I would work on the principle that everything you have read and believed about audio up to this point is a lie or at best disingenuous.
Keith
Ok here let me list these out then based on what 'audiophiles' have told me... and what my understanding is of each.
1. The end reproduction equipment makes an audible difference. i.e headphones, speakers.
True. We all know speakers and headphones themselves sound different, pretty universally agreed upon.
2. The source of the audio makes an audible difference ie. Spotify vs Tidal vs mp3 vs CD vs Vinyl vs FLAC file vs DSD etc.
True.. up to a point. There is definitely benefits from higher resolution audio.. up to a point. I cannot say once we get past CD level that everyone can then distinguish a difference between FLAC and DSD for example.
3. The DAC makes an audible difference i.e AKM vs ESS vs R2R etc. The more expensive the DAC and the more higher level the chip, the better.
True.. up to a point. A better DAC will definitely improve sound quality up to a point coming from a low quality DAC, but when it comes to the 'flagship' tier DACs and upper tier DACs, I'm not really sure how many people can tell a difference.
4. The amplifier makes an audible difference i.e class A vs class AB vs class D, architecture etc.
Not sure. For power, of course it does. But as for improving the sound? I have heard people say that more expensive amplifiers improve the sound.. but how and why? An amplifier ideally has one job and that is to amplify the signal. Any colorations to the sound are either intentional (tube amps) or if not intentional, then it's a defect in the amplifier. An amplifier should ideally not impart any coloration of it's own to the audio quality and even if it does - how can it actually 'improve' the sound?
5. Room correction software makes an audible difference i.e Dirac vs Audyssey vs Anthem etc
True. I believe there is a measurable difference between different room correction software.
6. Cables make an audible difference.
False. That's what we have been showing here in this thread, and many others. Differences in how we perceive sound between cables is a result of placebo effect and priming our brains.
7. Burn in / Break in makes an audible difference.
Yes and No. It makes a difference for speakers and headphones because there are physical drivers inside these devices. For amplifiers, DACs and cables, I am not so certain as to what the mechanism is behind how burn in or break in improves the sound on these.
8. Isolation equipment makes an audible difference. i.e using isolation feet or spikes for audio equipment improves soundstage and detail etc
Not sure. I think it may improve some aspects but it might not be totally audible. For speakers and turntables it makes sense, but isolation stands for amplifiers? Not sure.
9. Room treatment makes an audible difference.
True. I personally haven't done it, but I believe people have measured the differences in treating their room acoustically.
Are there any conclusions I made here that are incorrect? or any other missing variables? Let me know.