2. headphones
  3. 168196-159850

So how much do you think the placebo effect impacts our listening preferences?

My hypothesis is that for ~%97 of us, the more a headphone costs the more we will enjoy the headphone.

My secondary hypothesis is that the more I told consumers a headset cost, the more they would enjoy the phones. i.e. a $30 headphone < $300 headphone < $3,000 headphones <<< $30,000 headphones.

I’m willing to bet that if I put the kph 30i drivers in the focal utopia’s chassis and told participants in this fake study that the phones cost $4k.... Everyone except for the 3%ers would never guess something was up. The remaining 97% would have no clue and report that it was the best set they ever heard.

Then if I gave them the kph30i and explained it was $30. 97% of people would crap on them after hearing the same driver in a different chassis.

My ultimate hypothesis is that build quality and price are the two most important factors in determining if people will enjoy a set of headphones. This how I rationalize the HD8XX getting crap on when only 3 people have heard it and publicly provided their opinion lol. "It’s a cheaper 800s, of course it’s going to sound worse!"

mikedangelo

Showing 10 responses by devilboy

devilboy
1,172 posts
 
Funny millercarbon .

I've been enjoying the hell out of my $1,600 HiFiman Arya headphones. Out of curiosity, I purchased the $3,000 Focal Stellia with a return policy.
I went back and forth for one month with these headphones. Honestly, I had to coach myself to not fall head over heels for the Stellia because of their build quality and aesthetic and reputation. To me, they are gorgeous. Aesthetically they are way more beautiful than my bland and boring Arya. The build quality also easily beats out the Arya. So going into this shootout, I had a subconscious bias towards preferring the Stellia. I WANTED them to win. I wanted something just to look at while I wasn't listening to music just so I can gush over this gorgeous headphone.

However, at the end of the day, the proof is in the pudding. I much preferred the Aryas sonics to the Stellia. I also much preferred the comfort of the Arya.

I returned the Stellia. Not because of the price. Price was irrelevant to me. I wanted something that sounded good and I enjoyed wearing.



devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@mahgister  

"It is more easy to control the room/speakers relation than the ready made shell box and the limitations of any headphones."


WWWWWWWWWHAT???

The room/speaker factor is the single most difficult thing in a loudspeaker system to get correct. Room dimensions, reflection points, nulls, etc. This is the single greatest headache of getting a loudspeaker system correct, in my opinion.
With headphones, you don't have to worry about any of that.

Please clarify because I'm having a hard time trying to make heads or tails of what you said.


devilboy
1,172 posts
 
Headphones = less headache. I understand that you can doctor and Taylor the sound to your liking when you deal with a loudspeaker system with room acoustics and speaker placement and swapping cables, etc.
However, the money required to get it right is vastly greater than the money spent on a good headphone system.


In my opinion, you definitely get more bang for your buck with a quality headphone system.

I’ve chased the dragon with loud speakers for 25 years. Spent tens of thousands of dollars in the process.
I put together my headphone system in just a few purchases and relatively speaking, not that much money spent.
It’s gotten me more enjoyment with less money spent and less time invested than the loudspeaker systems I’ve had over 25 years.

But that’s me. I’m just giving my experience. I’m sure many people disagree.
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@mahgister loudspeaker systems give a different presentation than headphone systems. I don’t believe that one, regardless of equipment used or set up, is it necessarily better or worse than the other. Like I said, they are different presentations altogether.
It all depends what you’re into.
There are people who simply don’t enjoy listening to loudspeaker systems because their headphones give them more of a certain experience they’re looking for, and vice versa.

In the end, it’s horses for courses, so to speak.
My opinions on headphones were precisely that, my opinions. Your opinion may vary.
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@mahgister  also, when you say your $500 system beat your 7 headphones, please tell me in terms of what? Are you saying a $500 complete system beat all of your headphones systems? If so,  in what capacity? How exactly?
I think you're trying to compare apples and oranges.

devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@mahgister I just looked at your system.
 I need to start buying stock in tin foil.

As you most eloquently put it earlier:
"I apologize if my post seems rude..."
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@mahgister  you make statements about your system regarding the placement and the presentation you get and how headphones cannot compare. If it's the same system I saw in your picture, how on Earth do you get a sense of space or depth or width or imaging, sound staging, etc. I'm not trying to start an argument or be mean I simply don't understand how you can get that effect with your speakers being where they are.
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@mahgister  ok. Good explanation. Thank you.
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
Like I said before, loudspeakers and headphones are different PRESENTATIONS.
It's not a matter of some people like vanilla and some people like chocolate. The comparison is more of some people like ice cream and some people like brownies.

The question is, what type of dessert do you prefer?
Okay, that was a very corny example but just trying to make a point that people have different needs when listening to high end. 
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
@sokogear 

You said, ...


"I can't believe you guys are arguing if speakers are better than headphones. They are DIFFERENT and do different things.

I don't know anyone who prefers headphones unless they either have no decent stereo or can't play music out loud because it annoys someone."

Didn't you just contradict yourself there? 

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