WHY DO SOME AUDIOPHILES TRY TO TELL OTHERS WHAT THEY CAN OR CAN’T HEAR IN A SYSTEM?


I ask the question. Because I have had several discussions on Audiogon where certain posters will try to tell another person what they can or can’t hear in a system. Most of the time never hearing or having experiences either the piece of equipment, cables etc. It is usually against those that spend money on more expensive equipment and cabling. Why is this so prevalent.  

calvinj

I meant we all have the same biological parts, but we all hear differently. I just posted it in a ridiculous, long winded way!

Some folks feel insecure or uncertain about their own choices, and asserting their opinions on others gives them a sense of validation or confidence.

My guess, always feeling like a novice, is that people might not know who to believe among the (self) anointed experts.  Seeing that experienced and knowledgeable people disagree, some might suspect there is no “right” answer and that people convince themselves that they don’t need to “go to extremes” to enjoy audio, and that people that do are plagued by some validation bias (they want to believe it, so they do).  

And then there is the law of diminishing returns, which is real.  The difference between a clock radio and a simple stereo set-up is large, while the cost is small.  And going up from there the improvements per money spent diminish.  I understand people that can’t afford much thinking that they are getting a lot and still saving money compared to the mega-deluxe systems.  They think, “I have almost as much as they do — maybe 95% — and I spent a few thousands, while they spend 10’s of thousands for that top few percent improvement.”   But to some the most elusive improvements are everything and worth the money, which they obviously have to spend.

To each their own. 

 

It’s how some people choose to interact online.  They may behave the same way in person.  Some people believe things strongly and feel they have to correct others that think or feel differently.  On this site it’s sound on another site it could be politics or food and wine.  If you read about emotional intelligence it’s about having low EQ and boundary issues.  As my Dad used to say, don’t let the turkeys get you down.