QUOTE (Yahzi @ Dec 24 2012, 11:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've heard audiophiles claim time and time again that what we measure does not reflect what we hear in a listening evaluation. I think Floyd Tool is the pioneer in conducting the studies for this, but who else as in a position of authority has led research into this field? It can't be mere opinion. I feel measurements largely do correlate with subjective sound quality but I don't think *all* measurements do. Some are more relevant than others.
What is your position?
What is your position?
I am more of a lurker on this board but I would like to contribute the following:
The problem with measurements is well the metrics! Performance is only relevant when you define your metrics. And here in lies the rub:
Without sounding too coy is that as far as I am aware of there are no measurements that describe "hearing" or rather more ambiguously "sound in which your brain interprets it." So truth be told, the audiophile is partially correct, citing THD, FR, spectrum analysis, etc. etc. all do not tell me a damn on how I actually perceive. They sure do give some obvious indicators and are invaluable tools to determine audibility in the first place (and what isn't audible but placebo). This is why many of the adaptive predictive models had to be fine tuned and then *listener* verified via sophisticated DBTs (e.g. MP3).
But frankly, audiophiles reviews and impressions still contain intrinsic value even if most of it "can't be trusted" since they are interpretations on how they "hear" which as far as I know is how everyone on this thread hears too...