Personal Preferences
Jim Hunton | Published on 4/1/2026
I know what I like…
There’s no universally “correct” sound. Yes, reasonably flat from 20Hz to 20kHz is an accepted target. However, adherence to the target doesn’t really describe how a system “sounds” to you. Measurements, reviewers’ opinions, and online forum threads can document what a piece of equipment can do; however, they can’t tell you what sounds best to you.
Preference is not compromise
In some audiophile circles, there’s a tendency to treat objective measurements as gospel, the final word, and personal preference as a personality disorder, something you admit to sheepishly. “I know it doesn’t measure well, but have you heard the midrange?" How many times have you heard that sentence? How many times have you said it yourself? Choosing equipment based on what you like is not a failure of rigor or weakness of character. You don’t have to apologize for preferring the sound of a 300B over a MOSFET. You are the only person who sits in your listening room, with your ears, and your lifetime of listening experiences. Your preference is not a bias to be corrected; it’s the point. Have you ever apologized for preferring vanilla over chocolate ice cream? Or thin-crust over thick-crust pizza? If you like pineapple on your pizza, that’s a different thing, and you should seek professional help.
Objective data helps us avoid genuinely flawed equipment and narrow down candidates, especially when assembling a system. System integration is a learned skill that benefits from objective data. It’s helpful to know that a particular speaker has a severe impedance dip at 40Hz before you consider using it with your 300B amplifier. But measurements describe performance in a controlled environment against a standardized metric. The metric was chosen by someone. It reflects their judgment about what good sound should be, not yours. We should use objective measurements to inform our decisions, and they should be one of many variables that inform our decisions.
At the end of a listening session, were you reluctant to turn it off? Did the music hold you? Did you reach for one more record? If yes, your system passed the only test that has ever truly mattered. Let measurements inform your choices. Never let them overrule your experience. In a hobby devoted to the love of music, your personal preference isn’t just valid, it’s the whole point.