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

This is a common place fact so evident i cannot even imagine someone cannot know it in the first place... It is the foundation of A./P.A. and the reason why small room acoustic designed for ONE listener could not be the same than amphiteater acoustic designed for a crowd...It is the reason why musicians prefer and own for example very different guitars...And no guitar is the best for all... It is the reason why you must design your room for YOUR specific ears not only from general acoustic principles but from specific listening experiments by yourself...I called that mechanical tuning of the room with Helmholtz method...

Thanks for the link....very interesting proof with brainwaves analysis...

But when a science like A./P.A. is so complex how to present arguments to two groups of opposite fetiichists, the gear tasting one and the tools measuring one to convince them to CORRELATE  their perspectives TOGETHER  instead of opposing them  with useless blind test war or cables wars, or digital/analog futile debates? 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😊

 

If a scientific study cannot convince you that we all hear differently then only Amir can help you. Good luck.

 

Nonoise,

I apologize.

I did not notice that there was a link associated with that picture. I’m so used to seeing ASR utterly dismissed, especially by those who take the more subjective approach, that just seeing a picture "Bullsh*t" seemed more of the same.

But clicking the link I do see the author of that piece wasn’t just brushing away ASR but attempted a more detailed case against some of ASRs claims. So I was wrong in assuming you were just posting a picture. Sorry about that.

 

(A quick skim of that link suggests I don’t agree with some of it, I’ve had my own clashes with ASR and there is a sense in which some there "take things too far" IMO).

I am really tired of reading criticism of Amir who very capably and generously reviews audio equipment. Basically his detractors are saying that they like various types of distortion. There is nothing wrong with enjoying what appeals to you, but it is absurd to find fault with scientific objectivity. Yes, your $1,000 USB cable is very cool, but admit that there isn’t any scientific evidence that it sounds audibly better than Amazon’s $5 cable. All these savants lining up against Amir reminds me of Mussolini’s famous quote, “Many enemies, much honor.” 

i think Amirm does a great job doing what he like to do... When this evidence is said....

I must say i think less well of some of his disciples....

And by the way, measuring some of the specs of a dac against the specs chosen and given by the designers , so useful it could be, must not be CONFUSED with scientific objectivity ITSELF .... Science is NOT some partial technological practices picked and decided by the designer or by Amirm ... Especially when, like in audio, acoustic and psycho acoustic are the CENTER of the experience......Noting with caution and taking seriously what a listener HEAR is also part of the ONGOING objective scientific acoustic process...

I am pretty sure that Amirm know that, many of his disciples seems to forget it....The question is WHY they want to forget that?

Probably for the same reason audiophiles prefer their "tasting" of brand name gear to acoustic and psycho-acoustic experiments, each one go with his ideological agendas and partial perspectives because it suit them ...

Acoustic is the key in audio experience...Purchasing an upgrade is not...Using a measuring tool is not....They are only CORRELATIVE parts of the whole acoustic experience...

 

«So many disciples, so many traitors» Anonymus Roman observer at Christ cruxifiction...

There is nothing wrong with enjoying what appeals to you, but it is absurd to find fault with scientific objectivity