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Blind Testing is Dead - Long live My Wallet testing.

Hi Everyone,

I was seeing some discussions around cables, and reading other discussions about A'gon members asking for opinions on different alternatives for hooking up a DAC, or TV sound, or whatever, and it made me think of this.


I want to tie a few things together:

  • Most technical measurements consumers read were defined by the 1970s. It is fair to describe them as stagnant.
  • The cost to benefit ratio of a lot of products can vary a great deal.
  • I hear things I can't yet measure in cables and crossover components.
  • I like measurements. 
  • Someday measurements commonly discussed among consumers will improve and better tie our values to technology.

A lot has been made about double blind testing, and a lot of readers rely on taste masters (web sites, magazines and social media) and whether in fact these taste masters can hear anything at all. Reminds me a lot of blind testing of wines, or an article I read recently about how much super rare whiskey is fake.


When deciding on a bit of kit, I could not care less about double blind testing. I care about :

  • What audible value can I perceive?
  • Is the price proportional to that value?
  • Is my money better spent on a vacation or liquor?

We should also note that I'm a bit of an iconoclast. Most consumers also care about:

  • Brand recognition
  • Style
  • Perception of modernity (is it cutting edge no one else has)
  • Perception of construction (how much does it weigh, how is it packaged)
  • Ability to create envy.
  • Price ( if it's too inexpensive, it can't be good! )


What is my message then? My message is that this is all cute, like reading about movies or books or music shows, but in the end, it's my wallet, no one else's. John Atkinson is not buying my speakers for me. I am. My hard work creates value which I use some of (sometimes too much) to buy audio related products. The more you detach yourself from brands, costs and worries about measurements the more frugal, and happier  you will be.


Best,

Erik


erik_squires
schubert
7,386 posts
 
The ego of high watch is MUCH higher than those of  audio buyers .At least in audio you can't buy something for 10 bucks  that will sound
just as good .
And you can't walk around all day flashing you 50K amp .
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
       "sometimes people have ulterior motives, you know, like Boeing"

Geoffkait, 

No Geoff, more like NASA....
mikexxyz
66 posts
 

I’m not going to defend the ego of the luxury watch buyer. I’m just saying they already know that their fancy watch does not keep better time.

The same cannot be said about the luxury audio buyer who insists his $50K amp (or DAC) sound better than a $10K amp (or DAC).


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
mr_m1,107 posts03-26-2019 5:57pm "sometimes people have ulterior motives, you know, like Boeing"

Geoffkait,

No Geoff, more like NASA...

>>>>>Really? NASA does their own testing? I doubt it. The problem with Boeing is the FAA alledgedly allowed Boeing to do its own testing in the context of the software package related to the recent 737 crashes. But more to point someone who had it in for product X could publish “test results” that would be unfavorable to product X. Follow?
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,268 posts
 
Eric, well stated, and Yes, you may have created the embers for yet another brush fire. ;)
It seems almost unavoidable of late.
For every stance, you'll have those of a like mind...however apparently unstable for some, but support of a sort.
Then there's those who would rather bury their Game of Thrones Registered Trademarked Battle Axe into your forehead because agreeing to disagree over differences in opinion and/or preference doesn't seem acceptable...or 'something'.
I can appreciate one and all search for their personal idea or ideals of 'perfection'.  I personally can't relate to perfection as existing, or even the opportunity for the event to potentially exist.  If observing an event alters the event (as has been posited), it seems IMHO to be an ongoing activity.
Which it has been, and seems to be riding towards a sunset that doesn't 'fade to black' (except on a personal level and time frame, R.I.P.).
Eric, enjoy.  All of 'Us', enjoy yours. I like mine.  
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