I read about a test where supposedly audiophiles were played samples of a CD ripped with different players and then proven to be identical bit by bit, played back on the same system, where supposedly they still insisted they could tell which files were ripped with the “better” player, and tbqh I believe it.
I could hypothesize that the difference they’re hearing, if not psychosomatic, would at that point be more likely caused by the speakers/headphones/tubes/amps warming up.
I read about a test where supposedly audiophiles were played samples of a CD ripped with different players and then proven to be identical bit by bit, played back on the same system, where supposedly they still insisted they could tell which files were ripped with the “better” player, and tbqh I believe it.
I could hypothesize that the difference they’re hearing, if not psychosomatic, would at that point be more likely caused by the speakers/headphones/tubes/amps warming up.
I’m ripping on audiophiles pretty hard but being real, the placebo effect is pretty powerful for everyone.