Perception


I’ve been very happy with my system lately, since I added new speakers and a new amplifier.  I felt it was totally balanced and almost anything I played on it sounded good.  Then a friend came over who had greatly admired my previous system configuration.  This friend owns decidedly mid fi audio equipment  and listens mostly on headphones.
 In short, he didn’t like my current system.
Now, I’m starting to listen to my system through HIS ears and have wondered if it was a mistake to upgrade.
I don’t know if this is a question of perception or weak-mindedness.
So much of the enjoyment of our rigs is in our head.  The system didn’t change.  My perception of it did.
 I now have to fight off his perception and get back to my own.
 I don’t think I’m a unique case. So much of what we perceive in audio is controlled by our psyches.



rvpiano

Showing 15 responses by rvpiano

My larger point with this post (other than my friend’s opinion) is how our perception of sound can be influenced by outside factors.
 I’m sure many a system has been modified by a bug in the head of a perceived flaw that does not necessarily exist.  In other words, extraneous factors can go into the appreciation of an audio system.  
Sound is such an amorphous thing.  One day we can love our system, the next day, hate it.
 I just believe that’s one of the bugaboos of being an audiophile for a lot of people.
If that’s not you, more power to you.
As a former classical musician myself, I do know what real instruments and voices sound like. What I’m referring to are external factors that affect our perception of recorded music. No recording can equal the sound of real music.
And every recording is different, and is going to contain some differing form of distortion from the live event.  We can’t hope to build a system that is going to account for the vagaries of every different recording. So, we can accept the limitations of each recording or choose to concentrate on that distortion which annoys us.  We have to convince ourselves to accept some form of compromise or drive ourselves crazy.
By that great philosopher Stevie Wonder, your definition holds.

Anyway, I like the paper hat I’m wearing
It’s really a shame when someone decides to inject his ego into a serious discussion.
Yes, there is a giant conspiracy on the part of manufacturers to control my mind.
 You’ve got me there!