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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
rtorchia's avatar
rtorchia
138 posts
 

Sdl4, for the record I had some Adcom amps that were designed with Nelson Pass involved and always thought they were excellent, not to mention reasonably priced. I had one for 20 years. 

djones51
4,947 posts
 

Mine flanks the TV as I don't really have anywhere else to put the speakers. Using REW  for measurements and listening I've never seen nor heard a difference with the TV or without. 

sdl4
212 posts
 

rtorchia, I had an Adcom GFA-555II in my main 2-channel system for over 25 years, and I agree that the Adcom was a very good value in its time.

pedroeb
493 posts
 
nonoise

I think this is now the 3rd time I've posted a link to this topic over the past 2 years concerning ASR

I'm glad you did because I missed the others.

A lot of ASR fans may consider it tough and cruel but honestly it's compulsory reading.

noske
783 posts
 

@djones51 Mine flanks the TV as I don’t really have anywhere else to put the speakers.

I didn’t say, but same here, 2ch stereo HT. I’m comforted to know that it has no measurable effect. (On a 6 foot long table from a school chemistry classroom. Its tall and the correct depth - I don’t like this kneeling/squatting business to push buttons, do cables etc. Blah)

@chayro I guess I was talking solid state amps. I don’t know if tube amps ever pretended to have minuscule distortion measurements that the Japanese gear you mention were achieving.

I wonder if the very low distortion amps would stand up to scrutiny on Amir’s bench with all the extra parameters we now know are important to sound quality..

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