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Expectations can secretly influence our emotional impressions

Several years ago when I just got into this hobby, I was auditioning some loaner interconnects with a few audiophile friends. This was a “sighted” test where I would tell everyone ahead of time what I was plugging in and then we listened and critically evaluated the cable’s audible features. I wrote down everyone’s impressions.

At one point I plugged in a silver set and we ALL agreed that it was way too bright for my SET system. When I went to unplug the silver set I realized I inadvertently plugged a copper one by mistake! In fact it was the exact same set we listened to immediately before the expected silver set – but strangely we clearly heard a difference.

At that point it was obvious all of us simply IMAGINED any difference we claimed to hear. I asked my friends to make another evaluation thru the all of the cables – but this time I secretly announced incorrect cable brand names.

The second evaluations exactly matched their first impressions. The difference was the second impressions tracked cable brand names and not the physical wire in the system.

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  Kimber Kable  

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