Hi,
I've been reading reviews here on and off and have bought at least one DAC based on recommendations. There's one thing I'd like to suggest be done differently.
One thing that is actually really hard to do is to correlate measurements with human experience. For instance, ASR has reviewed the Codex and the Oppo desktop DAC/headphone amp. The previous one's sound I love, the latter hated. Both measured poorly.
Instead of measuring first, and then listening I'd strongly suggest others listen first, and then measure. Or do both isolated from each other. If you measure, and listen, and then proclaim they listened as they sound, that's just proof of confirmation bias.
I also want to mention that it is quite human to train your senses to your scope. That doesn't mean those who aren't trained have invalid experiences. For instance, I make my own speakers and they measure as neutral, so as a result my hearing has gotten set to this baseline. I can easily hear deviations from this in commercial speakers. If you've ever worked in food service, after a couple of days of weighing meat you get really good at doing it by hand.
It's kind of the same thing. But unlike a sandwich, audio quality/desirability is quite malleable. It's between the ear and the brain.
Measurements are good, and a way to understand behavior, and attention to manufacturing detail and cost, but if that is your holy grail you are doing nothing more than turning yourself into a human scope. Pleasure and exhilaration should be more than that I think.
Best,
E
I've been reading reviews here on and off and have bought at least one DAC based on recommendations. There's one thing I'd like to suggest be done differently.
One thing that is actually really hard to do is to correlate measurements with human experience. For instance, ASR has reviewed the Codex and the Oppo desktop DAC/headphone amp. The previous one's sound I love, the latter hated. Both measured poorly.
Instead of measuring first, and then listening I'd strongly suggest others listen first, and then measure. Or do both isolated from each other. If you measure, and listen, and then proclaim they listened as they sound, that's just proof of confirmation bias.
I also want to mention that it is quite human to train your senses to your scope. That doesn't mean those who aren't trained have invalid experiences. For instance, I make my own speakers and they measure as neutral, so as a result my hearing has gotten set to this baseline. I can easily hear deviations from this in commercial speakers. If you've ever worked in food service, after a couple of days of weighing meat you get really good at doing it by hand.
It's kind of the same thing. But unlike a sandwich, audio quality/desirability is quite malleable. It's between the ear and the brain.
Measurements are good, and a way to understand behavior, and attention to manufacturing detail and cost, but if that is your holy grail you are doing nothing more than turning yourself into a human scope. Pleasure and exhilaration should be more than that I think.
Best,
E