RMAF15: What The Specs Don’t Tell You… And Why

Panelists: Jonathan Novick, Audio Precision

Better specifications mean better sounding products. Right? Wrong! Audiophiles have known for decades this isn’t always the case. Meanwhile, the scientific community likes to believe if the specs are the same, the products sound the same. Which side is right?

This interactive presentation will examine both the audiophile and scientific viewpoint to this question. Live listening tests and measurements will be conducted letting attendees compare what they hear to measured specifications. Correlation problems will be exposed and their mysteries explained. Maybe, just maybe, both sides are making valid points.

Jonathan Novick is an 11 year veteran with Audio Precision, Inc, the world’s leading manufacturer of precision audio analyzers. He is also a governor of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and has served the society as a regional VP and chairman of its largest section in the past. Jonathan is an active member of several audio standard committees within the Consumer Electronics Association. Jonathan holds a BSEE degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and spent much of his professional career prior to Audio Precision involved in the design and simulation of RF and microwave circuitry.