Blind Test Part Trois: Schiit Magni Unity vs Topping L50

FWIW, and this is for ASR readers, because I know people here don't care:

I was not part of the Schiit blind listening panel. This blind test on SBAF had absolutely nothing to do with any Schiit blind testing panel, of which I have zero knowledge. This blind test was something I have wanted to do for myself because I've had this ABX machine sitting around for months.

I didn't even know about the availability date. It was an accident that even I ended up with one (same unit showed off at CanJam). Anyway, measurements tonight.

 

Darn. I was hoping that you'd at least want to arrange trial by combat! We'll meet in the octagon.

So obvious that he's in the employ by the high SINAD cabal / Topping. I've wrecked his shtick.

 

There's no proof that SINAD means anything. 50db SINAD, 70db SINAD, 110db SINAD, 120db SINAD. 121.234 SINAD. What does this mean and where is the proof? (Note: 16bit music has a limitation of 96db). They haven't run any audibility science behind their implied assertion that more is better*. With the number of blind / double-blind level matched blind tests I've run going back years, using clunky or machine assisted processes, the score is basically this:

Marv 55
Amir 0

Of course. Did you not expect the goalposts to be moved? Par for the course. We'll eventually do this at meets. I will make sure to pick > 105db "SINAD" gear (but gear I know sounds very different despite SINAD - I tend to use similar sounding gear because I like challenges). I guarantee some people after some practice (and coaching from me) will be able to pick things out 4 of 5, 7 of 8, 8 of 8 times. I'm sure another excuse will come about.

The Church was quite against Copernicus. Copernicus found evidence that went against the Church's beliefs. This is no different. Of course there will be resistance because Audio Science Review isn't about science. It's about a belief with respect to "SINAD".

*I bet the results would even be more wild if we talked about preference.

 

ROFL. His praetorian guard (I'm pretty sure most of them have British accents) are going to have a polite talk with you soon.

You proposed the fight in the octagon too right? I need about 12 weeks to get back into shape and buff up. Got sick for a month over the summer and took about 14 weeks off.

 

He pretty much said that, in a curt polite way.

 

^ Absolutely. Their minds are made up. Nothing will ever change their belief system. The other possibility is that some people actually cannot hear a difference! (And this is OK).

However we must march on. There are people whose minds are not made up or whose minds are open. It's these people who we must reach. The fighting of disinformation with science isn't easy. And even then, science is ever evolving with new evidence, new research, new methods.

 

When I stay in the UK, after two days I will speak with a British (London) intonation. Losing the American R to the rhotic R takes a while longer. The first word go is "weird" because "weird" with the rhotic R sounds cool.

I will regularly use holiday for vacation, dairy for calendar, zed for z, speak for talk (depending upon context), and shedˌjo͞ol instead of skeˌjo͞ol. I'm in regular meetings with my Brit counterparts for work. This for years now.

Tottenham tricked up my daughter big time. She laughed and said WTF when I taught her two variations of how the locals say it. Literally no one will know what you are saying if you ask: "How do I get to the Tot-ten-ham Court Road Station".

 

Why bother? Science is never 100%. This keeping in mind this is a hobby that is ultimately subjective.

I bought this stupid box and did this test because I wanted to know with reasonable confidence that I wasn’t bullshitting myself. I have kept an open mind and considered the possibility that what I thought I was hearing could have been illusion.

With this box, it’s now beyond reasonable confidence. It’s extreme confidence what I am hearing is not placebo. I am more than satisfied for myself.

I do not care if the goal posts are moved because of one fact:

I won.

If the ball goes into the goal, but the goalposts are moved, I still win. Take pity on the sore losers. It’s like kids on the playground who get solidly beat in four square, but then change the rules after the fact. They know deep inside their hearts that they lost.