ralphpnj;685309 Wrote: > As I stated in my prior post I have no problem with the manufacturers > doing this but this is not what they claim nor is it how they "eye > candy" is marketed. They claim that their products are more than just > "eye candy" and that their product sound better than lower cost > equipment. Now in the case of many analog devices (preamps, power amps, > etc.) this may, in fact, be true but in the case of a music/media > streamer I would like to know if this can also be true.
But, ralphpnj, aren't you just circling back to the same old argument, here? And, while I agree with you (and mcr, for that matter) in principle, who's the arbiter of what's "better sound"? If it's truly just a Ford chassis and engine with a Ferrari body and you're not told that when you buy, it's an outright lie. If you are told this (mcr's point of view) and you choose to pay the premium, anyway, you and I might think that's crazy and shallow, but it's that fellow's money and, if it makes him feel better and more virile, etc, etc. that's fine since he knows what he's buying (your point). The problem is that we cannot, despite all the wrangling here and elsewhere, define what is "better sound", because it's a multi-sensory and psychological experience which has proven, at best, elusive to rationally and objectively define. Obviously, some elements of the experience do lend themselves to quantification, but other elements do not. The subjective elements themselves and the relative importance of those elements vary from individual to individual---thus making "better" a claim with a too-wide spectrum for those who want only empiricism, but fertile ground for companies (and individuals) that enjoy making competing claims and duking it out in the marketplace. IMO, whether we like it or not, the real truth in this whole business is that it is, inseperably, part science AND part art. My own suspicion is that (like some good advice in another thread regarding priorities for improving one's system) once the basics are handled well, the differences between something like the T & A and Touch (just considering the transport portion of the devices) mostly lie in the margins. But there are things on those margins that, for one person or another, constitute "better" and, depending on their perceptions, needs, and pocketbook, they may or may not wish to pay a premium for those things. Personally, I think my Touch sounds just fine as a digital transport, but I might have a go at putting a spoiler and wider tires on to improve it's handling a bit. However, I'm not paying 10X or 20X the Touch's price for what, in my own personal belief system, is likely just a marginal improvement to that aspect of its functionality. If I may point out.....while there is no excuse for spewing falsehoods and intentional fleecing of people, the audio industry is only one of hundreds (thousands??) of marketplaces where competing claims of "better" can't necessarily be reduced to 100% hard science. Does your Bosch dishwasher clean your dishes "better" than my GE? Bosch says it does, AND it's considerably more expensive, AND you're willing to pay for that....it's measurably 5 db quieter, the dealer says it has "better" quality parts (it lasts longer), easier to service, and you really like that little bit of "brighter shine" that you see on your glasses and flatware compared to how they looked with your old unit. But I say that's nonesense---clean is clean (I don't see any food bits on my dishes!) and the rest is just fluff to jack up the price......and 'round and 'round we go. What is the definition of "clean" vs. "cleaner"? Visual appeal, bacterial content...???? I understand the very human drive in us and here, in particular, for absolute precision in having a common measuring system so that all the relevant parameters that will enable true and accurate comparision shopping and/or listening are out there for everybody to see, use, and understand. But I doubt that's never going to happen---not because the manufacturers or individuals are necessarily sleazy operators, but because given the complexities of the medium, I think it's near impossible! Besides, if we did achieve that level of precision, there would be almost nothing to talk about. And then wouldn't you really miss this forum and its colorful cast of characters??? ;) -- rgro Rg System information ------------------------ Main: PS Audio Quintet > Vortexbox > Touch (wired) via optical > Rega DAC > LFD LE IV Signature amp > VA Mozart Grands > REL Acoustics R305 sub. Home Theatre: Duet/SBR (Wired) > Pioneer VSX 919 > Energy Take 5 Classic 5.1. SBS 7.7.1 r33751 on a Vortexbox Appliance, V 2.0. Touch w/Hardware V.5. Touch: FW 7.7.1 r9558. Duet: FW 7.7.1 r9557. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ rgro's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=34348 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=93111 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
