Imagined vs actual improvements we hear

[c.coyle]

I have two amps I rotate every week or so. Same source, same interconnects, same speakers. The "new" one always sounds better at first.

 

[dodgers831]

KEW - I just looked at the youtube video of the McGurk Effect. Wow, it speaks volumes as to how the mind can play tricks on what we think we hear. Very entertaining and appropriate to the discussion. I can now better understand how a prettier speaker, or a vacuumed amp, can sound "better". Although, maybe I did hear a difference, if heat dissipation and conductivity characteristics were changed and truly affected output (as indicated by highfigh and tyhjaarpa). Geez. Too complicated, but fun to think about.

 

[lsiberian]

Well, I know for a fact that my '04 Hyundai Elantra runs better after I run it through a car wash...

You should use nitrogen enriched tires

 

[highfigh]

KEW - I just looked at the youtube video of the McGurk Effect. Wow, it speaks volumes as to how the mind can play tricks on what we think we hear. Very entertaining and appropriate to the discussion. I can now better understand how a prettier speaker, or a vacuumed amp, can sound "better". Although, maybe I did hear a difference, if heat dissipation and conductivity characteristics were changed and truly affected output (as indicated by highfigh and tyhjaarpa). Geez. Too complicated, but fun to think about.

I never meant that it would sound better, I just meant it wouldn't retain as much heat and that can make it last longer and operate within its normal range.

 

[dodgers831]

I have two amps I rotate every week or so. Same source, same interconnects, same speakers. The "new" one always sounds better at first.

LoL! I love it!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Didn't you just ask this?

....

May have, here or another thread.

 

[highfigh]

May have, here or another thread.

It's like deja vu, all over again. -Yogi Berra

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Am I actually reading this or am I just imagining reading this?

 

[3db]

I finally played the link and am amazed at this. This clearly demonstrates how powerful sight bias is.

 

[KEW]

I have two amps I rotate every week or so. Same source, same interconnects, same speakers. The "new" one always sounds better at first.

I think a reasonable theory is that anytime you spend time preparing for something, you anticipate it, and you alter your mental state to be more receptive to it (if it is something you like).

I have a friend who believes time spent preparing food is analogous to foreplay which enhances enjoyment of the meal.

Mood, hormones, endorphines?

Placebo studies show that taking a sugar pill with the anticipation of physiological results can cause us to increase the number of white blood cells in our body. It is no stretch to expect other real alterations to occur dependent on where our thoughts/attention is spent.

 

[dodgers831]

I'm looking at my speaker. I wish the tweeter face plate was round rather than rectangular. It would look better and sound better too.

 

[markw]

I have a friend who believes time spent preparing food is analogous to foreplay which enhances enjoyment of the meal.

I would be leery about eating anyone said friend prepared unless I witnessed every step of it's preparation. I've also wondered about McDonald's "special sauce".

 

[highfigh]

I'm looking at my speaker. I wish the tweeter face plate was round rather than rectangular. It would look better and sound better too.

What makes you think it would sound better? If your speakers have a deeply inset tweeter and it's mounted to this, it's a way to project the highs to specific locations. If it's flat and square, it doesn't have anything to do with the sound.

 

[highfigh]

I would be leery about eating anyone said friend prepared unless I witnessed every step of it's preparation. I've also wondered about McDonald's "special sauce".

"....eating anyone said friend prepared...", as in "I'm having a friend for dinner with a nice Chianti and Fava beans."?

 

[dodgers831]

What makes you think it would sound better? If your speakers have a deeply inset tweeter and it's mounted to this, it's a way to project the highs to specific locations. If it's flat and square, it doesn't have anything to do with the sound.

My comment was tongue-in-cheek. Gotcha. Just piggy-backing on the "appearance-can-influence-sound" effect. I laugh at myself for nit-picking on my speakers looks. I love the way they sound.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

I think that is a very good question. I really like to be able to A-B the two conditions with matched SPL and verify through repeat-ability.

Anyone who thinks their ears are absolutely the final word in truth needs to watch this.

The McGurk effect (thanks to Alex for introducing me to this):

Whoa! That for sure is an amazing video. Will save this to use later on. Thanks for posting this!

 

[markw]

I have two amps I rotate every week or so. Same source, same interconnects, same speakers. The "new" one always sounds better at first.

I can live with that. Now, if I was comparing one amp I owned with another that I'm considering buying (or just bought), I'd want to be danged sure there is a definite improvement, not just a difference. New is not always a guarantee of better.

 

[highfigh]

My comment was tongue-in-cheek. Gotcha. Just piggy-backing on the "appearance-can-influence-sound" effect. I laugh at myself for nit-picking on my speakers looks. I love the way they sound.

Ah. Jocularity!

I'm still up in the air about the type of screws used to mount the drivers. I'm planning to do some double-blind tests with black oxide coated screws vs stainless, brass and the tri-plated screws in Phillips, square drive and Torx. I may even try the security Torx with the little pin in the center- I think it will improve dispersion because the pin should act as some kind of mini-vortex.

This is all theoretical, but I'm hoping it will be a real break-through for the industry.



OK, I'm going to seek professional help, now. I just re-read this and I'm beginning to sorry about my sanity.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Ah. Jocularity!

I'm still up in the air about the type of screws used to mount the drivers. I'm planning to do some double-blind tests with black oxide coated screws vs stainless, brass and the tri-plated screws in Phillips, square drive and Torx. I may even try the security Torx with the little pin in the center- I think it will improve dispersion because the pin should act as some kind of mini-vortex.

This is all theoretical, but I'm hoping it will be a real break-through for the industry.



OK, I'm going to seek professional help, now. I just re-read this and I'm beginning to sorry about my sanity.

I think the Security (TR) Torx screws may improve the sound as well. Their synergistic qualities are not to be dismissed.

 

[highfigh]

I think the Security (TR) Torx screws may improve the sound as well. Their synergistic qualities are not to be dismissed.

If I see the house plants swaying with the music, I'll know.