How much can be measured -- and how much cannot?


There has been a lot of discussion over the years on Audiogon regarding the measurement of components and other audio products. Some people claim everything is either measurable now or will one day become measurable with more sophisticated measuring equipment. But others say there are things in high end audio that will never me measurable and that measurements are really not that important.

Here is a typical example -- a quote taken from the Stereophile forum regarding their review of the Playback Designs MPS-5:

"JA 2/17/10 Review Measurements of Playback Designs MPS-5
Posted: April 13, 2011 - 8:42am

John Atkinson's 2/17/10 review measurements of the Playback Designs MPS-5 revealed less than stellar technical performance even though Michael Fremer really liked the player. I've included JA's closing measurement remarks below followed by the manufacturer's comments.

To my knowledge there was never any followup in Stereophile regarding the manufacturers reply the MPS-5 could not be adequately measured with traditional measurement techniques.

I believe Stereophile should respond to this reply in the interests of its own measurements credibility.

Len"

How important do you think measurements are? Are the ears really the only true arbiter?
sabai

Showing 1 response by elizabeth

The froofaraw around stuff you cannot measure?
The problem YES there are qualities no one has figured out how to measure. But NO the problem is others abuse this to make rediculous claims no one can podssibly verify realistically.
So we get all sorts of crazy advertising drivel of Quantuum tunneling, and various 'new age' sort ofdrivel to 'explain' whey one item (which looks just like the $10 one) should cost $1,500. instead.

So it really thee FACT some stuff cannot be measured which is important. and then the fact other abuse that first fact to obfuscate issues and sell 'tin plated junk' as is it were gold.

And that bunch of folks pushing to line with bs are the ones I blame.
So all in all yeah i find there are real things which measurements cannot quantify.
On the other side are all sorts of bogus balony being
spouted claming improved sound but no one can show that particualr stuff IS crap due to the aformentioned hustlers being able to pull the "can't be measured card"
So I hope all those con artists (even the one's who seem to actually believe thier own BS) will end up in a Hell of thier own creation.
As PT barnum said: a Sucker is born every minute. In the Audiophile world.. same comment.

I go for plenty of tweaks. so i guess i try to walk a line between folly and science