Reproduction of the highest fidelity sound is subject to various myths, subjective perception, personal preferences and psychological factors, like many other human activities.
Many audiophiles prefer sound that deviates from scientific high fidelity, sound accuracy and sound neutrality for several reasons, often rooted in personal preferences, psychological factors, and subjective experiences:
1. Preference for Coloration
Some audiophiles enjoy the "character" or "warmth" added by certain equipment, like tube amplifiers or vinyl records, even if these introduce measurable distortions or deviate from a neutral sound. These colorations can evoke nostalgia or enhance emotional engagement with music.
2. Subjective Experience
High fidelity prioritizes accuracy, but personal taste often values subjective enjoyment over technical precision. An audiophile might prefer a sound signature (e.g., boosted bass or treble) that aligns with their musical preferences, even if it's not technically accurate.
3. Psychoacoustic Biases
Humans are influenced by psychological factors, such as expectation bias. If an audiophile believes a particular piece of gear improves sound, they might perceive it as superior, regardless of measurable differences.
4. Romanticism of Analog Formats
Formats like vinyl and reel-to-reel tapes, despite their limitations (e.g., noise, distortion), are often perceived as "organic" or "natural." This preference is more about the experience and ritual of listening than about fidelity.
5. Skepticism of Measurements
Some audiophiles distrust the ability of scientific measurements to fully capture the nuances of sound that they perceive as important. They may argue that what "sounds good" isn't always what measures perfectly.
6. Cultural and Marketing Influence
The audiophile community and industry often glorify exotic and expensive components, even if their benefits are not scientifically substantiated. This culture can lead to preferences that prioritize rarity or perceived craftsmanship over fidelity.
7. Emotional Connection
Music listening is an emotional experience. Equipment or sound signatures that evoke strong emotional responses may be preferred over a neutral, highly accurate reproduction.
8. Legacy of High-End Audio Gear
Audiophiles sometimes prefer vintage or classic equipment, which may not align with modern high-fidelity standards but carries historical significance or sentimental value.
9. Snobbery and Elitism
Some audiophiles take pride in owning rare or expensive equipment, seeing it as a status symbol that sets them apart. This can lead to dismissing more affordable or scientifically sound options as "lesser," regardless of their performance.
10. Prestige and Brand Value
High-end audio brands often market their products as luxury items, emphasizing craftsmanship, exclusivity, and mystique. Owning such brands can become as much about prestige as about sound quality.
Limited edition or handcrafted items are particularly appealing, even if their performance is not demonstrably superior.
11. Quest for Exclusivity
The desire to own something unique and inaccessible to the masses drives audiophiles toward boutique brands, esoteric technologies, or highly customized solutions. These exclusive products may prioritize novelty or artistic design over fidelity.
Some audiophiles deliberately choose unconventional or niche equipment, signaling their deeper involvement in the hobby.
12. Luxury Over Practicality
Features like gold-plated connectors, exotic materials (e.g., silver cables or cryogenically treated components), or hand-assembled amplifiers often appeal more for their perceived luxury than their actual acoustic impact.
In summary, while science and high fidelity emphasize accuracy and neutrality, audiophiles often prioritize emotional connection, personal preferences, and the experiential aspects of listening, even if that means deviating from scientific principles of sound reproduction, sound accuracy and sound neutrality.
Audiophiles often approach sound reproduction subjectively, using a variety of devices and accessories that they believe enhance their listening experience, even though some of these items
may have little to no measurable and audible effect on sound quality. Here are specific examples of such devices and accessories:
1. Expensive High-End Speaker Cables
Many audiophiles still claim that expensive speaker cables contribute to better sound reproduction, although many scientific studies and blind listening tests show that the difference between a 2x2mm² cross section copper cable costing a few euros per meter and a cable costing hundreds of euros cannot be detected in comparative listening tests. There is nothing magical or mysterious about expensive cables.
If the cable resistance is less than 100 mΩ and the inductance is less than 3 μH, the cable will be imperceptible in sound reproduction, meaning it will neither add nor subtract anything from the signal or the sound derived from that signal. Of course, provided the cable is connected to a high-quality amplifier with low distortion. The mentioned 2x2mm² copper cable is more than sufficient for the highest sound reproduction and has no impact on it.
