Stereophile Recommended Components 2024

[Mikig]

this is my way of trying to understand people and things, through direct questions...don't feel obligated to answer!!!

reading this thread I understand one thing: for some in here personal experience does not count, or rather, it is part of that uselessness of misleading situations that, not starting from a scientific observation, cannot be classified as useful for the purpose.
So you perceive a sort of annoyance towards everything that tries to equate subjective experience to objective experience that only tries to make the listening experience more human and personal.
This approach, if I remember correctly, is called "positivism", the primacy of science and the scientific method as the only way to the truth.
Whether it is a magazine in this case Stereophile, a youtuber or a member of ASR, anyone who can try to explain and put on the table a perception of taste or preference or the observation of an "unrevealed" character of personal liking or not, in a certain way crosses the border of the original sin: subjectivism.

What is not clear to me about this line of objectivist positivist thought, of some, is the final goal that pushes you to participate in posts like this if it were only a problem of science, everything would already be solved. ASR has already given us over the years the guidelines for the perfect system. It is useless to continue at this point. Let's only talk about music and if a new scientifically proven technical remedy were to come out on the market, let's all adopt it.
But the discussions never end, so strong in this idea, what drives you to write considerations on the observations of others, when all the questions for you already have an answer, on the considerations of certain press, or on commentators and YouTubers and on designers and brands?
Why, having already in hand the keys to the observation that in your view is central to achieving the good final result of the "right way of listening", you feel the need to have to try to save the "wandering souls" from a world that you have already branded and resolved for a long time?

In this regard, I like to bring this sentence to everyone's attention...

….."positivism establishes that what cannot be observed does not exist. This conception is scientifically unsustainable, because it is impossible to make valid statements about what one "can" or "cannot" observe. One should say: “only what we observe exists” which is obviously false”….
A. Einstein

 

[MattHooper]

Why, having already in hand the keys to the observation that in your view is central to achieving the good final result of the "right way of listening", you feel the need to have to try to save the "wandering souls" from a world that you have already branded and resolved for a long time?

My quick attempt at an answer: as far as saving wandering souls, it depends how you go about it. Depending on the context, it could be considered pushy, but another context not so much.

Amir creating this forum as a place to learn about audio gear isn’t being pushy, and it simply here for anybody who wants to avail themselves of this information.

Likewise, with his YouTube channel. It’s simply put out there for those who find the information valuable. I and many other audiophiles find it hugely valuable.

I guess there’s the question of how intrusive or pushy to be in promoting this information.
For instance, is it “too white night” to bring the stuff up in the subjective audio forums? To “save” some members there?

I guess it comes down to how you view it and the context . For instance, if I was about to buy a valuable gem in Thailand, I would certainly appreciate even a stranger butting in to mention to me that the guy I’m dealing with as a known scammer and the gem is worthless.

To that extent, in some of the subjective forums, I don’t mind being an alternative voice saying “ just so you know, there’s no good technical basis for the performance claims of that cable you are thinking of buying.”

It’s a fine line between helpful and intrusive or obnoxious, giving people the type of help they don’t really want.

 

[Mikig]

My quick attempt at an answer: as far as saving wandering souls, it depends how you go about it. Depending on the context, it could be considered pushy, but another context not so much.

Amir creating this forum as a place to learn about audio gear isn’t being pushy, and it simply here for anybody who wants to avail themselves of this information.

Likewise, with his YouTube channel. It’s simply put out there for those who find the information valuable. I and many other audiophiles find it hugely valuable.

I guess there’s the question of how intrusive or pushy to be in promoting this information.
For instance, is it “too white night” to bring the stuff up in the subjective audio forums? To “save” some members there?

I guess it comes down to how you view it and the context . For instance, if I was about to buy a valuable gem in Thailand, I would certainly appreciate even a stranger butting in to mention to me that the guy I’m dealing with as a known scammer and the gem is worthless.

To that extent, in some of the subjective forums, I don’t mind being an alternative voice saying “ just so you know, there’s no good technical basis for the performance claims of that cable you are thinking of buying.”

It’s a fine line between helpful and intrusive or obnoxious, giving people the type of help they don’t really want.

hi Matt,
thanks for the reply.

consider that I write and participate only in this forum. I have read them all, the others, like many of us, but I have never found the spark that would make me want to participate in the discussions.
ASR is a “white fly” in the audio panorama. I love advice, especially the ones I have kindly received from Amirm with his work and from many users, who tirelessly write every day out of passion on the forum. I think I am an evolved subjectivist, or if you like, a failed objectivist.
I am slowly understanding the technical scientific reasons that underlie this world, I am treasuring them in my way of listening, radically different from “yesterday” but I cannot leave behind the emotional part that involves me in this hobby. I like collecting devices, I like putting my own into the system, I like dreaming of being able to own the “recommended” AAA class component one day, even if I don’t recognize its thaumaturgical properties, but above all I like the challenge I started with the ASR between technique and my abilities.
You will say, useless stuff, it’s only in your mind!! but I can’t do without it: it would be like you giving up your CJ system or your turntable.
So the advice, when pertinent and interesting, is the basis of the process that leads me with curiosity to inform myself, study, understand and solve.
However, I think I can classify the advice into two large categories: the technical advice, basic for everyone, and the humanistic advice that is necessary for me, because it is the engine of desire of my knowledge. To be refined and then obviously focused on technique.
That’s why I don’t feel like discarding a priori part of the press and part of the experience of hobbyists. I like trying to see things at 360 degrees….

