2. headphones
  3. 168196-159850

So how much do you think the placebo effect impacts our listening preferences?

My hypothesis is that for ~%97 of us, the more a headphone costs the more we will enjoy the headphone.

My secondary hypothesis is that the more I told consumers a headset cost, the more they would enjoy the phones. i.e. a $30 headphone < $300 headphone < $3,000 headphones <<< $30,000 headphones.

I’m willing to bet that if I put the kph 30i drivers in the focal utopia’s chassis and told participants in this fake study that the phones cost $4k.... Everyone except for the 3%ers would never guess something was up. The remaining 97% would have no clue and report that it was the best set they ever heard.

Then if I gave them the kph30i and explained it was $30. 97% of people would crap on them after hearing the same driver in a different chassis.

My ultimate hypothesis is that build quality and price are the two most important factors in determining if people will enjoy a set of headphones. This how I rationalize the HD8XX getting crap on when only 3 people have heard it and publicly provided their opinion lol. "It’s a cheaper 800s, of course it’s going to sound worse!"

mikedangelo
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@mikedangelo,

Perhaps it’s the 3% that are getting their knickers knotted over sound quality?

For most folks these so called night and day differences are entirely placebo.

There’s a reason why the AT50s and MDR7506 have been around for decades and decades.

When it comes to headphones (cables, amps, cd players etc) the sonic differences between them can indeed be shockingly small.

I’ve got around 7/8 pairs of well respected headphones but the ones I use the most are the Sennheiser PX100s (indoors) and the ultra budget JVC Flats (outdoors).

They not only sound virtually as good as their far more costly counterparts but are considerably more comfortable too.

If I want the best sound quality/comfort ratio I’ll use my Porta Pros.

Sadly I hardly ever bother with my Creative Aurvana or PSB models. Far too heavy and too uncomfortable, and too impractical. Even the Bose set I was given as a present have hardly been used.

I really ought to sell them on as they’ve hardly been used...

I want headphones that not only sound great but those I can also forget I’m wearing.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,980 posts
 
 Could be.  Try it and see. 
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,579 posts
 
If there is a placebo effect and I have doubts about that, it is only temporary and will disappear after enough critical evaluation. You can only fool yourself for so long, then reality sets in.  
soix
10,373 posts
 
People who really care about sound — whatever that % is — won’t fall for the placebo effect because they use their ears to judge sound, not their eyes. As for the rest, it’s the same as everything else — a fool and his money...

I’ve got around 7/8 pairs of well respected headphones but the ones I use the most are the Sennheiser PX100s (indoors) and the ultra budget JVC Flats (outdoors). They not only sound virtually as good as their far more costly counterparts but are considerably more comfortable too. If I want the best sound quality/comfort ratio I’ll use my Porta Pros.
Ha! “Well respected” by who? Creative Aurvana? PSB? Really??? My man, you need to get out more. The PX100s and Porta Pros are mere toys compared to what’s out there these days, and if you don’t know that then you haven’t heard a truly good pair of headphones (or maybe you just use a crap source of music). Then again, if comfort/weight overrule sound quality I can see why you’re happy — whatever blows your skirt as they say. But don’t come on here and say that your little comfy plastic toys sound “virtually as good” as far more costly headphones because that’s just ignorant silly talk that belongs on Reddit, not here.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,450 posts
 
Here's an ethical reason that I worry about the placebo effect. I'm not saying others should look at it this way. This is just my way.

Let's say that I have $2k to spend on headphones. Let's say I feel like I could also give some of that to the local food bank or to a local museum or another group that needs a donation. Let's also assume that I love my luxury sound so much that I would spend the $2k on headphones if I could hear a difference.

Ok, so now I test out two pairs of headphones. Let's say they are $1000 different in price -- $2000 and $1000. If I honestly cannot hear a difference, I get great headphones and create a huge benefit for people who really need some help. If I don't try to hear a difference, I'm not being honest with myself when I think, I really want to help people who need it.

*That's* the reason debunking the placebo effect might matter for me.
More to discover