In regard to people hearing differences in a false double blind test.
There is no doubt the placebo effect affects some people some of the time. However, in the long term, those taking the placebo may suffer needlessly, just as the guy listening to the inferior cable will. Another reason double blind testing doesn't work in audio is, what constitutes an objectively agreed upon sonic preference amongst the experimental group. It is impossible to ojectively quantify changes to a subjectively defined model. We only have our sonic preferences to judge by, the sound of live music is not reproducable on audio systems to this point. Until it is, we cannote have an objective experimental group (audio system).
I've never understood the objective argument amongst audiophiles, empirical evidence, even if subjective and anecdotal, is much more valuable to me. If someone prefers cable A to cable B, who am I to say he doesn't hear cable A as preferable. Cable A may be more or less expensive, either way, it doesn't involve me, why should I care.
Objectivity and/or measurements only tell some of the story, often, we don't even know how measurements correlate to certain sonic attributes.
In the end, I guess it shouldn't matter to us whether someone prefers ultra expensive or inexpensive cables, whatever floats their boat makes them happy, that should be enough.
There is no doubt the placebo effect affects some people some of the time. However, in the long term, those taking the placebo may suffer needlessly, just as the guy listening to the inferior cable will. Another reason double blind testing doesn't work in audio is, what constitutes an objectively agreed upon sonic preference amongst the experimental group. It is impossible to ojectively quantify changes to a subjectively defined model. We only have our sonic preferences to judge by, the sound of live music is not reproducable on audio systems to this point. Until it is, we cannote have an objective experimental group (audio system).
I've never understood the objective argument amongst audiophiles, empirical evidence, even if subjective and anecdotal, is much more valuable to me. If someone prefers cable A to cable B, who am I to say he doesn't hear cable A as preferable. Cable A may be more or less expensive, either way, it doesn't involve me, why should I care.
Objectivity and/or measurements only tell some of the story, often, we don't even know how measurements correlate to certain sonic attributes.
In the end, I guess it shouldn't matter to us whether someone prefers ultra expensive or inexpensive cables, whatever floats their boat makes them happy, that should be enough.
