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

I'm feeling like a lab rat.

If you know what you hear, you know what you hear. Only if you don't, then you can make excuses and dress them up with fancy pseudo-sciency names like placebo effect. To hide the sad fact you don't know what you heard. It really is that simple.

Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier (and more honest) to just admit you don't hear anything?

...I'll take my placebos' neat, no chaser.....

Hello,
This is ridiculous, so vague! Maybe I am part of the problem for responding. As we talked about before there are some newcomers and new people to AGon or being an audiophile who read this. Then they believe that a basic headphone sounds the same as a $3000 headphone. It’s doesn’t! I’m not even a headphone person but I do know about the sound differences of products. The only thing I will agree with is the laws of diminishing returns. The less people buy of something or the more it costs to make the more it’s going cost to buy due to proprietary parts.  How many people can afford  six figure Wilson’s compared to how many can afford Tekton speakers. A 42” plasma used to cost $20,000. Now they fill our dumps. I know this is my opinion. If any new people need to learn about products or have good questions to help build your system please ask away. Most are hear to help. Also, if your are going to post. At least read and respond to the posts. Why drop a ridiculous comment and walk away when you are the OP. Most see my posts and I try to help anyone who asks on and off the forum and others do the same for me. So when I leave a post like this it’s a big deal. 

Whoa, brave question, but I am glad you raised it.

I used to work in the Pharma industry and know that the placebo effect can have a big effect on what you perceive. I mean, people have been operated on without anaesthetic  and not felt pain thanks to placebo. I have been tested myself and honestly reported experiences that subsequent video evidence showed me did not happen, even though I clearly remember it. Our preconceived notions affect what we sense. Placebo is everywhere, making us unreliable witnesses; so placebo must be a factor in audio, like it or not. It's something we have to deal with, watch out for. I try to manage myself, but it is tough. Some examples:

A few of times I have gone into a headphone store, and just gone down the line, sticking on 'phones, coming to snap, completely unfair, opinions. When I find one that sounds nice, I think, oooo nice, and look at the sticker and usually find it's the dang most expensive pair on display. Maybe my brain is quietly figuring out brands, and position in the line up, or the build quality, so I can't be sure if they really sound better. But to me, they do.

Certainly with wine I can spot a nice wine from a poor one, even if I can't see the labels.

When I bough my first proper record player (back in the day) I went in asking to hear a Linn and the guy spent 2 hours playing us (I had brought a wingman) various decks, which I could not see, but were all similar price. Both of us had a strong preference for one. I bought it never having seen it during the demo or knowing anything about the company or ever having read a review. So I sort of managed placebo there. 

I have a little personal HiFi scale. 1) I notice a big improvement, and so does my partner, even though I try not to let on that I have been fiddling or buying gear. 2) I notice some improvement and my other half does not immediately, but does start saying things like "sounding nice tonight" or some sort of complement. 3) She notices nothing and I think I do but am not sure. Placebo is lurking in level 3, and maybe level 2. 

Examples of level 1 improvement: replacing a small cheap amp with a KSA Krell. 
Of level 2: cartridges, DACs
Of level 1: cables (sorry). I have strong opinions about cables, but I accept that placebo might be playing a role in what I hear. 

Don't kill me.