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Do you believe in Magic?

Audio Magic, that is.

Let's say that Magic is any effect not explainable by known physical laws. Every audiophile is familiar with debates about Audio Magic, as evidenced by endless threads about power cables.

I recently had an experience that made me question my long held skepticism about Magic. On a whim, I bought some Stillpoints ERS Fabric. I installed it in my preamp (which is filled with noisy digital circuitry) and a reclocker (also noisy) and...

Something happened. I don't know what exactly, but something. Two things in particular seemed to change... the decay of notes, and instrument timbres. Both changed for the better. But where did this change occur? In my listening room? Or in my mind?

If the change was in my listening room, then Magic exists. If the change was in my mind, then Magic does not exist.

One of the great Ideological Divides in audio is the divide between Believers and Skeptics. I honestly don't know if I'm a Believer or a Skeptic.

Do you believe in Magic?

Bryon
bryoncunningham
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Mrtennis it looks like you do believe in magic then!
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi chadeffect:

i did not say what i believe in.

i said perception is unreliable and therefore the senses cannot yield knowledge.
bryoncunningham OP
888 posts
 
03-30-12: Mrtennis
after reading 175 posts , i have concluded that since perception is unreliable and it is the means of interacting with our stereo system, all objective considerations, and arguments are academic...

MrT - I don't know why you had to read 175 posts to come to this conclusion. It is the conclusion you ALWAYS come to, no matter what is being discussed. It goes like this...

1. Knowledge must be certain.
2. Perception cannot be certain.
3. Therefore, perception is not knowledge.

This little syllogism, which encapsulates your Ideology of Skepticism, is presented by you so frequently here on A'gon that it is beginning to look like stereotypy. Anyone who spends time around here knows what I'm talking about.

Bryon
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Hi Mrtennis,

If that is really true where does that leave science? If we cannot trust our perception how do we observe? So then we are left with magic.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i believe knowledfge comes from the abstract--definitions,and postulates.

i agree with byron. i am a skeptic when it comes to trusting the senses.

i think they are unreliable and are similar to an opinion. there is a probability that they are right (accurate) and a probability they are inaccurate.

one can hear what isn't present and fail to hear what is.

while i may have confidence in my perceptions, i don't consider them knowledge and i accept the possibility that i may be in error regarding what i hear , or not.

the issue of eye witness accounts of an event serves as an example to corroborate my belief.
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