Truel. true. the wallet delivers the final verdict.
but, blind listening is not dead!
trust me on that one.
my recent visit to an audio Show offered a few ways to examine, listen, investigate, and or ‘value/appraise’ its various exhibitions.
I could ask right off what is being demonstrated front to back, top to bottom, then get quite attentive and decide how to judge each demo.
I chose only to find out the brand of the speakers and then, which amp (s) were driving them.
if the demo was one that reached out and grabbed me, then I would get more details.
entering every room was for me, a real blind audition.
of all the folks here esthetics should not be much of or at all, a biggie for me when deciding between pieces of audio gear.
but it is….
this is mostly with racks and speakers, not so much with the electronics per se.
but there is only one way to note the influence or input of any device within an audio system and that is to know the system itself prior to exchanging ANY facet within it.
otherwise, the only known value of any outfit which can be remarked upon sanely will be the system’s loud speakers.
all other anecdotal feedback, input, articles, press, blogs are incidentals, asides, humourous or otherwise are instances of time well or poorly wasted.
the only thing I extract from published notes on this or that device or accessory might be to see what ever commonalities are contained in the various judgements.
its plain testy and difficult to perfectly setup ‘blind’ testing of a particular device to begin with, though with some effort and within some reasonableness it can be done so at least the broadest strokes of change can be unearthed by the listeners.. .
Many here have made a choice based mostly on faith when procuring their next piece for their stereo system.
so then it is quite true that at times even ‘blind wallets’ will buy the next gizmo.