2. amps-preamps
  3. 189385-150037

Is positive reinforcement why things are sounding better?

So I buy a nice amplifier and later I buy a nice preamplifier and then later I buy Nice speaker cables and each time things seem to improve nicely.

And then I buy telefunken 12ax7 nos tubes for a tube amplifier, and improved tonality, clarity and  a tighter sound is what I get and it's very engaging (tubes are only a few days old). The cymbals seem to come through with more openness.

Things seem to be sounding pretty good and I'm saying to myself is it real or is it just positive reinforcement playing with my head? And the devil is telling me oh let's buy more NOS tubes for the rest of the amplifier. The effects of positive reinforcement can be very expensive. 

Just curious if positive reinforcement experiences have occurred for others, and how can you really tell?

 

emergingsoul

Showing 2 responses by benanders

benanders's avatar
benanders
220 posts
 

If you hear difference it can be perceived as improvement (already mentioned).

If you anticipate difference, it can result in bias to expect improvement (already mentioned).

If you hear even slight increase in gain/volume, it can be perceived as improvement (mentioned elsewhere).

What’s usually not mentioned: there’s a reason real research relies on controlled testing and sample sizes > 1.

If other folks who can’t see what’s being used (only 1 factor changed per trial) aren’t able to predict reliably, you’re probably imagining any perceived difference.

If you cannot see what’s being played and aren’t able to predict reliably, you’re definitely imagining any perceived difference.

If either of those results fail to apply (i.e., properly controlled trial results are consistently predicted), you can perhaps reject your null assumption of “no difference” between…

But most folks can’t be bothered with that level of rigor in their “testing,” feel convinced without real evidence, and profess their impressions as transferable realities.

So ignorance can be contagious bliss. And it can also get pretty expensive. 😉

benanders's avatar
benanders
220 posts
 

 

tonywinga

778 posts

 

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!

 

More to discover