Hi there
A lot of discussions occur here about what we can hear as a difference and what we can't hear.
I have my own experience with that.
It's an important question, since measurements should be related to audibility. Ultimately, this is the only thing that matters.
Often, we refer to ABX, or double blind tests.
Unfortunately for us ( I really thing it's unfortunate, since I'm sure most of the users participating here are good will and can be trusted), realizing a real controlled blind test is almost impossible in real life, for most, if not all, of us.
First, you need a second person to operate it.
So what?
Couldn't one design and build an (inexpensive) device that would allow most of us to conduct real controlled tests ?
In my books, that would reinforce the strength of this site. The community is now becoming big enough to be somehow relevant statistically.
Of course, "no significant difference" can hardly be a proof of anything, since you just have to ask your dog/cat/canari to randomly select a source for the result to be irrelevant.
But those who honestly believe they hear a difference would get their chance (and little excuse not to use it).
So, let's start with DAC:
What do we need?
A sort of simplified computer, that will randomly link one of 2 sources to one output, allow control of the sound playback, and record the user's choice, in foobar's ABX plugin way.
An accurate leveling software, which will use some signal, measure DAC output, and accurately match the signal levels.
A switching hardware, controlled by the computer.
A centralized web-based database, to record, aggregate, analyze and show results.
How unrealistic would that be?
Of course, we need to dig deeper in details.
What do you think?
Worth it or not?
Ready to work on it?
What did I miss?
A lot of discussions occur here about what we can hear as a difference and what we can't hear.
I have my own experience with that.
It's an important question, since measurements should be related to audibility. Ultimately, this is the only thing that matters.
Often, we refer to ABX, or double blind tests.
Unfortunately for us ( I really thing it's unfortunate, since I'm sure most of the users participating here are good will and can be trusted), realizing a real controlled blind test is almost impossible in real life, for most, if not all, of us.
First, you need a second person to operate it.
So what?
Couldn't one design and build an (inexpensive) device that would allow most of us to conduct real controlled tests ?
In my books, that would reinforce the strength of this site. The community is now becoming big enough to be somehow relevant statistically.
Of course, "no significant difference" can hardly be a proof of anything, since you just have to ask your dog/cat/canari to randomly select a source for the result to be irrelevant.
But those who honestly believe they hear a difference would get their chance (and little excuse not to use it).
So, let's start with DAC:
What do we need?
A sort of simplified computer, that will randomly link one of 2 sources to one output, allow control of the sound playback, and record the user's choice, in foobar's ABX plugin way.
An accurate leveling software, which will use some signal, measure DAC output, and accurately match the signal levels.
A switching hardware, controlled by the computer.
A centralized web-based database, to record, aggregate, analyze and show results.
How unrealistic would that be?
Of course, we need to dig deeper in details.
What do you think?
Worth it or not?
Ready to work on it?
What did I miss?
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