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Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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In Reply to: I've asked this before, posted by Kristian85 on January 20, 2004 at 14:19:10:
It's unfortunate we can't just measure things with an accelerometer to determine whether what we are hearing is real or just a "placebo effect." I've made isolation devices out of maple, ebony, and cocobolo --- each device identical except for the type of wood used. Each kind of wood influenced audio sound with its own distinct characteristics. My wife and children could readily detect that each sounded different, and because each could recognize which was which repeteadly, no placebo effect could have been responsible. I don't believe these differences in resonant influence could be measured by an accelerometer or laser; the phenomenon is occuring at a molecular level.Some oddball-type devices (placing a coin strategically on a speaker or component, room resonance enhancers, etc.) might just sometimes have an effect under certain circumstances. I've experienced unexpected (even illogical), yet real, results with oddball tweaks.
Although I believe in placebo effect, I don't believe it plays too heavily in audio. People may be influenced by others to try something or buy something, but in the end, their own ears usually do not lie.
Perhaps sometimes, after spending a sum of money for a specialty tweak, a person might "hear" an improvement that really isn't there, to protect his/her feelings after spending so much money, or because they feel they are "supposed to" hear a difference. Is this "placebo effect" or "wishful thinking"? Sometimes a person just wants the confidence in knowing that if a device MIGHT improve the sound, then his/her audio system will benefit from it.
It seems many audio tweaks are veiled in a lot of hype. Results are exaggerated -- DIY tweaks understandably because of experimenters' enthusiasm, by manufacturers to promote their products, by consumers to justify their purchases.
If only we could just peel away all the hype and see a component or device for what it is and what it does. Well, we can -- with educated analysis followed by audition. You're making a noble effort, Len, to sort through the hype and make educated decisions, and I wish you the best of luck.
Steve Herbelin
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Follow Ups
- You can't measure everything - Herbie 04:56:57 01/21/04 (0)
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