Do you believe in Magic?

Byron, you are exactly correct. IMO.

"A scientific explanation isn't valid because it's intuitive, or plausible, or satisfying." There are many commonly accepted scientific theories and propositions that have been proven false. But the latter are often politically incorrect. This has been true through history -- the history or science , the history or audio and indeed throughout human history.

Geoff, you stated:

"... there must be a real, physical or electrical explanation for why you hear a change in the sound when evaluating a device or tweak."

My question is why "must be" there be? IMO there is no reason at all why there "must be". You and others may wish that there be an explanation for everything out there but that does not mean that there is one. And if there is not, or if the explanation is not satisfactory, does that detract from the enjoyment of the music?

Audio is not an intellectual matter -- unless you make it so. The word audio comes from the Latin. It means "I hear". Music is a right hemisphere event. For me the enjoyment of music has nothing whatsoever to do with explanations.

Ether, I think there may be some confusion here. Geoff is referring to the explanations about the products -- not the products themselves and how they perform. This is an intellectual thing. IMO.

I'm all for well controlled studies, heck I'm even for blind testing or whatever type of testing anyone wishes to do. Why anyone would think I am not in favor of well-controlled studies is beyond me. Why, it's almost like you think I'm trying to pull a fast one. Lol. But it is not for me, the manufacturer, to do the testing; as I mentioned previously, there should be a competent, independent third party responsible for designing, conducting and providing results of the studies for these controversial devices and tweaks, just as there should be for any other audio speaker, component or cable, etc.

I would add one final note. I bought four sheets. Successively, on my Reimyo 300B amp, I started with a half sheet. It was awful. I tried a quarter sheet. It was awful. I tried an eighth sheet, same results. Ultimately, I had a 1/2" by 1/2" sheet and still hated it. I removed all of it and put it in a cabinet in my room. Something was still wrong. Ultimately, when I put it in my car, I could not hear its bad effect. I sold all of it. We all are different!

03-10-12: Sabai
You and others may wish that there be an explanation for everything out there but that does not mean that there is one.

I agree. IMO, there may be some phenomena that permanently defy explanation. Having said that, I am generally an optimist about the future of human knowledge. The reason: Science.

03-09-12: Ether
my last post in this futile discussion:
- Rather than argue over some "what if concepts" - why don't anyone has yet to agree to a blinded study??

Again - unless anyone, especially Geoff, wants to conduct well control study, let's just stop here.

I understand your feeling that this conversation has taken an unfortunate turn into futility. I, for one, cannot even pinpoint any of Geoff's beliefs on this topic. I don't think he is particularly interested in making himself understood. In any event, the whole point of the thread was to share experiences with tweaks whose effects are difficult to explain. So getting back to that...

03-10-12: Tbg
Ultimately, when I put it in my car, I could not hear its bad effect.

I agree with you, Tbg, that ERS can have a deleterious effect. I liked it in one place: my preamp/dac. I tried ERS in half a dozen other places, and either I heard nothing or didn't like what I heard. I wound up taping the remaining sheets to the inside of the breaker box. But I'm not sure that has any effect. Maybe, like you, I should try it in the car. Was the car in or out of the garage?

:-)

Bryon