I'm going to jump into this discussion, or should I call it debate, which is often tiresome. There are many of these in audio as all of us on this forum know so well: analog vs digital, tubes vs SS, etc. etc., and of course cabling of all kinds. The usual divide is between the "scientists" (the ones who go by the measurement) and the "believers" (who swear by what they hear). These divisions then are reminiscent of the larger debates between adherents to science generally and those who adhere to religion. And earlier writer on this thread also referred to this.
I'm a believer in both the science and in my ears. That's not as much fence sitting as it appears. I think measurements say a lot, but as even some of the strong adherents of measurement admit (spoke to one respected person in this camp yesterday), the psychoanalytic effect is not to be dismissed. Why? Because, as I've said often on this circle, the only important measurement in terms of what we enjoy and therefore what we buy is what we as listener hear. It might not be measurable on a graph or test equipment, but it is no less real to the listener. And let's face it, there are many things in life that are real to individuals that are not measurable, especially when it comes to individual judgement. Often my wife and I disagree on a movie. She renders a judgement on what she sees, as do I, and we interpret that in different ways. So why wouldn't this apply to the equally highly subjective business of what we hear?
So, when someone says to me that he can hear a difference, I can't, and more importantly, won't say he's just dreaming. And even if he were dreaming, why should I try to deny him his dream. Isn't true that audio enthusiasts - audiophiles - in a way are in a very dreamy hobby?
Dave
I would not call believers those who can hear differences, it is another category I would say, and hearing a difference is not the contention for me.
And I do not think the comparison to disagreement on a movie really stands, movie critique is an entirely subjective view of expression, art, etc.
Preferences in this hobby are also very subjective, not everyone aims for truthful reproduction of the recording and not everyone has a reference in live unamplified sound of voices and instruments. You (and I) may prefer large(r) studio monitors, maybe not even for the same reasons, while some dismiss them as “non-audiophile” (whatever that may mean).
But we are not talking about preferences here at all.
I am not denying that power cord may introduce change in sound, but the point I am making is that those changes are negligible, to the extent that can be easily dismissed, and on such small scale that those who claim revelatory kind of improvement when power cords are swapped are in fact incapable of identifying those power cords when challenged.
Furthermore, those minute changes in sound can be correlated to measurements, there is nothing mystical about it, and only those who have no grasp in physics of any kind resort to irrational arguments completely devoid of any facts and science.
Same goes with cryo treatment, CD demagnetizers, etc. I could hear the change these things introduce, but it is so insignificant and inconsistently noticeable that I would never ever pay a penny for it, let alone thousands of $.
There is a whole industry developed around this that thrives on foolishness.
It is one thing to be engaged in discussion about this hobby, merits of technologies, preferences, and another to drivel all the time from hard position not founded in any reason and logic.
Yet, it is those who have no knowledge of any kind in related disciplines that want to impose their views on others and dictate who could or could not post in these forums.
Such individuals have strange (to put it mildly) views on many other subjects.
You see it all the time, the moment someone challenges those views they jump in dismissing even one’s right to post on these forums.
