eiret;307320 Wrote: 
> I have read that musicians use different acoustic guitars for different
> songs. Its still an acoustic guitar.
> 
> I have read that some professional studio engineers use different
> speakers(monitors) for different songs. Its still speakers(monitors)

Good point!  I like different music played thru different systems
myself.

I designed and scratch-built a SE system for my bedroom, restored
vintage 1950's tube stuff for my living room, and use modern solid
state in my music room.  Each gives a different presentation, none of
which is invalid, I think.  A lot of that is the different speakers
(single driver vs. dynamic vs. planar) in the different systems.  What
is remarkable, I suppose, is that at least my feeble brain is convinced
by the illusion of real music in each case.  

The Transporter certainly is an asset in any of these systems, but they
seem to showcase different strengths in each context.  And altho I've
offended the gods by (horrors) modding it, and even worse throwing away
perfectly good money "fixin' something that don't need fixin'" the
result has been pleasing to my audiophile sensibilities.  For me this
is Fun!   

Back to "truth vs. beauty." I don't know if modifying my Transporter
has anything to do with objective "truth" if there is such a thing with
recorded sound.  I'm no believer that measurements can capture fidelity
(even tho I make my living doing measurement).  Music is such a complex
time-domain phenomenon, that the vast majority of measurements used as
standards of fidelity fall short of the mark.  I don't know of anyone
who has predictably reproduced real-life sonic holography.  

As for those who say that measurements prove a modded unit will be
inferior to the original, I'm going to maintain that the measurements
are flawed, even more than the (subjectively) experienced outcome.  To
quote Brian Beezely: 
"A measurement can be a cardinal measurement that yields a value, such
as total harmonic distortion. It may also be an ordinal measurement
that yields an ordering (this amplifier sounds more distorted than
that
one). One is objective and the other subjective, but both are
measurements. In principle, both can be made to any degree of
repeatability by suitable experimental design.

One value of a measurement, cardinal or ordinal, is that it defines
what you're talking about. Once people agree on a measurement
procedure, they can independently investigate something knowing
they're all dealing with the same thing. In fact, for vague or
ethereal phenomena, the measurement itself can serve as a definition.

Without a good definition, communication about a phenomenon can be
unreliable and difficult. Individuals may know exactly what they mean
by an undefined term, but for others the meaning may be different. A
clearly defined measurement procedure can prevent such
misunderstanding.

Definitions can change, and they can multiply. Measurement may reveal
unexpected complexity. For example, IEEE 185-1975, the tuner testing
standard, defines at least three measurements of sensitivity. The
vague notion of "signal pulling power" turns out to be not so simple."

I don't think we have the consistently agreed-upon measurements yet to
adequately describe the magic part of music.  Not that it isn't
possible.  But if they exist, they aren't commonly understood in a way
that allows non-scientists to consistently communicate about them.  Nor
does the current state of audio measurement art allow different
scientists to reliably achieve the same effect in reproducing musical
events.  

Beauty, on the other hand is, and should be subjective.  After
modifying my Transporter, Beauty is certainly accomplished, at least
for me. But then again, I suppose because beauty is such a subjective
phenomenon, I shouldn't be surprised that other folks might object to
such a subjective claim.  After all, who am I to criticize someone
else's concept of beauty?  Unqualified, fer sure!

Thanks


-- 
HalleysComet
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