Pete,
You have to understand Steve believes low distortion numbers and accuracy are the measurement for great gear.
For many engineers it is a numbers game.
But we know that this hobby is a lot more than numbers, and the measurements used to design gear while neccessary does not always dictate great results. There is a little Black art involved as well.
People who use DHT tubes understand the pros and cons to using the tube, and yet still choose those tubes again and again...why?...because they are crazy? Nah
At some point in the hobby you reach a point where you realize that the only person you are trying to impress is yourself.
At that point all the audiophile crap goes by the wayside, and you have one critic...yourself. When you are the only critic the only thing that matters is what makes you happy....for many people, and I mean many, it is DHT tubes, even with all their crappy numbers!
Go figure
And conversely, there are those who like their reproduced music to sound as natural, palpable, tingling, and accurate as possible. That means not staying stagnate.
Your comment about me is 100% blatantly false. For nearly two decades, since I "joined" the internet, I have consistently, over and over posted I use listening tests as the final criteria. I have gone against other engineers, such as JJ, Ken Kantor, and others on Audio Asylum (where I received as many as 36 email virus attacks in one day after each time I posted), Audio Circle, AudioKarma, Stereophile forums etc.
However, even with a perfect design, high HD and IMD specs do matter because they are perceived when performing listening tests. One can perceive to -90 to -100db down.
By the way, I do not need high HD and IMD in order to artificially fill out, make palpable the instruments/voices. My designs naturally fill out the music so the instruments sound more natural, the soundstage more accurate, the dynamics correct.
Of course, if one designs the most natural, palpable, perfectly transparent, perfect soundstage, dynamics, honest in every way, some one(s) is going to feel stepped on. By the way, the parts used would also be the most natural and accurate.
That requires me to perform extensive, accurate listening tests on each part used in my components, to make sure each part is totally transparent, does not add or subtract from the music.
In fact, I have probably performed more testing on parts and components than anyone else on the planet. I found what I needed and use the parts.
However, because of horrible testing procedures on electronic parts on other forums, the good ones are sent into extinction while the poorer parts are glorified and mated with high HD and IMD devices.
I believe everyone realizes that there is big profits involved selling certain tubes, as well as sales in general. Anyone can copy a design and sell product.
Most of the guys designing different amps/preamps have little understanding of what they are doing. That includes engineers and amateurs such as diy forums etc. So how can they improve what they do not understand.
If they wish to stagnate, and do not wish to improve audio, that is up to them. But please do not attempt to limit me and others who wish to improve the experience.
Cheers
Steve