Many audiophiles claim that premium cables, often made from exotic materials like silver, gold, or even carbon fiber, improve sound quality. They argue that these cables reduce distortion and improve clarity. Despite scientific studies showing no difference in sound quality, some audiophiles swear by their effects.
Therefore, spending more than 50 EUR for a speaker cable is unjustified in terms of objective and audible sound improvement.
2. Expensive High-End Audio DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters)
Audiophile-grade DACs are often marketed as improving the clarity, precision, and warmth of sound. They typically focus on providing higher bit-depth and sample rates, but in many cases, the subjective improvements can be due to psychological factors, such as placebo effect, expectations of a better listening experience or some other subjective aspects listed above. The difference between high-quality DAC devices with THD+N, IMD greater than 100db, low jitter and high quality power supply is not noticeable in sound tests. Therefore, spending more than 500 EUR for a DAC is unjustified in terms of objective and audible sound improvement. In comparative blind hearing tests, the difference could not be observed.
3. Turntables and records
CDs objectively provide more faithful sound reproduction because they deliver a cleaner, more accurate representation of the recorded audio. This is evident from what many audio listening tests show. Here are the technical reasons why this is the case:
o Vinyl records inherently introduce distortion, surface noise, and frequency limitations due to the physical nature of the medium.
o Dynamic range is typically more limited (around 60-70 dB) compared to CDs (~96 dB).
o Variations like tracking errors, groove wear, and the turntable's components (e.g., cartridge, tonearm, platter) can influence playback.
Despite the above, many audiophiles prefer turntables due to:
1. Perceived Warmth and Euphony:
Vinyl records can add subtle harmonic distortion that some find pleasing. This "warmth" is technically a coloration but can enhance the emotional connection to the music.
2. Tangibility and Ritual:
Handling records and observing the playback process can enhance the listening experience, making it feel more engaging and authentic.
3. Mastering Differences:
Vinyl records are sometimes mastered differently than CDs, leading to distinct sonic characteristics. For instance, vinyl mastering often avoids overcompression (a common issue in modern CDs) due to physical limitations, which some listeners perceive as better dynamics.
4. Nostalgia and Cultural Value:
Vinyl records evoke a sense of nostalgia and tradition, which influences subjective impressions of their sound.
5. Expensive HiFi amplifier
For typical home setups, once you reach an amplifier that provides low distortion (THD+N below 0,01%, IMD below 0,01%), sufficient power output around 100W/8 Ohm, adequate signal-to-noise ratio better then 90db, damping factor higher then 100 and channel separation higher then 60db , spending significantly more money generally results in diminishing returns. There is a price point around 1000 EUR beyond which spending more money on an amplifier does not yield measurable and audible improvements in sound quality for most listeners in normal listening conditions. If a class AB or class A amplifier has the similar high performance as a class D amplifier (low distortion, good frequency response, etc.), then objectively there will not be difference in sound between them, and this would mean that the subjective perception of the sound characteristics would be very close or almost identical.
6. Tube Amplifiers
Valve or tube amplifiers are favored by some audiophiles because they are believed to produce a "warmer" sound, especially in the midrange frequencies. The subjective appeal comes from the harmonic distortion characteristics that tube amps create, which some listeners find pleasing. Solid-state amplifiers, while more accurate in terms of technical performance, are sometimes perceived as too "sterile" by these audiophiles.
7. High-Resolution Audio Files (HD Audio)
Audiophiles often seek out high-resolution audio files, such as FLAC, DSD, or other formats that offer greater bit-depth and sample rates than typical CD-quality files. Many claim that these files provide a more detailed and immersive listening experience, although the differences are not noticeable, either by measurement or in listening tests.
Conclusion
While many of audio devices and accessories are based on subjective perceptions rather than objective improvements in sound quality, audiophiles often justify their use through a blend of personal preference, emotional connection to the experience, and sometimes the desire for exclusivity or prestige. The subjective nature of sound reproduction, combined with these high-end products, means that audiophiles may derive pleasure from their equipment even if there is no measurable difference in performance.
Tihomir Haralović, M.Sc. in Physics
Zagreb, 26 November 2024