Perception

As fate would have it the REPEAT button is often mistaken for the REFRESH button. ®️

Has it really been more than than 20 years ago the intrepid reviewer for Stereophile magazine, Shannon Dickson, opined after his coverage of CES, “most exhibitors cannot get up out of the noise floor?” I suspect that is probably true for most audiophiles, that they cannot get up out of the noise floor. History has a way of repeating itself, not refreshing itself. Take a look 👀 around. Yes, I know what you’re thinking - “My system sounds fabulous!”

I gave you a chance to say something relevant. Oh, well, onwards and upwards!

I’m as serious as a colonoscopy without anesthesia. God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. I didn’t say it wouldn’t be a bumpy ride. That’s always the case when brand new information enters the scene. There’s always a whole lot of huffing and puffing and shouting and cries of “foul!” Yes, I know you have some sort of ridiculous claim that manufacturers are trying to control your mind. Give me a break! If you think you know something about external factors’ affect on sound, believe me, you don’t. That was your main point, wasn’t it?

Have I forgotten anything? Whoa! Hey, I forgot plants! 🌿 Now, everybody knows plants are supposed to be good for the sound, right? You know, the diffusion provided by a nice palm or fern or rubber tree plant sitting in the room, plus providing a nice relaxing atmosphere, right? Try removing all plants from the room, take them outside for best results. Let me know what you hear. Plants want to be in the ground, not in some pot inside. It’s unnatural.

OK, dudes and dudettes, here are some practical examples anyone can do that illustrate what I’m referring to, that our local environment affects our sensory perception of sound. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that these examples cannot be affecting the sound directly, cannot be affecting the audio signal anywhere in the room - not the acoustic waves, the house wiring, cabling, speakers or electronics.

1. If you have CDs or LP stacked horizontally anywhere in the room, instead stack them vertically. Then listen to the system. See what you think. Isn’t that better? 😳

2. If you have any cell phones in the house take them outside. Listen before and after. See what you think. Isn’t that better? 😳

3. Anyone with a lot of books in the listening room, take take them to another room. Same goes for magazines, newspapers, etc. See if that doesn’t improve the sound. Isn’t that better? 😳

4. If you have spare electronics equipment, you know, amps, CD players, spare cables, speakers, musical instruments in the room, taken them all out of the room to another room. Then listen to the system again. Then you tell me, isn’t that a lot better? 🤗

5. Take all batteries from remotes, toys, flashlights, etc. and take them outside for this experiment. Listen to the sound. See, isn’t that better? 😀

False conception of causation. A misunderstanding of science or causality. Fear of the unknown. In other words, the very definition of superstitious. No offense to you personally. If I may be so bold I suggest you wear an aluminum foil hat whilst listening to music.

That’s what I am gathering. That’s called superstitious. Problem solved! 🤗

Yeah, that seems like something that would definitely work. 🤗 What could possibly go wrong with that idea. Geez, the person calling for the TT doesn’t even have to be at home. 😬

That’s silly! Nobody in the high end audio business buy this speaker employs such despicable and unprofessional tactics buy this speaker as psychological advertising buy this speaker or subliminal advertising to try to one up the competition.

Good one! I’m familiar with that one. Have you heard the one about ignorance and bliss? 🤗

The fasten seat belts sign just came on.

Yes, I know. Specifically, it’s the working of our subconscious mind. It’s how external factors affect the subconscious mind, which I would call internal, not external, in terms of how sound is perceived/heard. In other words, It’s something we can’t control. It’s how our hearing influenced by our local environment. But maybe you have something else in mind, so to speak.

I am referring to something much more mysterious than suspending a bell or crystals somewhere in the room or in the house somewhere or even tiny little bowl resonators. The reason I say that, gentle readers, is because it’s too easy to explain the suspended bell’s and crystal’s operation as simply affecting the sound waves in the room, which I consider to be part of the audio signal.

What I’m actually referring are completely independent from the audio signal - electronics, speakers, cables, digital cable, power cords, house wiring, room acoustics. So, I do not (rpt not) include acoustic resonators like bell and crystals in what I’m referring to. Or anything that affects vibration or RF. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, what’s left, right? 😬 At any rate, I suspect this is more in line 🔜 with what the OP was driving at when he wondered what *external factors* affect the sound we perceive/hear.

At this point, gentle readers, it might be a good time to fasten your seat belts. 🔛

Let’s briefly explore what the OP is referring to in his statement that his “larger point is how our perception of the sound is influenced by external factors.” Which I assume he means non-audio system related factors. That’s why I think the statement is so interesting, and even revolutionary. But, as I intimated people just don’t want to hear about it. They really don’t. They’ve got enough problems with room acoustics, cables, fuses, burn in, rf, vibration and things they can wrap their hands and heads around without worrying about things that go bump in the night. They don’t wish to get away from anything not in the audio path. Just give them some good old “rock solid engineering” and they’ll be happy. 🤗

rvpiano OP
My larger point with this post (other than my friend’s opinion) is how our perception of sound can be influenced by outside factors.

>>>>Danger! Danger! Memory buffer register limit exceeded!!

Audiophiles oft feel a little bit sensitive about performance. It’s completely natural, everybody does it. The more you worry about it sometimes the worse it gets. 🥵

It’s quite common for audiophiles to wonder where their system stacks up in the overall scheme of things. It doesn’t even necessarily help matters to go to the shows and go listen to friends’ system since almost everybody is in the same boat. How do you know where you are on the performance curve and how do you cost effectively move upward on that curve? That’s the $64,000 question.