Bias
In article ,
"Arny Krueger" wrote:
"Jenn" wrote in
message
Like all of us (I suspect) my journey to get the best
sound possible in my home (given normal budget
limitations) has led me to the purchase of several pieces
of gear. I also suspect, however, that given the number
of years that I've engaged in this trek (about 30 years,
with about 5 years off for good behavior), I've owned
less gear than the average person on this board. For
example, over that 30 years I've owned but 3 power amps,
3 preamps, 1 integrated, 4 turntable/arm combos, 3 CD
players, and 5 pairs of speakers. I've bought gear that
looks ugly and "industrial", plain black boxes,
turntables that look "normal" and those that look like
space ships, new and used, tall and short, planar and
cones, tube and SS, well reviewed and poorly reviewed,
expensive and inexpensive. I've spent months and years
seeking out improvement and many times I've walked
away from a store after long auditions and high sales
pressure in spite of wanting the auditioned device to
sound better.
So what is my "bias"?
Being human and an audiophile, there are a number of very predictable
biases:
(1) Bias towards hearing differences among audio components. Usally, audio
gear sounds randomly different because the comparisons usually involve
random influences.
Which random influences are affecting me?
(2) Bias towards perceiving differences in timing and level, particularly
small level variations; as differences in sound quality.
Agreed. When comparing, one should level match as closely as is
practical in a given circumstance.
(3) Bias towards believing what you perceive without making a thorough
investigation of possible causes, including inability in some cases, to
properly do the same.
Practicality dictates that one believes what one perceives. The goal of
audio is to enjoy the music as one perceives it.
(4) Bias towards taking recommendations from other audiophiles, particularly
people you feel some kind of affinity for, at face value and perceiving what
they suggest when listening to items they recommend or disrecommend.
I generally don't do that.
(5) Bias towards thinking that differences you hear when you listen to a
hifi are due to differences in the audio gear you are listening to.
Actually if anything I have a bias toward no difference. I'd rather not
spend the money ;-)
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