 

[MattHooper]

Perhaps some here will be heartened to see something like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/s/MYLerBhYUl

The Reddit audiophile forum is newer than many other forums, and it’s my impression that the age of participants tends to run somewhat younger than many other older audiophile forums (and a lot more newbies).
On the whole, they seem to have far less patience with the type of audio nonsense that has been taken for granted for years.
See the preponderance of criticism of Stereophile reviewing that ethernet switch.

I don’t know if there is any ASR effect in there, or if it’s a feature of a somewhat newer generation of audiophiles.

 

[Mart68]

Perhaps some here will be heartened to see something like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/s/MYLerBhYUl

''Even Hans Beekhuyzen has had to make concessions that he didn't know what he was talking about.''

Made me laugh while I was drinking milk.

 

[MattHooper]

hi Matt,
thanks for the reply.

consider that I write and participate only in this forum. I have read them all, the others, like many of us, but I have never found the spark that would make me want to participate in the discussions.
ASR is a “white fly” in the audio panorama. I love advice, especially the ones I have kindly received from Amirm with his work and from many users, who tirelessly write every day out of passion on the forum. I think I am an evolved subjectivist, or if you like, a failed objectivist.
I am slowly understanding the technical scientific reasons that underlie this world, I am treasuring them in my way of listening, radically different from “yesterday” but I cannot leave behind the emotional part that involves me in this hobby. I like collecting devices, I like putting my own into the system, I like dreaming of being able to own the “recommended” AAA class component one day, even if I don’t recognize its thaumaturgical properties, but above all I like the challenge I started with the ASR between technique and my abilities.
You will say, useless stuff, it’s only in your mind!! but I can’t do without it: it would be like you giving up your CJ system or your turntable.
So the advice, when pertinent and interesting, is the basis of the process that leads me with curiosity to inform myself, study, understand and solve.
However, I think I can classify the advice into two large categories: the technical advice, basic for everyone, and the humanistic advice that is necessary for me, because it is the engine of desire of my knowledge. To be refined and then obviously focused on technique.
That’s why I don’t feel like discarding a priori part of the press and part of the experience of hobbyists. I like trying to see things at 360 degrees….

I can sympathize with some of what I think you are feeling.

I’m suddenly caught between two worlds myself: I loved my old-school audio journey.
I still enjoy subjective reviews, and I enjoy discussing sound and subjective terms with other audiophiles. I come here because people are dedicated to a lack of BS about equipment, and so one can find accurate information here. There are tons of knowledgable and helpful people here!

On the other hand, given the general allergy to subjective reviews and subjective sound description, I do not find it nourishes all my audio-nerd needs. It can occasionally feel like having stepped into a foreign country and trying to communicate.

 

[Mark617]

Perhaps some here will be heartened to see something like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/s/MYLerBhYUl

The Reddit audiophile forum is newer than many other forums, and it’s my impression that the age of participants tends to run somewhat younger than many other older audiophile forums (and a lot more newbies).
On the whole, they seem to have far less patience with the type of audio nonsense that has been taken for granted for years.
See the preponderance of criticism of Stereophile reviewing that ethernet switch.

I don’t know if there is any ASR effect in there, or if it’s a feature of a somewhat newer generation of audiophiles.

We should remember that Stereophile was started as a reaction against High Fidelity magazine (e.g., J. Gordon Holt) to provide audio reviews that were objective and not caving to the pressure from manufacturers to “tell it like it is.” Unfortunately, we now have this: Silent Angel Bonn NX network switch by Jim Austin, a truly amazing piece of writing as the Reddit discussion forum indicates.

Jim Austin claims in the review that he “opened his mind” to “a greater acceptance of uncertainty, a willingness to give up the certainty of scientific proof and accept things with less evidence than, say, a rigorous double-blind test.” Someone better teach the staff in Stereophile what confirmation bias is. “HiFi streaming networks” is the selling mantra of the company Silent Angel that produces the $3995 switch box which Stereophile is now pushing as a recommended component. The HFA blog (hi-fiadvice.com) goes even more insane Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro and Bonn NX Ethernet Switches and Genesis GX Clock by Christiaan Punter. If we cannot even agree on the scientific method as the basis for analysis, it is difficult to imagine a productive discussion that will provide any insight based on evidence.

Just so we have a dose of reality, people who believe in claims of audibility of network equipment should try the pulling the plug experiment. If one is playing a previously unplayed lossless stream from say Apple or Qobuz pull the plug on the network some two seconds after starting the playback: after 30 seconds playback will still be going. When streaming, you are not literally streaming the music with a steady flow, you are downloading files very quickly on demand into a buffer and playing them from the buffer. You will be equally served by this $24.99 switch box with no audible difference from the recommended $4K box by Stereophile. Audio grade networks my foot!

Stereophile is able to exist because of ad buys from companies selling snake oil. In turn, the companies are able to exist because they get a handful of extremely profitable sales off of the write-ups in Stereophile. It is a vicious closed loop that will last until the people who fall for these ”subjectivist” scams are no longer with us (PS Audio anyone?) or have a “religious experience.”

Opinions, likes or dislikes (including my own) are not data: they are only opinions.

P.S.: TAS gets panned even worse as TAS does not ever provides any form of measurements, plus their pushing of only “high end” (a.k.a., very expensive) products.