And so the next major audiophile engineering challenge is, err, well what?

[Primalsea]

What are we getting at here, are cable the next engineering challenge?? Well maybe they are. Not produce even more expensive cables shrouded in mystery but to develop more advanced correlation between what we subjectively prefer and consider better to the test results.

Does anyone remember the Hifi+ attempt to blind score cables?? It all went horribly wrong and they came under quite a bit of flak for it as it seemed they cooked the results. They did raise one point in their defence that what quite valid although not a valid defence for them.

This was that some things seem not particularly grabbing to start with but in the long run they turn out to be preferable. Likewise there is also the other side of this; things that seem initially better turn out to be rather annoying.

For me this is often the case as I find that kit that is well balanced sounds second place to those with a particular character. It often takes a few weeks for me to decide if I like it or not. Although there has been a few things that I have hated from the off.

However you then have to consider personal taste. I have a pair of Martin Logans which certainly have some character but it’s a character I liked and continued to like in the long run.

So I would say the only way to access something is to try it for an extended period and see if you can live with it. Also remember these cliché’s:

The grass is always greener………….
You never know what you had until its gone.
Once the honeymoon period is over……….

[niklasthedolphin]

In the light of the highest possible quality of music sound reproduction:

I think that it will be the reintroduction of the best sources ever and do it in a form making them more convenient, user-friendly and less money consuming.
Maybe even reinventing magnetic storing of reproduced music into a new format.
I am talking about (reel to reel) tape recording.

Furthermore it will be a challenge to reestablish the reputation in the hifi trade industry and get rid of all those snake-oil products and adjust prices other perifer components to the proportion of influence they have on the sound.

"dolph"

[Hozepipe]

This was that some things seem not particularly grabbing to start with but in the long run they turn out to be preferable. Likewise there is also the other side of this; things that seem initially better turn out to be rather annoying.

For me this is often the case as I find that kit that is well balanced sounds second place to those with a particular character. It often takes a few weeks for me to decide if I like it or not. Although there has been a few things that I have hated from the off.

However you then have to consider personal taste. I have a pair of Martin Logans which certainly have some character but it’s a character I liked and continued to like in the long run.

So I would say the only way to access something is to try it for an extended period and see if you can live with it.

Thought I'd just chip in, as a new boy and all...

I concur with the above most definitely. It usually takes me a long time to decide on a change - and the best way (for me anyway) is to not sit there and 'evaluate'. I think that's when the character system tends to stand out - but you don't normally listen in evaluate mode so I think it skews judgment. I've made more wrong decisions that way than I care to remember. The biggest variable in my system tends to be me, sometimes I think my system sounds just alright, other times I think it's sublime. I have no way of knowing what causes the variation, whether it's purely psychoacoustic or real, whatever that means. So (statistically speaking) taking many days of listening will tend to average out the variables. Well, that's my theory anyway.

simon

[Marco]

I completely agree with that, Simon! Particularly this bit:

It usually takes me a long time to decide on a change - and the best way (for me anyway) is to not sit there and 'evaluate'. I think that's when the character system tends to stand out - but you don't normally listen in evaluate mode so I think it skews judgment.

That's why blind tests don't work!

Marco.

[Hozepipe]

Thanks Marco. I don't often talk any sense so its nice to be appreciated

Didn't want to go too far OT from Howard's OP. I think I read somewhere Howard's list of criteria he uses to judge and compare kit though...? Horses for courses - I'm sure some people are really good at making a concerted effort in evaluating, and being right about it! It just doesn't seem to work for me.

To get back on topic and offer a suggestion to the OP, the next engineering challenge is a social/perceptual one. If someone can 'engineer' a foolproof method for judging the merit of any component change in a single sitting that's consistent across every set of ears then that would be a huge leap IMO. (I am only half serious )

s

[Ali Tait]

Agree with this too.IMHO the only way to really evaluate a change is to live with it for a week or two and then swop back and see which is preferred.

[Primalsea]

Yep, take your time and don't rush into it.

Of course this is exactly what most dealers don't want you to do.

They would rather tell you thats its better than what you have and try and make it that your the arsehole if you think otherwise. Then they just want your luverly cash in their pocket as soon as possible afterwards.

[Marco]

Indeed so, Paul. I always laugh when I hear people saying that such-and-such a dealer is "my friend". Utter bollocks - he or she is only 'your friend' because (ultimately) they want your money!

That's not to say though that some dealers aren't perfectly nice (and often helpful) people who will try and do their best to provide you with what you want. But quite simply you're deluded if you're under the impression that your dealer is your best buddy...

With regards to evaluating equipment and cables, it's like Ali says, the *only* way to do it properly is to install 'X' new component or cable and live with it for a week, then swap back to your old stuff and if it instantly sounds worse then you know you've obtained a genuine improvement, and conversely the reverse applies.

Quick-fire A/B comparisons are next to useless as almost always (unless something is really bad) a different, often more 'impressive' sound, is psychologically considered as better when in reality in the long term in many cases it isn't. Blind testing is just a joke because your head isn't in the right 'zone'.

Marco.

[Primalsea]

Yep, perception is as much as what goes on in your cortex as what going on outside.

We could all learn from the Barry Boi's here and put go faster stripes on our equipment. It will be the best upgrade ever. I might even lower the supports on the base of my amp so its closer to the ground. Possibly even a spoiler.lol

However this does bring me on to one of my pet hates (Oh god, he's off again) which is case work. It seems that many manufacturers have given up on trying to improve the technology and have instead moved onto just making huge OTT cases. In the begining 6mm alu facias were good. Then it was 10mm, now I've seen some stuff with 15mm alu slabs bolted together to form the case. When you look inside you see nothing special however.

[StanleyB]

It seems that many manufacturers have given up on trying to improve the technology and have instead moved onto just making huge OTT cases. In the begining 6mm alu facias were good. Then it was 10mm, now I've seen some stuff with 15mm alu slabs bolted together to form the case. When you look inside you see nothing special however.

Funny you mention that...