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 3 responses by phantom_av

It comes down to one thing, Trust your own ears and stop dwelling on Magazine Reviews which by itself is a paid advertisement industry.

Reviewers make money from the industry to review products, this also helps them to fund their hobby by gaining products at distributor pricing or even lower. If reviewers kept giving honest reviews about products being over priced and under performing no audiophile manufacture would ever give them a product to review again.

The same can be said about the Uber expensive audio products which constantly are supposed to be the best of the best.

Not all reviewers are dishonest people but they are foced to always write faviourable reviews. If they dont they loose out on further products to review which in turn results for them less work and earnings.

@larsman's

 

You tube is rather different to the current big Audio Reviewing industry. Anyone can go on Youtube and say what they want, i see that as a good thing thou. Its the industry I'm talking about the paid Advertisement reviews.