bob wrote:
Mark DeBellis wrote:

You're dodging the question: Given that you cannot tell whether the
reviewer is just imagining a difference, do his comments have any value
for you? If so, what?

Lets look at how courts of law look at something similar. It is a
proven fact that eye witness tesimony is unreliable much in the same
way as is sighted listening. Yet eye witness testimony is allowed in
court and can be considered a part of proof beyond a reasonable doubt
of someone's guilt in a serious crime. people are unreliable. people do
make mistakes. people are subject to biases and other factors when they
make tesimonial claims. It is good to know this about human
testimonials. But value is not a black and white issue. Does a
reviewer's testimonial have *any* value to me? Often yes, it has *some*
value. Is it ever taken as dogma? Not by me. If it is offered as such I
become even more skeptical. For me reviews never lead to anything more
than an audition. At that point any decisions are on me. I would hope
that other audiophiles regardless of their beliefs also take
responsibility for their purchasing decisions as well.

Scott

wrote in message
...
bob wrote:
Mark DeBellis wrote:

You're dodging the question: Given that you cannot tell whether the
reviewer is just imagining a difference, do his comments have any value
for you? If so, what?

Lets look at how courts of law look at something similar. It is a
proven fact that eye witness tesimony is unreliable much in the same
way as is sighted listening. Yet eye witness testimony is allowed in
court and can be considered a part of proof beyond a reasonable doubt
of someone's guilt in a serious crime. people are unreliable. people do
make mistakes. people are subject to biases and other factors when they
make tesimonial claims. It is good to know this about human
testimonials. But value is not a black and white issue. Does a
reviewer's testimonial have *any* value to me? Often yes, it has *some*
value. Is it ever taken as dogma? Not by me. If it is offered as such I
become even more skeptical. For me reviews never lead to anything more
than an audition. At that point any decisions are on me. I would hope
that other audiophiles regardless of their beliefs also take
responsibility for their purchasing decisions as well.

Scott

I believe most do. This is just an objectivist bogeyman....as I have said
here before, the operating assumption seems to be that audiophiles are just
sheep waiting to be herded or fleeced. Instead I see a bunch of people
generally with above average intelligence who are very much into gaining
knowledge about their hobby...first hand, second hand, and third hand. Then
sorting it out and slowly building and refining a system that meets their
needs and pleases them. Not absolute enough for the objectivists, I guess.