John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

[soundmeister]

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

Thank you, Dave.
I couldn't say it better.

Thanks Joshua.
I could say much more, but that would just start more arguments.

Dave.

[SY]

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

I never said I can be free of the placebo effect, all I said was that there ways to neutralize it.

Such as...?

[Joshua_G]

Originally Posted by soundmeister

Thanks Joshua.
I could say much more, but that would just start more arguments.

Dave.

Hi Dave,
Arguments seem to be unavoidable here, whether you'll write in brief and very concise manner and whether you'll write at length and elaborate.

[Joshua_G]

Originally Posted by SY

Such as...?

Let's start with small steps.
Do you hold that I need double blind ABX tests in order to detect a very loud hum in my sound system?

[Johnloudb]

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

I never said I can be free of the placebo effect, all I said was that there ways to neutralize it.

Okay, but, what do you mean by neutralize it?

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

No, I'm not free of the placebo effect, but in spite of the placebo effect and on top of it, there are (sometimes) real and actual phenomena I actually hear.

Right, yes there are!

[SY]

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

Let's start with small steps.
Do you hold that I need double blind ABX tests in order to detect a very loud hum in my sound system?

No, nor has anyone ever suggested that ABX is the only acceptable format where blind testing is appropriate.

Now, since we've dealt with that question about a million times, why don't you skip to the end and tell us how placebo effects can be neutralized- and without introducing other non-auditory cues.

[john curl]

Soundminded, I still can't get into: 'Prelude from Tristan and Isolde' even with a good orchestra, and that was the middle selection. The other two might have been worth it.

[fredex]

Hi all, good reading and it has made me think...

When a golden eared audiophile has a real inner experience of hearing minute differences (say between electronics) that later disappear when he is not allowed to see the equipment, I conclude that his inner experience is not based on an external reality. However to reach this conclusion I have to make the assumption that his actual hearing sensitivity is exactly the same in both instances. How can I know it is?

[janneman]

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

Are saying that no one, under no condition and under no test procedure can have a genuine impression of the SQ of audio system, free of the Placebo Effect?

No.

jan didden

[janneman]

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

Thank you for putting yourself in the open, I appreciate it very much.[snip].

I never said otherwise.

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

[snip]However I'm unclear about the first part.
If you don't trust your listening ability, why use it?
If you do trust your listening ability, why use reputation and technical specifications?
[snip]

I'm not conciously saying: aha, this amp has a good reputation, so it must sound great, but I have no doubt that it somehow plays a role.
And I have no problem enjoying sound and music from, say, my latest self-designed and build amp even if I know that in a blind test it probably sounds identical to the previous one. What else can you do? But the realisation prevents me from saying to others: build this amp because it sounds better than anything else. That's a luxury I have because I'm not into selling them.

Originally Posted by Joshua_G

[snip]I'm extremely suspicious about reputation.[snip].

Really? The impression I get from your posts is that you support anything Mr Curl says, whatever the contents. Surely that must be based on reputation?

jan didden