Expectation has a very strong correlation to confirmation bias. Controlling your expectations means less chance for confirmation bias. From my younger days I recall great excitement and expectations with new purchases, my system wasn't where I wanted it to be, and always this hope the new component would put me over the top. I made many mistaken short term qualitative judgements, mere difference may be moves in regressive, lateral or progressive direction over the longer term. Wisdom finally comes from repeated experience, no longer much emotional attachment to new audio purchases and/or short term or initial listening qualitative judgements. I presume this also a function of having achieved sound quality I always dreamed of, new purchases just icing on the cake at this point.
The Expectation Gap
So over the course of my life I have recognized the fact that in general, when I am looking to improve or upgrade audio components, there is a sense of my need to
acknowledge that if I get too hyped by own excitement, or by the salesman or
from reading “Audio Reviews”, there’s a fairly good chance that upon receiving
said piece of equipment, whether amplifier, disc player, speakers etc. Hooking it
up and during my initial listening session provides an enjoyable experience.
However, after a few days, weeks or maybe months, I feel compelled to grab the
piece I replaced and hook it up again and give it a listen. Not surprising that often
I recognize that the latest upgrade is not as significant improvement as I had
previously expected. This phenomenon was more apparent when there was a
significant price difference, where I had expected a more significant improvement over the previous older component which was much less expensive.
What I find absolutely fascinating is when I have zero expectations for a product and it’s considered an absolute bargain, and inserting it into my system and it blows me away! I Love it! Over the course of my 65 plus years of my life, this
is always a most welcome experience.
As a side note, I have had a similar experience with watching Movies that have been hyped up by friends or reviews, and upon viewing the films I just didn’t enjoy
the movies at all. Conversely, a Movie that I know nothing about, with actors I
have never heard of , and the movie is amazing.(happens fairly often)
So, I recognize that my having a traumatic brain injury, I probably don’t experience things like everyone else does, but I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this “expectation gap” With regards to High End Audio?
Just curious…
So a couple pieces of gear that actually exceeded my expectations…
Audio Alchemy (The top loader transport, DTI Pro 32) Benchmark DAC1, PS Audio (my PCA-2 Preamplifier and HCPS combo) Velodyne FSR-18, F1500
Oppo (Swiss army knife for audio/video) and my modified Marantz SA-11S2 SACD player. A bunch of amplifiers that are no longer in my possession.
How do I fill the gap? Suffice to say it starts with having a grateful mindset.
Enjoy your Music Everyone! I hope this post doesn’t create a firestorm.
It’s all about recognizing some funny quirks that I noticed about myself.
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I have had a few instances that the product was better then advertises by smaller companies that just put results before advertising results in Digital, Preamp, Amplifier . And price value winners , 1 Swiss made, , the other 2 U.S made. i purposely didnot issue the brand and all are under $10k each,
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The Expectation Gap l agree with your Oppo “Swiss Army knife” audio vision link. I bought the UK badged Oppo…Cambridge Audio 752BD. It exceeded in every way what l was interested in it achieving. Superior Blu-ray reproduction and with upscale to 4K resolution it has remained in service. I have not had to consider going down the more expensive 4K discs path as yet. It is also an impressive SACD player and always more than competant respect for CD playback. Onboard DAC is exemplary too. So it was 4 devices in one box for me. Streaming is not my first choice so the sparse options on offer that let down this piece of equipment is not a minus for me. The film link you mention and the unexpected films that have surprised you reminds me of flipping TV channels late at night. I have often started watching some quite obscure gem that has kept me awake far too late in the morning than l had planned. “Flashbacks of a Fool” was the film showing the last time this happened. |
@bjpd57a1 ...it's the "non-traumatic brain injuries" that I've subjected self to over these years that have added odd depths to my misconceptions of surmise to this, that, and the others... I hit pause awhile ago in the pursuit of SOTA and relaxed into a stroll of semi-sota that need only please the resident of the squirrel cage of consciousness.... *L* ....nothing like 'cheap seats' that work well enough... 'System synergy' is one of those concepts with conditions that can drive one beyond mere drink... One can relate it to one's computer, esp. if driven to updates and additions to one of those silicone sandboxes... ...and hoping it all blends and bends today's infographic of market meteors.... Bridged By A Lightwave.... keeping the fibre's wound into my mix.... *s* |
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