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Amir and Blind Testing

Let me start by saying I like watching Amir from ASR, so please let’s not get harsh or the thread will be deleted. Many times, Amir has noted that when we’re inserting a new component in our system, our brains go into (to paraphrase) “analytical mode” and we start hearing imaginary improvements. He has reiterated this many times, saying that when he switched to an expensive cable he heard improvements, but when he switched back to the cheap one, he also heard improvements because the brain switches from “music enjoyment mode” to “analytical mode.” Following this logic, which I agree with, wouldn’t blind testing, or any A/B testing be compromised because our brains are always in analytical mode and therefore feeding us inaccurate data? Seems to me you need to relax for a few hours at least and listen to a variety of music before your brain can accurately assess whether something is an actual improvement.  Perhaps A/B testing is a strawman argument, because the human brain is not a spectrum analyzer.  We are too affected by our biases to come up with any valid data.  Maybe. 

chayro
pedroeb
493 posts
 

If we happen ramp the volume up to 90dB, does it really matter what goes on below 0dB? Measurements can be irrelevant, especially if you generally don't go much beyond 70dB.

Obsessing with excessively low THD+N etc can mean overlooking excellent sounding equipment.

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djones51
4,947 posts
 

Everyone has their opinion and that's all it is including mine. The only way to get beyond opinions is with vigorous testing including our ears. You may hear better than I and 90% of the population but that tells us what? When you hear good enough to pick product A from B when they both measure beyond human audibility or measure within .1% variance using only your ears  in a controlled testing regimen then you've told us something useful.

This is true but it doesn't really tell us anything.

Some, because of experience, training, open-mindedness, or simply physiological advantage hear better than others.

The point of Amir's video mentioned in the OP is trying to get us past these notions of sighted listening being all that useful for anything other than personal preferences of the aesthetics of the item. Buy what you want, like what you want but personal preferences tells us nothing about the component only about 1 persons preferences. 

wolf_garcia
6,723 posts
 

My system recently started sounding better and although I hate to admit it, it could be due to my newish speaker cables hitting the manufacturers 500 hour break-in point. Who knew? Perhaps the manufacturer...

redlenses03
98 posts
 

That site is more a marketing place for topping and others and not much to do with audio. As with any forum there are some good, intelligent, level headed individuals, but ultimately its all about the extreme side of the measurement police and his ego IMHO.

His methods have been debunked numerous times, depending on where you sit in obj vs sub viewpoint.

Some interesting reads for another viewpoint

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/audio-science-review-review.9827/

 

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