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Do you ever doubt you ears ?

I think I have very good hearing, probably better than average based on occasions when listening together with others. I have years of experience listening to a huge range of systems and equipment, a-b
comparisons etc., and I have also read an enormous amount about the subject. No doubt many here are at a higher level than I am.

When comparing cables I sometimes get confused. I hear big differences/improvements sometimes but when I go back to the reference a week later it sounds better. Switching around confuses me more. Bass is always the easiest and most consistent to compare. I start doubting my ears or my memory, especially when my opinion is 180 degrees different to reviews.
mike60
monk
121 posts
 
No, I never doubt my ears! and I have really good aural memory as well...

My problem, even with years of listening both in live situations, and with various systems, is what part of the system, if something is amiss, are my ears hearing "it" from? Cart set up - azimuth and hall info a little off or is that speaker set up? Or should I go back to Baerwald from Loefgren B? A Cable on the carpet again, loosing focus in the stage in one channel... or component footers under something being exposed by something new in the system? Are the preamps tubes loosing it a bit? I hear "it"... but from where? LOL! My upgraditis is my systems biggest weakness...
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I did once but I was wrong. LOL.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I don't doubt my ears, but my brain seems to interpret things in very funny ways at times. Folks in this hobby who have SOs who also listen have a big advantage on those of us who suffer our systems alone.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
When I do A/B/A comparisons, the final hearing is definitive. With some things, such as line stages and ac filters, this is difficult. But yes, I trust my ears. There is nothing else as I think same/different 30 sec. comparisons have nothing to do with listening to music. With many tweaks, the final A listening is with it out. Frequently, I prefer it out. I have quite a few tweaks lying around no longer in use.
theo's avatar
theo
2,700 posts
 
I don't doubt my ears as much as I doubt what I am hearing.
As mentioned at the end of your question, evaluating cables is most difficult for me. It takes several attempts to decypher the differences once the process begins. Blind Tests are best but very difficult with only one person.
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