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Perception

I’ve been very happy with my system lately, since I added new speakers and a new amplifier.  I felt it was totally balanced and almost anything I played on it sounded good.  Then a friend came over who had greatly admired my previous system configuration.  This friend owns decidedly mid fi audio equipment  and listens mostly on headphones.
 In short, he didn’t like my current system.
Now, I’m starting to listen to my system through HIS ears and have wondered if it was a mistake to upgrade.
I don’t know if this is a question of perception or weak-mindedness.
So much of the enjoyment of our rigs is in our head.  The system didn’t change.  My perception of it did.
 I now have to fight off his perception and get back to my own.
 I don’t think I’m a unique case. So much of what we perceive in audio is controlled by our psyches.



128x128rvpiano
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I’m as serious as a colonoscopy without anesthesia. God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. I didn’t say it wouldn’t be a bumpy ride. That’s always the case when brand new information enters the scene. There’s always a whole lot of huffing and puffing and shouting and cries of “foul!” Yes, I know you have some sort of ridiculous claim that manufacturers are trying to control your mind. Give me a break! If you think you know something about external factors’ affect on sound, believe me, you don’t. That was your main point, wasn’t it?
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,663 posts
 
And so it continues.........
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I gave you a chance to say something relevant. Oh, well, onwards and upwards!
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,663 posts
 
Yes, there is a giant conspiracy on the part of manufacturers to control my mind.
 You’ve got me there!
durkn
69 posts
 
You have to take others opinions with a grain of salt. Listen to them because there could be some truth to them & it could help you out.
It could also be misinformation.

I was in a store & a younger guy was raving about a dac & spouting technical specs. He would not be able to comprehend that my 90’s era tube dac would crush it. His math proves him correct.

People have predetermined opinions & usually not personal experiences that they’re confident that my preamp brand is unreliable & my speaker of choice does nothing great, but everything well.

This is all subject to their components, tubes if applicable, cables, recordings, etc.
Limitations there have a direct influence, perception & opinion.

I was once skeptical of spending money on cables. I have since upgraded to reference level cables. It has unleashed the capabilities of my components.

I was almost there...
I had this one last thing that I considered upgrading.

My preamp has 6 tubes. Two are gain tubes & four are buffer tubes. I had upgraded the two gain tubes to my favorite brand NOS. Those are supposed to be the main ones that make the difference & have the most benefit.

The consensus is that preamp buffer tubes make a difference, but not as much as gain tubes.

That may be true, but my system has been transformed by upgrading my preamp buffer tubes to my favorite NOS tubes.

I’m now done with my system.
I clearly realize that the people that have opinions about my speakers have not driven them with the right components, cables, or tubes. It’s a shame because they are truly spectacular if driven as I have.

Opinions are completely relative.
Trust your gut...

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