There is also what I call The Inurement Effect: WE get used to what sound the best about our system, learn to concentrate on that, and repress the bad parts I think that anyone who has more than one good system experiences this. Yes, parts burn in, but our Inurement is responsable for a lot of our getting used to the sound as it starts sounding better to us. Switching systems demonstrates this. For examle, for having a remote, I used a Rotel preamp/tuner for my TV system, along with some older B&W speakers and a Bryston amp. The preamp sounded so bad to me, I thought about returning it, but since I had paid $15 plus $15 shipping for a surprise bid win, I kept it. It sucks, but started to sound OK, so I replaced it with a spare Audire, without a remote, and I have learned to enjoy it. despite that fact that it is the entry level model. The Rotel now controls an old Adcom amp. that I did not like, but now enjoy my third system (Also TV with older B&W's), with very little time needed to adjust my ears and brain.
The Placebo Effect
One of the things that should be taken into account in the evaluation of audio equipment, tweaks, etc is the Placebo Effect.
In the medical world, Placebos (open label or concealed) appear to mostly work on subjective symptoms, such as pain. They don’t work on an objective symptom — something a doctor could see or diagnose, such as a fracture on a bone. Placebos don’t shrink tumors, they don’t change your diabetes, and they’re not going to actually lower your blood pressure for more than 15 minutes, Basically, placebos appear to work on things that pass through the brain’s perceptual systems — where they can prompt the release of opioids and other endorphins (chemicals that reduce pain) in the brain. Bottom line, placebos can result in perceived improvement even where no actual improvement exists.
The same applies to our hobby. Probably too often, we sense improvement in SQ because of the Placebo Effect. Our money spent, hardware bias's, effective marketing, or being influenced by the experience of others (regardless if true), often have us believe that we have obtained improvements that don't really exist. This is not necessarily a bad thing because a perceived improvement, whether real or imagined is still an improvement to the listener. This may explain part of why certain "improvements" can't be measured.
J.Chip
In the medical world, Placebos (open label or concealed) appear to mostly work on subjective symptoms, such as pain. They don’t work on an objective symptom — something a doctor could see or diagnose, such as a fracture on a bone. Placebos don’t shrink tumors, they don’t change your diabetes, and they’re not going to actually lower your blood pressure for more than 15 minutes, Basically, placebos appear to work on things that pass through the brain’s perceptual systems — where they can prompt the release of opioids and other endorphins (chemicals that reduce pain) in the brain. Bottom line, placebos can result in perceived improvement even where no actual improvement exists.
The same applies to our hobby. Probably too often, we sense improvement in SQ because of the Placebo Effect. Our money spent, hardware bias's, effective marketing, or being influenced by the experience of others (regardless if true), often have us believe that we have obtained improvements that don't really exist. This is not necessarily a bad thing because a perceived improvement, whether real or imagined is still an improvement to the listener. This may explain part of why certain "improvements" can't be measured.
J.Chip
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- 78 posts total
- 78 posts total