5 Audiophile Myths That Die in ABX Tests

1. “Silver cables sound brighter.” With matched resistance and capacitance, ABX tests show no audible difference.
2. “24-bit always sounds better than 16-bit.” Only if your listening chain supports more than ~96 dB of real dynamic range.
3. “Upsampling adds detail.” Upsampling can help processing but it cannot create new information.
4. “Tube amps are magically more musical.” They add euphonic distortion — which many love — but that is taste, not fidelity.
5. “Lossless vs 128 kbps is placebo.” On complex material, ABX tests clearly pick out 128 kbps vs FLAC. Above ~192–256 kbps it becomes trickier, but not at 128.

Keeping the hobby grounded in measurement and blind testing lets us focus on what matters: the music.