Elevick, I'm quite certain Mattmiller isn't joking around - that smiley face was as transparent as they come. But you have to take a step back and look at this from a wider angle...
Everyone knows that environment - room dimensions, furnishings, fixtures - can play as large a role in sound quality as what you place in the signal chain, and then there's system synergy, speaker placement, toe-in, rake, etc. It's entirely possible that I (and maybe you too) just nailed it in regards to my room and my careful experimentation, measurements, and final placement of my speakers, and that my system actually sounds better than Mattmiller's system.
Last night we listened to some Hope Sandoval, and the wall of sound was exquisite - the speakers disappeared, the image was 10 feet tall, the soundstage was defined. It wasn't great - it was superb, and it sounded superb running Spotify off a cheap $270 Groupon-special laptop into a $189 Audioengine B1. Of course, it helps that these are running through an Audio Research integrated and Purevox speakers with dual AMT tweeters. But it's entirely possible that Mattmiller, with all the research-slogging he's done, and the mistakes he's made and money he's spent, is chasing MY sound. Because resolution is wonderful, but not if it's the only thing you've got going. We've all had at least one of those awkward audio demonstrations, where they're excited to show off a big-dollar system, and you listen and it just doesn't work and you have to fake enthusiasm for the demonstrator. Big money doesn't always guarantee winning sound.
So if you put yourself in Mattmiller's shoes, someone who may not really be happy with what you have (someone truly happy with their place in life, and with what they have, doesn't post what he did), you realize how frustrating it would be if someone else achieved that elusive audio happiness with a device that cost less than dinner for 2 at Del Frisco's and you can understand why he's coming a little unglued.
Everyone knows that environment - room dimensions, furnishings, fixtures - can play as large a role in sound quality as what you place in the signal chain, and then there's system synergy, speaker placement, toe-in, rake, etc. It's entirely possible that I (and maybe you too) just nailed it in regards to my room and my careful experimentation, measurements, and final placement of my speakers, and that my system actually sounds better than Mattmiller's system.
Last night we listened to some Hope Sandoval, and the wall of sound was exquisite - the speakers disappeared, the image was 10 feet tall, the soundstage was defined. It wasn't great - it was superb, and it sounded superb running Spotify off a cheap $270 Groupon-special laptop into a $189 Audioengine B1. Of course, it helps that these are running through an Audio Research integrated and Purevox speakers with dual AMT tweeters. But it's entirely possible that Mattmiller, with all the research-slogging he's done, and the mistakes he's made and money he's spent, is chasing MY sound. Because resolution is wonderful, but not if it's the only thing you've got going. We've all had at least one of those awkward audio demonstrations, where they're excited to show off a big-dollar system, and you listen and it just doesn't work and you have to fake enthusiasm for the demonstrator. Big money doesn't always guarantee winning sound.
So if you put yourself in Mattmiller's shoes, someone who may not really be happy with what you have (someone truly happy with their place in life, and with what they have, doesn't post what he did), you realize how frustrating it would be if someone else achieved that elusive audio happiness with a device that cost less than dinner for 2 at Del Frisco's and you can understand why he's coming a little unglued.