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Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

RE: You don't use listen tests to determine data errors

Hearing differences is not the end of the world. I hear differences if I move my head half an inch. Every seat in a concert hall sounds slightly different. So it's a concern only if one hears significant differences. If one does hear significant differences and if they are consistent then it is probably possible (with a huge amount of effort) to come to the bottom of the situation and figure out how these differences are happening. As far as I know there is no DAC that is perfect when it comes to isolation. As Thorsten explained, the DAC can be perfect but the amplifiers sensitive to interference. (My Focal powered monitors pick up my cell phone if it's within a few feet.)

There are also people who hear differences that aren't present in the audio equipment or environment but that merely exist inside their own head. I don't believe this covers Merman, since he seems to be a straight up guy. And besides, he has Lucy to keep him honest. Perhaps you should ask Lucy your question? :-)

Also, keep in mind that a Maserati is a more finicky car than a Mercedes, so expensive and high performance is not necessarily the same as stable and reliable. I had a Citation II tube amplifier back in the 60's and 70's and it sounded great when it wasn't blowing up KT88s, etc... I then inherited a Mac 275 that was solid and reliable, but I could never stand its sound. (I was annoyed that I inherited the Mac, because I had advised my grandfather to get a pair of Marantz 9s and he ended up with the Mac 275. However, it might have been a space problem with his custom installation.)


Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar


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