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

Rick and Krissy are coming in less than two weeks. For two whole years I have been bragging about having the best system in the universe. Well the known universe anyway. So their expectation bias is set sky high. Also the last year or so has established me as the foremost authority on high end audio, this side of Michael Fremer anyway, if not quite the known universe. So the placebo effect is maximized as well. This is therefore a done deal. I mean, if expectation bias and placebo effect have anything to do with anything.

@cd318

Regarding the Sony MDR-M1ST ( I think every studio should own a pair ) 

They are neutral with detail retrieval and sonic characteristics that you would typically find in more expensive headphones. They are actually made in Japan.  (They’re only about $400). As I’ve told some of my friends; the product description (intended purpose) is more important than price.

Bass: Tight - well extended, but slightly warm (this can easily be tuned)
Midrange: Accurate - the tonality/extension of vocals and instruments
Treble: Excellent - some of the best I’ve heard on headphones
Imaging: Superb - but depends on what is being played
Soundstage: Well above average (almost sounds like an open design)

One of the biggest benefits of headphones is their immediacy in terms of sonic presentation. With headphones, you only need a fairly quite room. Each headphone will provide something unique in terms of build quality, styling, and sound signature. With headphones, you get a lot of choices.

I’m not bashing speakers or saying anything negative about them. With speakers, you have many other variables to consider (room treatments, having a good room, amps, DACs, CD players, cables, etc.

Once again, to each their own. If I get a super pair of speakers/full system again, it will be when I have someone to share it with.

For now, my cheapo $500 Panasonic shelf system is fine...because I’m not being hypercritical of how it sounds. I’m using it for subjective enjoyment (enjoying lyrics, emotions, favourite instruments in songs etc.)

@millercarbon
I think everyone probably appreciates your comment. This audio hobby should not be a competition of who has the most expensive or resolving system...yours looks great btw (the room looks epic)

One of the biggest benefits of headphones is their immediacy in terms of sonic presentation. With headphones, you only need a fairly quite room. Each headphone will provide something unique in terms of build quality, styling, and sound signature. With headphones, you get a lot of choices.

I’m not bashing speakers or saying anything negative about them. With speakers, you have many other variables to consider (room treatments, having a good room, amps, DACs, CD players, cables, etc.

You are right saying that....



I know that a speakers/room system, and not necessarily a costly one, when rightfully embed will beat most heaphones i know of...

But it is way more easy and less costly in money and time sometimes for some to create an headphone system...

It takes me almost no money but hundred of listenings experiments to make my room/speakers relation right...

This tuning take me a couple of years all in all and few months of intense experiments listenings with Helmholtz method of resonators and diffusers...And it is impossible to fully implement it in a living room...

Someone, unlike me, could buy a very costly system and install it in a larger less difficult room than my small square room... And he will probably get good resuts with only usual acoustical materials treatments....Without using a grid of 40 Helmholtz resonators and diffusers...And others unorthodox devices...

Anyway yes, it is relative to anybody taste and choice and capital disponibility , but in the absolute if my small low cost speakers system can beat my 7 headphones of all types, a costly refine speakers system will be superior and will be no match for any headphone, ESPECIALLY if vibration, electrical noise floor and acoustic are controlled....At this point it is no more taste but an acoustical fact....Soix is right about that...

Between the taste and favorite choice and the ultimate fact and truth of speakers or headphones advantages there is the scale of S.Q. /price ratio and the underestimate working domensions of the audio system embeddings triple controls....It take these 3 embeddings factors together and a relatively refine system to reach the speakers/ room ideal and optimal possibilities....And for me it take a goddam period of time to tune them right...

My best to all and deepest respect....

I think it's a great question. I think the best answer here, from my own experiences, is that yes indeed our subjective assessment of sound quality, especially with something we can't "blind" test like headphones, is highly affected by the appearance, feel and knowledge of the brand and price - at first - both in the short and long terms. In the short term we are impressed, or have our expectations confirmed, only to have that experience change with more listening to a specific model. Long term, with experience listening to many different things, we become better listeners and more quickly hear the things that took a long time to recognize when we first began. I'm really just repeating what others have said, but these two factors summarize what seems important  to me from all of these replies: placebo effect is real but it fades, and the better you get at listening, the less you are affected by it in the first place.