Yanni or Laurel?

tls49

Yes, our ability to hear correctly can be misleading at times.

That’s not the issue here at all with the Laurel vs. Yanni question. In this instance, different people listening to the same thing hear consistently different results. Some hear "Laurel," others "Yanni." That there could be such discrepancy isn’t a question of our hearing being misled, but rather proves that two people exposed to the same sound can hear two very different things. I think that raises significant questions about our hobby, how valid listening tests should be conducted and even whether a scientifically valid listening test is even possible.

Listen for yourself.
https://www.cnet.com/news/yanny-or-laurel-the-internet-is-fighting-over-this-mysterious-word/
I hear Laurel, btw.

papagiorgio

I think that there is a system reproduction difference.  I listened to it a half dozen through the stock speakers on my flat screen TV, and it is VERY clearly Yanni.  However, if I play the exact same clip through my home theater speakers, it is very clearly Laurel. 

It's not that simple. I've had several people listen to the same file at the same time through the same system; some hear "Yanni," some "Laurel."

Of course, that's not to say that it might not sound different, depending on the system.

All I hear is "Laurel."