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Amir and Blind Testing

Let me start by saying I like watching Amir from ASR, so please let’s not get harsh or the thread will be deleted. Many times, Amir has noted that when we’re inserting a new component in our system, our brains go into (to paraphrase) “analytical mode” and we start hearing imaginary improvements. He has reiterated this many times, saying that when he switched to an expensive cable he heard improvements, but when he switched back to the cheap one, he also heard improvements because the brain switches from “music enjoyment mode” to “analytical mode.” Following this logic, which I agree with, wouldn’t blind testing, or any A/B testing be compromised because our brains are always in analytical mode and therefore feeding us inaccurate data? Seems to me you need to relax for a few hours at least and listen to a variety of music before your brain can accurately assess whether something is an actual improvement.  Perhaps A/B testing is a strawman argument, because the human brain is not a spectrum analyzer.  We are too affected by our biases to come up with any valid data.  Maybe. 

chayro
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,509 posts
 

I just acquired a new piece. Not able to hear it prior. Had to make a decision without hearing. I did that based on experience with similar gear what I read + my own personal assessment of what could fit the bill. Bought from a vendor with a very good return policy since yes you never know for sure until you hear or try.

I consider the whole measure versus listen argument just a bunch of gaslighting. Sometimes you can’t hear first so you have to decide based on other things like the facts about how a product is advertised to perform and how it actually does. Specs are good for helping make decisions about what to listen to. Measurements are supplemental pieces of info that can help but only if applied properly which takes some degree of knowledge. Which is why as I said we all use the tools available to us to decide. Obviously our own ears are the ultimate test. Just ignore fanatics where ever they might pop up.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,078 posts
 

Y’all should build one of Nelson Pass variable distortion aka negative feedback machines, to better understand your own ear / brain preferences for……distortion…

Or a Music Reference ( Roger Modjeski genius RIP ) w 3 levels of negative feedback, careful level matching and you can hear for yourself what more negative feedback ( TIM ) does to image depth… See Opus 3 disc on image depth.

IF ya can’t tell i am in the Measure AND Listen camp, the interesting overlap a wise poster above mentioned….. 

Carry on…Best to all in music

Jim

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cleeds
6,033 posts
 
laoman

For someone to say you do not need to listen to a piece of equipment before buying it and also that the synergy of various components makes no difference is so funny.

Egg-zactly. But some people will buy a car without driving it first. Or they’ll buy a suit without having it properly tailored. It makes no sense.

larsman's avatar
larsman
2,090 posts
 

@phantom_av - Nobody is 'forced' to do anything. I see negative reviews of gear on YouTube reviews all the time. What will make people stop paying any attention to reviewers is if they always say everything is great - people buy something a reviewer says he loves and the buyer doesn't like it, that buyer will quit paying attention to that reviewer....

djones51
4,947 posts
 

and this includes the best tool of all, our ears. IOW, some use their ears better than others. Some, because of experience, training, open-mindedness, or simply physiological advantage hear better than others. Hard pill to swallow for some, but true.

Some use their ears and eyes not just their ears which means it's simply a subjective opinion that applies only to the one making the claim with the problem of bias not accounted for. It contributes nothing to gaining knowledge about a product. Hard pill to swallow for some, but true. 

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