Violins, like most wood instruments, need to be played a while to really see what's what in terms of personal preference as they are sort of "organic." A "first blush" test, although interesting, is nearly meaningless. Musicians good enough to play Strads would be using something else if something else sounded and felt better. Nobody really cares what violin a great musician is playing except the violinist, as the thing that matters is what is being played.
Magic Cables and Tubes
I've read here infinitim how one cable sounds better than another or one kind of old tube sounds better than some kind of new tube. I thought this test of great violinists blind testing "great" violins against new ones would be very instructive.
"In blind test, soloists like new violins over old"
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten world-class soloists put prized Stradivarius violins and new, cheaper instruments to a blind scientific test to determine which has the better sound. The results may seem off-key to musicians and collectors: The new violins won handily.
"In blind test, soloists like new violins over old"
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten world-class soloists put prized Stradivarius violins and new, cheaper instruments to a blind scientific test to determine which has the better sound. The results may seem off-key to musicians and collectors: The new violins won handily.