silly, pointless, etc.
I Click on "New Posts", leaf through them, and click on whatever strikes my fancy. Doesn't matter to me what subforum they're posted to, whether they're reanimated zombie threads, etc. It seems just as easy to exit a thread as to enter one to me.

Heck, it's just entertainment!

 

[Somafunk]

Many discussions, if not some entire forums here, could easily be replaced with a posting at a top level to the effect:

You may as well say similar for every online interaction, it’s all meaningless drivel in the grand scheme of things compared to living life.

 

[xanalog]

it’s all meaningless drivel in the grand scheme of things compared to living life.

I see what you did there: Are we talking about life imitating meaningless-ness or meaningless-ness imitating life?

It seems just as easy to exit a thread as to enter one to me.

ASR does not even mandate seatbelts or blinker use.
Thus, exit ramps are always available with a simple click, but don't try using my avatar.

 

[sceptical1]

Someone DM me when we get to "all speakers sound the same".

 

[mhardy6647]

I see what you did there: Are we talking about life imitating meaningless-ness or meaningless-ness imitating life?

ASR does not even mandate seatbelts or blinker use.
Thus, exit ramps are always available with a simple click, but don't try using my avatar.

your avatar is a thing of cognitive dissonance.
(and I mean that as a compliment!)

Mine... mine's just a danger part.

 

[Timcognito]

It seems just as easy to exit a thread as to enter one to me.

And it seems the OP may have done that.