Audio Woo Checklist on improving sound quality

Analogous

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Audio Woo Checklist (found this on Reddi​

attributed to Sean Adams, founder of SlimDevices
You claim that an:
  • audible
  • measurable
  • hypothetical
improvement in sound quality can be attained by:
  • upsampling
  • increasing word size
  • vibration dampening
  • bi-wiring
  • replacing the external power supply
  • using a different lossless format
  • decompressing on the server
  • removing bits of metal from skull
  • using ethernet instead of wireless
  • inverting phase
  • installing bigger connectors
  • installing Black Gate caps
  • installing ByBee filters
  • installing hospital-grade AC jacks
  • defragmenting the hard disk
  • running older firmware
Your idea will not work. Specifically, it fails to account for:
  • the placebo effect
  • your ears honestly aren't that good
  • your idea has already been thoroughly disproved
  • modern DACs upsample anyway
  • those products are pure snake oil
  • lossless formats, by definition, are lossless
  • those measurements are bogus
  • sound travels much slower than you think
  • electric signals travel much faster than you think
  • that's not how binary arithmetic works
  • that's not how TCP/IP works
  • the Nyquist theorem
  • the can't polish a turd theorem
  • bits are bits
Your subsequent arguments will probably appeal in desperation to such esoterica as:
  • jitter
  • EMI
  • thermal noise
  • existentialism
  • cosmic rays
And you will then change the subject to:
  • theories are not the same as facts
  • measurements don't tell everything
  • not everyone is subject to the placebo effect
  • blind testing is dumb
  • you can't prove what I can't hear
  • science isn't everything
Rather than engage in this tired discussion, I suggest exploring the following factors which are more likely to improve sound quality in your situation:
  • room acoustics
  • source material
  • type of speakers
  • speaker placement
  • crossover points
  • equalization
  • Q-tips
 
Based my decision on budget and comfort. They sound/correct as well as better spec'd (and expensive) models.
Tried a few before deciding.
Cheers,
Raghu
 
Well ...
A few months ago, I finally admitted that I have a hearing problem and got my ears tested.
Moderate loss in both ears (canal and nerve).
This is the device I selected. It supposedly corrects up to 50 or 60 dB loss.
Programmable to match the individual's "lossy-curve".

hearing_aid.jpg

Now, I can hear normal conversation better. As a side effect music and TV experience has also improved.
I don't feel the need to read sub-titles all the time.
Music wise I am hearing a lot more HF (sometimes more than what I'd like it to be) :D
So, my advice to HFV folks is please take care of your hearing.
If you feel you have hearing loss, get your ears tested and go in for remedial measures.
Tinkering with dacs, dsp, cables, caps and whatnot may not be the solution to the actual problem.

Cheers,
Raghu
 
The Marantz PM7000N offers big, spacious and insightful sound, class-leading clarity and a solid streaming platform in a award winning package.
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