What Are Your Biases?

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Lotus Seven S
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What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Lotus Seven S »

Hifihaven.org has had a good run with this question - so why not here?

Let's define Bias first. The quick definition is - A systematic mistake. Systematic because it is a tendency (or programme) that is repeated regardless of the earlier outcomes. But a Bias can also be something that is good and healthy - for example not smoking. Other definitions are of course welcome.

I'll give a couple of examples from my own hifi-life.

I don't like CD's. The jewel cases are plastic and ugly. The booklets are too small. I don't like watching the CD disappearing with the rattling tray into the machine. The sound of CD's is fine - but I just don't like the thing.

I don't like hi-res sound. I heard Pono - and I hated it. I have owned a DVD-A machine - but could only acquire three discs and then it went bankrupt. I have the same problem with high resolution vision - I am incapable of seeing the differences - and if I do see a difference, then I don't think it makes a difference. The story is the thing that captures our imagination not some high definition shadow, and similarly with the ultra definiton of shimmering cymbals - doesn't move me.

I can no longer read reviews in the magazines. Just lots of adjectives and cliches and blah blah blah. Good-for-the-money etc. Though I do like looking at pictures of home setups.

I can probably go on and on....but how about your Biases?
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savvypaul
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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by savvypaul »

I think I have a bias against speaker ports. I hate the chuffing or booming sound that I can often detect. There may well be plenty of ported speakers that do not do this, but I am sceptical.

Is that a bias?
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Daniel Quinn
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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Daniel Quinn »

They don't seem like biases (using your definition) they seem like sensible conclusions.

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Lotus Seven S
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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Lotus Seven S »

Is that a bias?
Yes of course it is....many people love ports - but I share your bias. They don't work for me. (Though one did, once upon a time. But this hasn't changed my bias.)

I forgot my ultimate Bias.

And that is Streaming. I hate these services. I don't like their interfaces - it is all glimmer and too much choice and here today gone tomorrow. And I am convinced that they are destroying the creative fundament for musicians - because most of them do not get a realistic payment. And their music becomes wallpaper and almost completely indifferent. The music business has always been motivated by greed - but this time they are killing their own golden goose. Slowly but surely. But what a good financial idea. Everyone in the world sends you 10 dollars a month. Somebody is getting rich. But it ain't the musicians. And it isn't the consumer, because listening to music loses its meaning, when there is an over-abundance.
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Lotus Seven S
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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Lotus Seven S »

They don't seem like biases (using your definition)
OK. Perhaps we need a better defintion Bias = A tendency to repeat regardless of outcome.

So sometimes they are sensible and sometimes they are not. But we just keep repeating them.
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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Berty bass »

Turntables with some sort of integrated suspension. Absolute pain in the f**king arse.

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

Anything that dominated the industry during the Flat Earth take over. Any speaker company who thinks tying in with BBC design means good music, sadly mistaken.

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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by joe »

I'm not sure about the definition being used here. The OED tells me that bias is 'An inclination, leaning, tendency, bent; a preponderating disposition or propensity; predisposition towards; predilection; prejudice', and not a mistake. The only bias/prejudice I can think of is not watching television during the daytime.

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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

I was a bit confused but I thought I would join in.

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Re: What Are Your Biases?

Unread post by southall-1998 »

Speakers & Headphones, that have bass boosted sound. Gives me a cloy feeling after listening for a short while.

I'm no Hi-Fi expert. But I do get irritated by some people. Who think they know MUCH MORE than the original designer. These types of fools like to tamper with their lovely amps/cd players. One prime example. Taking out the stock caps, and replacing them with so-called posh ones, and claim the results sounds a million miles better than before.

Another one that bugs me a little is ''golden ears''. Especially when some people go round the Hi-Fi community bragging how acute their hearing is! But fair enough we all hear differently, that I can understand!

Jesus, I'm not 30 yet and already turning into a grump :mrgreen:

S.
Shane Lonergan.

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