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
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
Headphones = less headache. I understand that you can doctor and Taylor the sound to your liking when you deal with a loudspeaker system with room acoustics and speaker placement and swapping cables, etc.
However, the money required to get it right is vastly greater than the money spent on a good headphone system.


In my opinion, you definitely get more bang for your buck with a quality headphone system.

I’ve chased the dragon with loud speakers for 25 years. Spent tens of thousands of dollars in the process.
I put together my headphone system in just a few purchases and relatively speaking, not that much money spent.
It’s gotten me more enjoyment with less money spent and less time invested than the loudspeaker systems I’ve had over 25 years.

But that’s me. I’m just giving my experience. I’m sure many people disagree.
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
I'm glad you are enjoying your system devilboy. That is what it's all about. 
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,195 posts
 
This is why my ICs cost $10. I haven't found anything better under $500. 
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,802 posts
 
Headphones = less headache. I understand that you can doctor and Taylor the sound to your liking when you deal with a loudspeaker system with room acoustics and speaker placement and swapping cables, etc.
However, the money required to get it right is vastly greater than the money spent on a good headphone system.
You are wrong...

Acoustic is a science   and it is not NECESSARY to buy costly acoustical product AT ALL....My own acoustical treatment and devices for acoustical controls cost me long time experiments but no money...

You are right about one thing it is simpler to use headphone than upgrading toward costly gear each year hoping to replace acoustical control, mechanical control and electrical noise floor control with new gear and always ending inevitably in  frustration because we dont know that no system can be good in a bad room in an uncontrolled vibrating location and in a noisy electrical grid...


But if you had read me my 500 bucks audio system beat my 7 various headphones... the reason is embeddings controls of my system at NO COST....

Then if people chase their tail it is because most people are conditioned by the marketing ploy to upgrade and not informed on acoustic nor on simple science...


 I apologize if my post seems rude...

My best to you....


jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
true story:

when i got my new-to-me well tempered labs turntable a few years ago, i pinged mike pranka at toffco (wtl usa importer) to send me a fresh platter mat as the old one got damping fluid spilt on it during shipment

mike said yes, he found one in his possession -- i then said, cool mike, so how much should i pay you

being the total prince he is, he said, nah, this is an extra i have here, you got it man, no charge, gimme your address again

i said, hey mike you are great, but you gotta let me pay you a couple hundred for it, cuz it’ll sound alot better to me when i use it!!!

he says, well, hell if we are going down that road, send me a grand!!! 😂😂😂😂😂
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