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Blind Listening Tests?

I would like help locating any articles or studies on the subject of blind listening tests as it relates to high end audio equipment. I realize this is akin to blasphemy for many who are into this hobby, however, the more times I read of people claiming to hear audible differences between certain components and system set-ups, the more skeptical I become.(e.g. equipment racks ,interconnects,etc.)The fact that virtually every major audio publication is so adamently against the idea only adds to my skepticism. Before I invoke the wrath of this site's faithful, let me clarify that I am not doubting the sincerity of those who claim to hear sonic differences between certain components. However, believing that an audible difference exists when one knows that he is listening to a piece of equipment that is generally well regarded or made by a well respected manufacturer is entirely different from being able to detect the difference in a blind listening scenario. Given the undisputed connection between the mind and our perceptions, why is there so much sentiment against such tests? Couldn't the results of such testing be simply another piece of information that we could factor in to our purchasing decisions. It seems to me that those who are so sure of ther critical listening ability (i.e. all stereophile reviewers) should not hesitate to prove their skills. I look forward to any help in directing me to more information on the subject.Thanks, Don. Dtittle  (Threads | Answers | This Thread) 02-26-01

Responses (1-69 of 69)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it. 02-26-01   I think the majority of audiophiles would definitely fail bl ...   Cwlondon@ 02-26-01   Don, i'm not sure anyone here doubts the merits of a blind t ...   Jadem6 02-26-01   There's a canadian magazine, ultra high fidelity, that evalu ...   Jeffloistarca 02-26-01   Hifi choice magazine in britain does a blind test with a pan ...   Sugarbrie 02-26-01   Great post, don. i expecially agree with your thread that r ...   Drubin 02-26-01   I've found blind tests, be it in a rudementary fashion or th ...   Detlof 02-26-01   Hey detlof, can i tell my wife you recommended i invite a fe ...   Jadem6 02-26-01   There's nothing like resorting to my 14 yr old daughter's hi ...   Subaruguru 02-26-01   I don't completely agree detlof. in my experience a lot fem ...   Sugarbrie 02-27-01   Hi dlittle; a well written thread, but you don't tell us wh ...   Garfish 02-27-01   Hi don. you might experience a scintilla of confirmation or ...   C1ferrari 02-27-01   It's often difficult to admit that the emperor has no clothe ...   Rgodin 02-27-01   Rgodin: "the emperor has no clothes" has no beari ...   Dekay 02-27-01   Don: sorry that i do not know where to direct you, but i ha ...   Dekay 02-27-01   Hi sugarbrie, fascinating point you are making. my experienc ...   Detlof 02-27-01   Sorry detlof, humor is not allowed on any audiogon thread. i ...   Jadem6 02-27-01   Well,i was trying to get ray charles;or stevie wonder to com ...   Avguygeorge 02-27-01   Musicians have to be trained to listen to "systems" ...   Detlof 02-27-01   Oh,i forgot/ the last test i took: i studied for hours on en ...   Avguygeorge 02-27-01   Having started this i would like to jump back in and respond ...   Dtittle 02-27-01   The following article addresses the subject of double blind ...   Rzado 02-27-01   Is it insecurity to need a blind test or is it insecurity to ...   Drubin 02-27-01   Don: first of all, there is a difference between a "bli ...   Jostler3@ 02-27-01   Mr drubin: i guess "both",but who wants their shor ...   Avguygeorge 02-27-01   Dtittle; i think in my first response i spelled your name w ...   Garfish 02-27-01   As a medical man, and a proponent of "evidence based me ...   Danvetc 02-28-01   Very well said, charlie.   