Is positive reinforcement why things are sounding better?

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

tonywinga

778 posts

04-11-2024 at 01:02am 

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!

But I didn‘t know Wilson speakers existed until I heard a pair.  I had no expectation bias but once I heard them I wanted a pair.  It took me 27 years to finally work up the nerve to spend that much on a pair of speakers.  And over that period of time I never found another speaker that I liked better- or liked enough to buy in place of the speaker I wanted.

I agree that once I decided to buy my speakers, expectation bias continues to urge me to upgrade to one of their more expensive models.  But that is counterbalanced by, 1) Lack of desire to actually change speakers- a lot of effort, time and money, 2) Spending priorities such as needing to eat, and 3) Risk of disappointment that a change will not meet expectations.

@tonywinga your experience matches mine. I too did not know that Wilson speakers existed until I heard the Watt/Puppy 7's at a dealers. Once I heard them I wanted a pair. I kept my W/P 7's for 20 years and eventually upgraded them to Sasha DAW. In my opinion the upgrade was worth every cent.

@tonywinga  , I don't think anyone is trying to say that all percieved sonic improvements are a result of confirmation bias.