"Today scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality"
Nikola Tesla
Its now a conspiracy theory to believe that the Immune system is capable of doing the job it was designed to do.
A fish is only as healthy as the water its swimming in ! [Dr Robert Young]
www.tubedistinctions.co.uk
Matthew 5:10
It's natural to experience an element of pressure during ANY kind of test, especially if it's being conducted in a public or unfamiliar place, outwith of the comfort of your own home. Did you feel pressure when sitting exams in school? I know I did. It's human nature, as you want to do well and get [whatever it is being tested for] RIGHT.
Now, of course it's different if you're simply blind-testing yourself at home, which shouldn't be stressful or pressurised, but as soon as the situation involves being judged by others on the results obtained, that causes pressure, and some will feel it more than others.
I agree that demonstrating any claimed difference shouldn't be a problem, if that difference exists, and that could take the form of a simple listening test at a bake-off, which should reveal the existence of any difference or not, and is less pressurised than blind-testing, so folks should be open to that.
As for 'night and day' differences between mains leads, that simply doesn't happen.
If anyone is claiming that, then their system is either broken or they're simply just exaggerating. Mains leads, designed for hi-fi purposes, provide subtle but worthwhile sonic improvements, not drastic ones, the cumulative effect when used throughout a system, can be significant. However, if someone is claiming much more than that, then they're best ignored.
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Location: Seaford UK
Posts: 1,861
I'm Dennis.
The pressure to which I refer is that usually DB testing is organised by some authority, for eg., Alan Shaw was baiting his members to meet for one.
When you have an expert, or academics, and they can often be the arrogant bully objectivists we have discussed on another thread, running a test on you, it can be intimidating and upsetting to normal perception.
The ambient I/P ruins the perception of subtlety. Have you tried answering an exam question whilst someone is shouting at you about your abilities?
Location: gone away
Posts: 4,870
I'm joe.
Well, I was talking about informal, A/B comparison in your own home rather than double-blind scientifically rigorous testing in a strange/unfamiliar environment. I agree that the latter could be intimidating.
As for tests and exams, it's many years since I've done any. These days, most academic assessments are based on coursework and 'open-book' exams, which are inherently less stressful than having to memorise shedloads of stuff and be able to call it to mind during multiple exams. Having said that, some people find it stressful having to write essays to deadlines even with all the relevant books and internet resources to hand. A spot of National Service would do them good.
I find that even intimate, solipsistic A/B tests conducted in the privacy and isolation of my listening room, with no one present, can be very stressful. I purchase this new interconnect, bring it home, plug it in, and suddenly the angels sing! I hear it right way, from the moment the first sound emerges from the speakers, that now this makes it sound so much cleaner. It sparkles!
I'm in love, head over heels, I'm so happy I made that change.
So now the very reasonable thing would be to replace the new interconnect with the old one, to hear how much worse the sound is with the old interconnects. But I find all kinds of excuses not to do it. I push that test for later. Why? Because I feel the pressure, fearing that the newly won happiness is just a placebo.
I'd hate to be proven wrong, to look like an idiot in my own eyes. So I continue living with this untested situation. Ah, human nature is full of folly...
Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?
Alex.
Location: Reading
Posts: 110
I'm George.