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what is a high end component ?

the term "high end" is used to connote excellence of construction and sound.

yet there is no clear description or definition of the term.

sometimes the word is used in the context of marketing, advertsing to increase the probability of a sale.

it is hard to establish a benchmark for or an objective standard for quality of construction.

i have a suggestion for evaluating the aspect of sound quality.

i believe that high end is synonymous with minimal distortion. the question is how to define distortion, as it is multi dimensional and how to measure it.

in addition, an algorithm or equation combing the types of distortion would need to be developed to arrive at a quantitative rating.

i suspect however, that listening is the key and that ultimately it would be useful for expert listeners to judge distortion by listening, or failing that to evaluate a component or stereo system and assign the label high end or not high end. yes there will be disagreement. yes this is not scientific. it would be interesting to see if say 75 % of alistening panel could agree.

otherwise what we are left with is the term being heavily influenced by price of component, manufacturer and appearance.

any ideas
mrtennis
tvad
9,467 posts
 
One's opinion will always be considered biased by those who do not
agree, and one always brings past experiences to an opinion. It’s just
impossible not to do so. Therefore, an opinion is always biased.

To use your food example, you may claim not to like Sea Urchin, having
never eaten it. However, your dislike of Sea Urchin will invariably be
influenced by your past experience eating seafood, or another
food which you did not like that looks similar to Sea Urchin, or by
stepping on a spiky chestnut when you were a child that reminds you of
a Sea urchin, or any number of other possibilities. Our perceptions of
new things are always founded upon past experiences that we relate,
rightly or wrongly, to the new thing.

Furthermore, any qualifier of an “unbiased opinion” made by someone
expressing their opinion is essentially an attempt to persuade others to
accept the opinion based on its having been formed fairly and honestly.
However, it is anything but unbiased.

Just throw a dart at any Audiogon thread and read the evidence for
yourself.

Mrtennis, natural or synthetic gut?
1markr
525 posts
 
Back to the question...

If you can't buy it at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, then it's high end....;)
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
et's reconsider the question of bias.

bias entails prejudging.

if i say i don't like certain solid stae amps and specific solid state preamps and i have auditioned each of these for hours and hours.

i have evidence for my opinion. it is not biased even if someone likes one of the amps or pre amps i do not.

i have formed an opinion based upon listening. if i say i do not abarnd x solid state amp without listening to it. that is a biased opinion.

is there no difference between forming an opinion based upon experience and forming an opinion based upon no experience ?

if all opinions are biased, what value are they and what is the point of having a discussion if the substance is biased opinions ?
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Webster's Dictionary definition of bias:
an inclination of temperament or outlook; esp: prejudice.

One can be inclined to have a certain outlook about any subject whether or not one has personal experience with that subject. One's outlook...or bias...can be formed through direct or indirect knowledge.

Sorry, Mr tennis, I don't think your argument holds water.

Beyond that, this discussion no longer has any relevance to the question of what constitutes high end equipment.

Personally, I believe the definition of high end audio gear is different for every individual based on many factors including exposure or knowledge of components, and economic means.
mrtennis OP
3,295 posts
 
the question still remains, if all opinios are biased, what is to be gained by mentioning them ?
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