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From: dca@edison.UUCP (David C. Albrecht)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Re: nut.audio:  The "ear" vs. the "instrument"
Message-ID: <569@edison.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Oct-85 17:59:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: edison.569
Posted: Fri Oct  4 17:59:27 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Oct-85 03:43:15 EDT
References: <787@nmtvax.UUCP>
Organization: General Electric Company, Charlottesville, VA
Lines: 34

> >>most sensitive instruments (and the only meaningful instruments) that
> >>audiophiles possess -- OUR EARS.
> >
> >This statement proves your belief in the supernatural, now, doesn't
> >it?  You say that OUR EARS are the only meaningful instruments, and
> >deny that audiophiles have any other important instruments than
> >their ears.
> 
Both sides of this argument have some validity.  Certainly anything we
can hear can be measured.  But, (and it's a big but folks) knowing what
it is we need to measure is a task which our ears with proper
test procedures can greatly aid.

Saying that the ear is the most
sensitive instrument is, of course, total horseshit.  The ear is
a very complex and versatile instrument but in any given domain
is vastly exceeded by electronic instruments.  The forte of the
ear lies in its versatility and the very complex signal processing
capability that backs it.  It is the signal processing that makes
the ear such a powerful instrument and with our incomplete understanding
of what processing is going on makes it hard to quantify what it is
the ear can and can't hear.

Saying that ears are the only arbiter
is an unfortunate attitude which tends toward a plethora of inaccurate
equipment as everyones sensation of sound differs just as everyones
sensation of taste (including what they consider accurate or pleasing).
Striving for measurable accuracy will at least get closer to what the
artist/producer/record company were trying to present instead of having
everyone running off into a dozen self-serving directions.

David Albrecht

hard to