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Author Topic: Q&A with Pete Millett  (Read 3281 times)

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The Monkey

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Re: Q&A with Pete Millett
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2012, 08:03:53 PM »
Nice interview.  Pete is one of the nicest, most down to earth guys I've met in the hobby.
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Tari

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Re: Q&A with Pete Millett
« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2012, 08:10:34 PM »
Sometimes I wonder if the only way for these designers to stay so nice is by staying away from the forums.  Seeing all sorts of consumers knock your products without what you feel to be good reason is bound to make you cynical, jaded, and not very fun to be around.


I agree, even though I hadn't talked to him in the past, he is a total class act.
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Tari

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Re: Q&A with Pete Millett
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2013, 11:18:19 PM »
Figured I'd copy/paste a post by Pete on IF on the subject of correlation/importance of objective measurements vs subjective listening for posterity:


Too lazy to re-format, sorry.


Tyll, that's a pretty good discussion of measuring vs. listening.

People really need to understand a couple of fundamental facts:
1. If you like it, it's good.  Period.

2. Measurements probably won't tell you if you will like it.  You need to listen to it.

As you know, I'm an engineer.  And I make lots of measurements.  I believe I can almost predict how people will describe the sound of an amplifier by interpreting the measurements I make.  But I absolutelycannot say "this will sound good" based on measurements.  I can usually make some predictions, like "this will sound pretty bright" or maybe even "I bet this will sound awesome on female vocals with HD-800's".  But "good" is in the ear of the listener, not me.

Sometimes, I can say "this will sound like cr@p", though.

Single-parameter measurements - especially THD - really mean nothing.  I think we've all heard stuff that sounds really good to us that has pretty high THD (like 1%)... and stuff that sounded terrible that had 0.05% THD.  The perceived sound is so much more complex than a single measurement.

That said, if somebody tried to sell me a power amp that had 10% THD at 1 watt, I wouldn't even consider it, because I know it will sound bad.  There are limits, of course!
[/size][/color][/color]More involved measurements like FFTs can shed a bit more light on the sound.  But no measurements can really model how you percieve sound.Unfortunately, our business is full of snake-oil salesmen who fully believe their own lies, so you have to view all measurements - and claims that "this sounds better than that" -  with skepticism.[/color]Except for what I say, of course...  ;)
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