Archimago wrote: > No need to be so pessimistic] > > The predictable death of Pono and likely gradual tarnishing of MQA are > useful reminders to audiophiles the ridiculous hype being perpetuated. > At some point, I think we reach a point where "faith" is lost and the > religion of the "high end" will crumble. > .
I'd suggest the converse, based on an analysis of the same evidence plus my own life's experience. For example, computer audio was relatively free of placebophiles until about 5-7 years ago. Most really serious computer audio hardware were professional tools, and as long as a product category mainly appeals to professionals, a fairly large dollop of pragmatism goes with it. OK, there was a little trickle of regular high end products but it was relatively speaking a trickle. Now, the influx of snake oil has taken over the computer audio market, and placebo dependent products like magic USB and LAN cables are in their way, mainstream in the computer audiophile market. One other clear symptom of that is the advent of a large market of high-priced earphones and headphones. In the mid 1970s there was one of the first attempts to add rationality to the audio market by popularizing bias-controlled listening test in the form of ABX Comparators. Starting around year 2000, a particularly effective form of ABX Comparators entirely based on low-cost and no-cost Windows software was brought to the marketplace. Today, there is no lack of software availability. There are dozens for Windows and Google Play Store shows at least 2 that even run on commodity and high end cell phones. Yet, accounts of their use are like hen's teeth on the web. They are highly convincing, especially when the audiophile uses them to do their own tests. But, people have got to actually use them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ arnyk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=64365 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=107118 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
