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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
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immatthewj
1,122 posts
 

Would it not be illogical to buy a speaker that I did not like to hear?

It would not be logical to buy a speaker that you did not like the sound of, unless for whatever reason you were able to convince yourself that you did like the way it sounded.

jpwarren58
613 posts
 

Peer influence...positive or not.

Heavy components...usually best?

Written, purchased reviews carry water.

Elder opinions carry even more.

Credentialed engineers carry the most.

But loud persistent ones may win in the end.

And measurements are the safest of all.

 

 

tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 

The engineering rule of thumb I learned decades ago:  Nobody believes the measurements except for the person that took them.  Everybody believes the calculations except for the person who made them.  

czarivey
5,691 posts
 

You can actually control performance of your system just with your mind positively saying it is sounding better especially after spending on some new stuff

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