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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
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