Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site loral.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!sdccs6!loral!simard From: simard@loral.UUCP (Ray Simard) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: Zen and the Art of Audio Engineering Message-ID: <394@loral.UUCP> Date: Sun, 12-Aug-84 16:14:23 EDT Article-I.D.: loral.394 Posted: Sun Aug 12 16:14:23 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 14-Aug-84 01:06:50 EDT References: <818@houxm.UUCP>, <675@opus.UUCP> Organization: Loral Instrumentation, San Diego, CA Lines: 42 [Turn on the old Victrola, and we'll dance the night away...] >Whatever happened to scientific method in audio engineering and equipment >review. All I see are two camps: in one, the "golden ears" that profess >to hear magnificent music from certain types/brands of equipment whithout >any supporting scientific justification; and, in the other camp we have the >armchair audio engineers, who ridicule the "golden ears" using defimation >of character rather than scientific method as ammunition... The scientific method is great if you are researching the mysteries of subatomic particles, a cure for cancer, or the nature of quasars. It is also appropriate if you are indeed determining the measurable parameters of a piece of equipment. But this argument is an apples-and-oranges comparison. Look, music and the equipment it is played on exist for one purpose: to create an audible stimulus for purposes of enjoyment. It follows, therefore, that, if YOU like what you are hearing, it is right for you. To argue that it must be right for someone else, or to accept that someone's impression of what you enjoy should not be enjoyable, is just plain ridiculous. You might as well set up an endless discussion on the relative merits of flavors of ice cream! Whatever is your favorite, someone will hate it and argue that, because you don't like what he likes, there is something wrong with you. Screw 'em, and keep buying the flavor you like. Same with audio gear. This is not to disparage efforts by persons to honestly discuss their impressions of music and equipment; such discussions can be very valuable. But seems to me we should respect those postings, and if we get a different experience of a piece of music or equipment, we should post our own impressions for contrast. But there is no point is jumping all over the other writer for not getting the same experience we did. -- [ ] [ I am not a stranger, but a friend you haven't met yet ] [ ] Ray Simard Loral Instrumentation, San Diego {ucbvax, ittvax!dcdwest}!sdcsvax!sdccsu3!loral!simard