Drubin 03-01-01: Philiphansg@yahoo.co.uk Hi Don, I think your original thread is a very complex question to start with. Audio Engineering Society 2000 November journal published an excellent paper written by Seymour Shlien, "Auditory Models for Gifted Listeners". The author introduced the subject about certain professions like musician, piano tuner, recording/mastering engineers whose job depend on their better than average hearing ability. What's significant to this Audiogon thread is that his test results on 14 subjects identified some outstanding listeners in having (if I may quote) ".. unusual ability to hear signals or discriminate small differences. This skill show itself among audiophiles or musicians who may be willing to spend significant resources in order to achieve the best audio reproduction quality. Though these listeners are hard to please, they are an important component of the audio consumer market, and some effort should be made to understand the reason for their special needs." The paper has real tables & charts, very scientific... As an audiophile and AES member myself, after reading this paper i felt reassured and understand my hearing capabilty and needs better now. Don, you should also try to get hold of this AES issue. Regards Phil Philiphansg@yahoo.co.uk  03-02-01   Jostler3, the abx page is no longer on the url you cited. it ...   70242.241@ 03-07-01   Fact! if you were to take all of the major audio magazine e ...   Mike_borner@ 03-07-01   Mike, i think you make a very good point here, namely that w ...   Detlof 03-07-01   Detlof: 1) the power of a trained ear depends on how it was ...   Jostler3@ 03-07-01   Well detlof, i can not begin to thank-you for your insites. ...   Jadem6 03-07-01   Couldn't agree more, j.d.--this is about belief, not science ...   Jostler3@ 03-07-01   Jostler,i enjoyed your wizardry,and voted it as such. now wh ...   Avguygeorge 03-07-01   A little story comes to mind: when cd's first came out, ther ...   Detlof 03-08-01   I'm lost now, i've got usa, italy, france and japan going. i ...   Jadem6 03-08-01   Yes jd, you make sense, holland is close to germany, but the ...   Detlof 03-08-01   Oh heck jd, i forgot france as well. my jadis stuff just hat ...   Detlof 03-08-01   Sorry, not jd, jostler is the scientist i meant.....and ahem ...   Detlof 03-08-01   I am sooooo mad! i've held back from all of you on this blin ...   Jadem6 03-08-01   Detlof: psychoacoustics is about a century old now, which is ...   Jostler3@ 03-08-01   Jd you sound like a 10 hz tone to me...you have me stand in ...   Detlof 03-08-01   Detlof: dont' know about studies of the hearing-impaired. i ...   Jostler3@ 03-08-01   Jd; incredible post. nice beat, easy to dance to, i'd give ...   Garfish 03-08-01   Jd........one more thought-- maybe you could enlist the help ...   Garfish 03-08-01   Oops, just got my self i nice set of minus points. 4in all. ...   Detlof 03-08-01   Detlof: absolutely, for something like soundstage/imaging yo ...   Jostler3@ 03-08-01   Jostler, we are of the same school here. the other day thoug ...   Detlof 03-08-01   Just got four minuses more for my second last post. someone ...   Detlof 03-08-01   Jd: way hilarious post. my wife wanted to know if you are ...   Dekay 03-08-01   I did some blind testing while shopping for a big screen tv ...   Ears 03-09-01   Garfish:..... have we progressed to triple-blind-testing now ...   Avguygeorge 03-09-01   George, shall i get some more, to make you feel even better? ...   Detlof 03-09-01   Just a quick thank-you to all who have expressed there enjoy ...   Jadem6 03-10-01   "not related to anyone who would claim me" reminds ...   Avguygeorge 03-10-01   Good ending jd, i was deeply concerned about the future of t ...   Dekay 03-10-01   Ps: i will also assume that the cancer in the rats exposed ...   Dekay 03-11-01   The rodie for the greatful dead could actually see the disto ...   Stevemj 03-23-01   Thanks for the laugh, steve. good one!   70242.241@ 03-23-01   How much is the effect on the sound quality of the component ...   Nilthepill 03-23-01   Good switching will not affect the sound quality. that can b ...   70242.241@ 03-23-01   Katharina said it best: "double-deaf listening tests&qu ...   Bob_bundus 03-26-01   Bob_bundus: double-blind testing is useful only if you want ...   70242.241@ 03-26-01   70242.241, how could there be an inverse relationship betwee ...   Jadem6 03-27-01   702..not so seriously intended but for the sake of a little ...   Detlof 03-27-01   Jadem6: your imagination is running amok. i never said there ...   70242.241@ 03-28-01   702 thanks for your clever and witty response. nice to have ...   Detlof 04-20-01   There is a german psychologists study of 3 audio systems bli ...   Ebarker2

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