[Arny Krueger]

"Audio Empire" wrote in message

On Mon, 4 Apr 2011 18:22:13 -0700, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ):

"Audio Empire" wrote in
message

But there
are audiophiles who have trained themselves to listen
for the minutest anomalies in the reproduction of music
by audio gear.

I'm not so sure about that. In our experience,
audiophiles who claim to have sensitive ears generally
don't do better than those who don't, once you remove
the crutch of seeing what is being listened to.

Blind testing is a prerequisite for learning how to be a
sensitive listener in the same sense that watching to
see where the ball lands and rolls to is a prerequisite
for becoming a good golfer. Without the discipline of
blind testing, how does one know for sure that one is
actually hearing or not hearing a difference?

Difference? I'm not so much talking about hearing
differences as I am just listening to say, a phono
cartridge and concluding that it's too bright, deficient
in bass, has a broad suckout in the midrange etc.

Now you've got two problems. The first problem is a matter of references.
What is your reliable reference for establishing the proper sonic balance?
Don't tell me its the concert that you went to three months ago because we
know for sure that you can;t possibly hear with precision based on a
reference that is days, weeks, and months old. The reference needs to be
very recent, preferably in the last few seconds. Then you still have the
possibility that your perception is a matter of bias and illusion, and not
actually happening.

I would say that your reliability as a listener is highly questionable,
simply because you deny potential strong influences and take no steps to
control them. Nothing personal - I would say the same of anybody who listens
like you, and science completely backs me up.

Why not turn the question around on me? Ask me why I'm not affected by the
same influences when I mix, equalize, choose and position mics, and apply
EFX when I mix live sound.