Topic: My answer to SG's question (Read 1136 times)

Marvey · « **on:** October 23, 2012, 04:42:03 AM »

Gutternberg: "My question to them [enthusiasts who measure headphones] is do they really think that when they make these observations about a headphone's sound that they are smarter - they are catching the engineer in some major screwup that they did, an oversight in their design?

HERE IS MY ANSWER:

Not necessarily smarter, but definitely more conscientious. As an engineer by trade, I full know well how engineers sometimes have to take short-cuts or compromise on a design to meet timetables and budgets. Other times, we are simply told to design things in a way which we wouldn't necessarily want to. Even then, the best designs will still have compromises. Transducers are limited to what can do because of physics. It's always interesting to see how the engineers (or the marketing department) approached the design. What trade-offs were taken, etc.
One measurement in itself is useless. However measurements comparing headphone A vs. headphone B illustrate to us some relative differences without influence from personal preferences and biases. These differences can be used (along with other data such as others' subjective impressions) to help us find headphones which meet our personal criteria. This has nothing to do with "catching engineers in some major screwup." It is rather a form of communication, albeit a rather technical one which many people may not have the patience to learn.
My personal preferences, test tracks, reference gear (including reference near-field speakers of my design) are documented on this site. Ultimately, it's my subjective impressions which matters most. I almost always listen first and take measurements later, unless noted. For example, it didn't take measurements for me to say "WTF Sennheiser" with the HD700. Its sounds very different from any other Sennheiser (but closest to HD800 in a wierd way). Nor did it take measurements for me to go "WTF Shure" with the SRH1440s. The measurements just happen to support my observations in these cases and the majority of others.
You need to stop projecting own your neurosis into what other people are doing and why they are doing it (making straw-man arguments.) I've already seen you do this in other articles like the one on neutrality where you sort of implied that people who value neutrality want it because it's "as the artist intended". Neutrality has nothing to do with what the artist intended. I know this for a fact. I was a session bass player. The only thing I intended was how I was playing the basslines. The music, the notes, and how I plucked the strings were the only things which concerned me. I had nothing to do with how the CD was mixed or mastered or ultimately sounded like. Most artists don't care about that stuff. When I wear my "musician" hat, I don't care about that stuff. The entire neutrality thing is something I will address in another post. There's a very simple and practical reason for it; and the reason is hardly as sinister or convoluted as you make it out to be.
Using your logic, perhaps Car and Driver, Motortrend, or Road and Track should just stop reviewing (and measuring the performance) of cars.
Your straw-man argument here sounds eerily similar to that of Jude's and those of other Head-Fi industry promoters. Maybe Jude stole that argument from you (or the other way around.) I don't get free gear, although I think someone will eventually give me something for free. I think most vendors shun me and are afraid of me. I am honest and fully disclose my personal relationships in the industry. I am on friendly terms with Craig / Eddie Current, Jason / Schiit, and Val / V-Moda respectively, mainly because they are local.
Your twitter post concerning the premature death of Joe Grado was utterly FAIL. As an industry reporter, you should check your sources and verify. You should also stop making straw-man arguments. These behaviors make you look like a clown. Perhaps this is intentional because it does bring you attention.
On a positive note, I loved your review of the UE TOTL customizable IEMs.

ultrabike · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:33:26 AM »

Reasonable answers. I would like to know where Guttenberg asked this leading and charged question? (EDIT: Nevermind I see the Youtube link.)

To me it's about separating false marketing from facts. Both measurements and impressions are key in evaluating a product, and any serious product reviewer should understand this. It applies to cars, washers, routers, refrigerators, houses, televisions, ...

It's also about doing the job he should be doing, but for some reason won't or most likely can't.

frenchbat · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2012, 05:38:19 AM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVTSafas1j0

I can't watch the video at work right now, but if I understood correctly, this is the one.

Quote from: ultrabike on October 23, 2012, 05:33:26 AM

Reasonable answers. I would like to know where Guttenberg asked this leading and charged question?

To me it's about separating false marketing from facts. Both measurements and impressions are key in evaluating a product, and any serious product reviewer should understand this. It applies to cars, washers, routers, refrigerators, houses, televisions, ...

It's also about doing the job he should be doing, but for some reason won't or most likely can't.

maverickronin · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2012, 04:52:42 PM »

Good old GutternFail.

I especially love how he assumes that the engineers get to make all the decisions...

Author Topic: My answer to SG's question (Read 1136 times)

Marvey

My answer to SG's question

ultrabike

Re: My answer to SG's question

frenchbat

Re: My answer to SG's question

maverickronin

Re: My answer to SG's question

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Author Topic: My answer to SG's question (Read 1136 times)