Did you bother to read any of the material on this forum before registering ? In case you didn't, I'll just point out that you haven't landed somewhere with the most sympathetic audience for subjective audiophile claims. Almost any other HiFi forum would do, if you want that. On the other hand, if you're willing to learn about how fallible your hearing is, and what really matters in sound reproduction, I suggest reading more here first...
Lol, I will have to agree with you here, I feel like a guy who accidentally walked into a Feminist/Vegan conference with an I love BBQ and Miller Light T-shirt on.
I've spent years with music and have always been very sensitive to audio quality of all sorts of components and the reasons are irrelevant.
Like I said, I hear a difference in this equipment, one way or another I do and it enhances the experience for me. All the science experiments in the world aren't to change my ability to enjoy music. I've had gear that was mean't to be amazing but it wasn't to me, I know where to spend my money and I know what improves sound quality for me.
At the end of the day I'm not selling anything nor am I affiliated to any group, I'm just sharing my experience and I won't be told by someone that my ability to access my own experience is inadequate. By all means you can say you can't hear a difference but don't tell other people they can't just because your instrument doesn't measure it, it's an instrument, not a living human. ( this is a response to all, not just yourself by the way)
I'll still encourage others to TRY equipment and decide themselves what enhances their audio experience and what doesn't, because remember, this is a hobby and a totally personal
entertainment experience, so telling people they aren't actually enjoying certain gear more than other gear because of some tests you did has got to be the most pointless use of science available. It's like saying dimming the lights or burning candles or the look of equipment doesn't make it better TO THE LISTENER, So what if it's placebo, doesn't change how real it feels or the pleasure it gives.
I'm not going to spend $5K on cables because it's not a big enough improvement if any, to me, to justify the money. But if you have $10 Million and you hear a difference for the better and think it's justified then cool by me.
Do you really think getting people to do double blind tests and convincing them to believe that they can't hear what they are hearing is going to enhance their experience and make audio more fun? I doubt it.
At the end of the day if a company makes a DAC the improves the experience for listeners, does it really matter why? does it matter if it can't be measured or if it's just the hype, placebo, visual enhancements ? No audiophile is using this product to win any competition.
So concentrate you science experiments on things that actually make a difference in peoples lives, not reduce the joy they get from audio.
Like tyres that actually grip the road better and last longer or more fuel efficient engines ect.. ect... ect...
I think we can all agree this has gone as far as it's gonna go so I'll leave you gentlemen to your energetic debates.
All the best, may audio bring much happiness and joy to your lives.
Brook.