I see the issue with ABX blind testing

@tonywinga I have no anxiety at all. In fact, I have none.

I was just saying much of what audiophiles actually hear is this bias. I care less what people spend their money on. 

Are you sure?  Perhaps an ABX test is in order.

Bias is what it is all about.  Some people like the sound of speaker A and some speaker B.  They both sound the same to my wife.  She is all about looks.  Looks factor into the bias even if the lights do not need to be on to listen.  If the Nissan Cube were the only car available for sale I might just walk to the store.  

Just saw a video about the BIC ball point pen.  It revolutionized writing.  The video claims the BIC pen is responsible for increasing the world literacy rate from around 30% in 1950 when it became available to over 85% a couple of decades later.  Over 120 billion BIC pens have been sold, they said.  With such an appliance so sure and capable, why is any other style of ball point pen needed?

I was just saying much of what audiophiles actually hear is this bias.

@botrytis  And much of it is not.  So what?  Do you eat blindfolded?  In the end we buy what we like most all things considered, so who cares?  While biases may be at play to some extent (and probably varies greatly by person BTW) they don’t necessarily undermine or overwhelm what we hear and do not invalidate the purchasing decision process.  Saying people are biased seems pointless much like in the way those who say there are no differences between cables because they’re not proven with measurements, and both are useless and tiresome IMHO.

@soix I have eaten blindfolded before. My wife took me once to a restaurant that specialized in blindfolded dining. It was to say an eye-opening experience. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but on reflection should have appreciated the lesson taught there.

I have a friend in France, who knows a blind audiophile and HIS take on musicality and equipment is interesting to hear. People should be open to the idea of blind testing. It doesn't take away anything, but it might save people money and the charlatans in the audio field, wouldn't survive (and there are plenty of them out there).

The point being, sighted listening, IS BIASED listening. Say what you will, there is a reason it is the gold standard for testing w/o biases.

We can agree to disagree, but my point is valid and based on science.

botrytis: Don’t fear it, embrace it. We learn through failures and mistakes. If you get taken- lesson learned. But to miss opportunities because you fear it could be a ruse is a real shame. Audio is to be enjoyed- it’s all about the music. Either you like the sound of something or you don’t. It’s just like a song- you either like it or you don’t. And even then a song I didn’t like before I like now and sometimes a song I liked before I no longer like now. The same thing might happen with your stereo. You like how it sounds today but one day in the future you might want a different sound. That doesn’t mean you failed to do proper ABX testing. It means tastes change.

I can’t imagine how you can enjoy anything if you have to analyze and ABX test everything. I’d hate to go grocery shopping with you.

As for eating in a restaurant blindfolded- kudos for your bravery.  I wouldn‘t do it.  Strangers feeding me food I can‘t see?  No way.  I‘ve been in some countries where I would definitely not want to do that.