Hello,
In this forum we see specific measurements posted regarding many devices.
Recommendations are made on the basis of these measurements. All very scientific, which I like.
I mean who would buy a Car on a vague concept "how it drives"?
We know top speed, torque, mpg etc. and can rely on these together with convenience features (how many cup holders, size of the trunk and how easy to access) a shape and colour that pleases us to get a good choice.
No need to test drive, right?
Now with a car I can follow the value of these measurement numbers. I can understand why a car with good torque, top speed, mpg and convenient layout would be reasonably recommended over one that falls down in one or several of these areas, though it has not stopped the buying public from buying inconvenient and inefficient cars, myself included and yes, I test drive and decide ultimately on many factors including how it feels driving on what I buy.
While the measurements presented here seem of a similar kind (Distortion, Noise, Jitter), I would ask for the scientific background.
If we elevate specific qualities as a measure of the recommendability of a device to listen to music with, there ought to be good scientific evidence that shows that lower distortion is always better sounding, that lower noise is always better sounding and I mean not in a relative sense as in: "Above a certain limit lower distortion always sound better" or "Above a certain limit lower noise always sounds better", but in the absolute sense in which it is presented here.
Alternatively, if these is a consensus about what levels of distortion, noise and jitter are actually audible, it would be interesting to know what they are and how tested devices results compare to those limits.
Also, if there are such limits and all tested devices are below the audibility threshold, should recommendations based on the measurements still be made?
Ideally the proponents of "low distortion uber alles", "low noise uber alles" and "low jitter uber alles" simply have reliably scientific tests to present that support their position and then we can continue measuring and recommending on this basis. My own research failed to provide such tests and evidence, however surely no-one scientific inclined would test result based recommendations without good and solid evidence that these test results are meaningful in the context.
Magnum Innominandum