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Is positive reinforcement why things are sounding better?

So I buy a nice amplifier and later I buy a nice preamplifier and then later I buy Nice speaker cables and each time things seem to improve nicely.

And then I buy telefunken 12ax7 nos tubes for a tube amplifier, and improved tonality, clarity and  a tighter sound is what I get and it's very engaging (tubes are only a few days old). The cymbals seem to come through with more openness.

Things seem to be sounding pretty good and I'm saying to myself is it real or is it just positive reinforcement playing with my head? And the devil is telling me oh let's buy more NOS tubes for the rest of the amplifier. The effects of positive reinforcement can be very expensive. 

Just curious if positive reinforcement experiences have occurred for others, and how can you really tell?

 

emergingsoul
jpwarren58
669 posts
 

Peer influence...positive or not.

Heavy components...usually best?

Written, purchased reviews carry water.

Elder opinions carry even more.

Credentialed engineers carry the most.

But loud persistent ones may win in the end.

And measurements are the safest of all.

 

 

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

The engineering rule of thumb I learned decades ago:  Nobody believes the measurements except for the person that took them.  Everybody believes the calculations except for the person who made them.  

czarivey
5,946 posts
 

You can actually control performance of your system just with your mind positively saying it is sounding better especially after spending on some new stuff

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

“Positive waves Moriarity“.  That‘s from Kelly‘s Heros- 1960s era WWII movie.  Then the bridge they needed was destroyed.

 

 

benanders's avatar
benanders
234 posts
 

 

tonywinga

778 posts

 

I feel like I’m caught in the middle of something here.

Maybe I’m biased but I like the sound of Wilson speakers over other brands.  I confirmed that by listening to other brands.  Therefore, I bought Wilson speakers.  

Would it not be illogical to buy a speaker that I did not like to hear?

 

Not if for the dungeon room?

 

Or does confirmation bias drive me to upgrade to more expensive Wilson speakers?  I do feel that urge from time to time.  
 

 

Expectation bias is a root for favoring name brands, and confirmation bias can be an important subset of it. My impression has been it’s easy and reasonable to like something that sounds good to you, and it’s also easy but potentially unreasonable for that to morph into anticipation of more-More-MORE goodness from similar-but-maybe-better alternatives. Bias be aware, bias - beware.

 

“If a little is good, then a lot is better.”  I don’t know who said that but it should not be words to live by.  Although it is difficult to avoid in practice.


Yep!

 

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