I'm a firm believer that blind testing is an excellent way to separate out the subjective non-audio influences that often affect what people hear. (An excellent general book on the subject is Cordelia Fine's "A Mind Of Its Own", it's an entertaining read that clearly shows how susceptible all humans are to subjective influences, though the book isn't about the audio hobby.)
However, at some point, the blinders come off, so to speak, and the listener is back to using the equipment with full knowledge of what's there. Even if there is no true audible difference, many people may prefer one item over another because of the non-audio subjectivities. It's kind of like eating a meal in a restaurant -- the general atmosphere and actions of the staff can enhance or detract from the experience no matter how good the food by itself. The same is true of audio. In my book, if fat wires, a thick faceplate and obscure exclusive brand names bring a little extra joy to the listening experience, go for it! I use a tube amp, not because it sounds better, but because I like tube equipment for aesthetic reasons -- a fondness from building and working on tube gear over 40 years ago. The great irony with most subjectivists is they just can't admit to themselves, much less anyone else, that subjective factors affect their judgement. So, you end up with bizarre denials about blind testing, wild theories about exotic factors affecting sound, and a smug self-assurance that their golden ears and superior knowledge place them well above the hoi-polloi when it comes to audio choices. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ mlsstl's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9598 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=101342 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
