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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

Showing 1 response by bobpyle

bobpyle
64 posts
 

The psychology of hearing is a huge subject, upon which many books have been written.

It may help audiophiles to deploy passive listening techniques when auditioning new gear. With the new component in my system, I play a recording at the normal volume for my taste, then go into the next door room and read a book about a completely different topic to audio or music. If my attention is diverted from the reading, to the music, by something that my brain has not identified before, then the new component may be contributing something interesting.

I deployed this technique when I purchased my last DAC five years ago. I auditioned 6 DAC's and only one lifted my head from the book I was reading. I still have that DAC in my system today.

Happy auditioning!

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