I Just Don't Hear It - I wish I did

Ahh...very good. I was afraid this thread had withered on the vine, but since there is still a sign of life, I will inject some more hooey…There is definitely something to be said regarding someone’s ability, or inability to hear well – or discern details. It is also a fact that there will always be systems that are more revealing than others.

As I have stated, I can clearly discern good soundstage, image, clarity, transparency, timbre and even decay, and I can discern and appreciate changes in the aforementioned. For most audiophiles, the formula for attaining these physical characteristics - to an obvious degree, is to replace gear or do modifications to the gear (proper setup and room treatments are also big factors). Then, there are cables, tubes, power tweaks, etc. that make audible improvements, but to a lesser degree than upgrading the gear. Then there is the fine-tuning that may involve a myriad of tweaks and products; and it is very difficult for me to believe that placing something-anything under a component or placing a shield of some sort over an IEC... can make the kinds of differences that have been described. We’re talking about improvements in the soundstage that are clearly discernable for crying out loud, or that improvement in transparency are quite obvious.

Look, human beings are human beings; sure, there are those who hear better than others, but what’s more likely – be honest, that a very real and scientific phenomenon known as “the power of persuasion” (placebo effect if you will) is occurring, or that there is the phenomenon of extraordinary human achievement occurring!?

I know I’m pi@#%$! some of you off. Don’t take it personally – I don’t.

Its all relative.

Lets assume any system change is a tweak, some are big, some are small, some are minuscule, some are in between.

My first big tweak is moving from a transistor radio to a nicely matched $3000 component system with very well reviewed monitor speakers, amp, etc.

If you are hearing impaired, you might not hear a difference even with this major "tweak".

Most of us will fall in between this degree of hearing ability and that of the very best, say that rabbit in the old Doctor Suess story "The Big Brag" who could hear an insect sneeze or something along those lines miles away.

Where you fall in between in regards to hearing ability in conjunction with how much you care and the relative significance of any particular tweak will determine whether you might actually hear a difference with that particular tweak.

BTW my dog probably hears better than me and he seems to enjoy listening to my system so that makes me feel better.

Also none of us can see into the Infrared or ultraviolet EM bands either. Too bad as those could be a really useful ability!

...be honest, that a very real and scientific phenomenon known as “the power of persuasion” (placebo effect if you will) is occurring, or that there is the phenomenon of extraordinary human achievement occurring!?

2chnlben (System | Threads | Answers)

Honestly, I believe it's pretty even between the placebo effect, and genuinely superior perception among those who can hear better than others. There's no question that once a sizable sum has been invested in a tweak, it's human nature to want to hear an improvement, and it's also human nature to viciously defend one's decision to spend the money when the decision is attacked as foolish.

I think your description of physiological superior hearing as a "phenomenon of extraordinary human achievement" is hyperbole that's unfair to the comparison you put forth, which I imagine was intended to be taken seriously.

I don't take any of this personally. It's a discussion.

However, I do believe that the discussion is either genuine, or it's mostly for fun and therefore interwoven with humor. It's unclear to me which direction this thread is taking.

Mapman, I disagree with your definition of a tweak to mean any change in a system. Perhaps, when we're discussion tweaks, we should all preface our posts with the definition of our personal definition of tweaking.

Rushton, I think I speak for most if not all that we're jealous you have a spouse who is as enthusiastic about this hobby as we are! nice!

Most people think they have decent hearing. Like Mapman said, it's all relative. Some people will have more sensitive hearing than others. That doesn't mean those with less sensitive hearing have tin ears.