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
JD........one more thought-- Maybe you could enlist the help of the "three blind mice"......put it all to music, and you could have a classic blind test of whatever you want.
Oops, just got my self I nice set of minus points. 4in all.
JD you were right, if you try to be funny on Audiogon, you get into trouble. You live and learn. What I dislike is the anonimiy in it all. They can crawl out of the woodwork and then snuggle back in. Aw well. There is freedom of speach ain't it and even the greatest knucklehead is entitled to his opinion. So I will not retaliate in kind. On the contrary, I aplogise if I hurt anybody's feelings or sense of propriety , but then she/he should speak up.
Jostler, thanks for your reply. I think the people tested were really deaf at these frequences. That had been established beforehand. Did not know about the pink noise experiment. Intuitively it makes sense at first sight, but would you not think, that more complex things like soundstage spread in all its possible dimensions would need more complex information than pink noise, which by the way is not without complexity in itself. ? (Still think this is a great thread, even if the minuses should keep on coming!)
Detlof: Absolutely, for something like soundstage/imaging you need a complex stereo signal. (What would stereo pink noise soound like??) But I'm from the school that says soundstage is primarily a function of the source material and speaker/room interaction. The sorts of things you would do blind tests on aren't much of a factor (unless there's a channel imbalance somewhere). When people claim that a cable gives them a wider soundstage, I get skeptical.
Jostler, we are of the same school here. The other day though, I changed cables between my cd player,the Purcell upsampler and the DAC, not really expecting anything in particular, perhaps a slightly better definition and coherence and to my surprise I seemed to get a wider soundstage. Tried all sorts of software and the phenomenon did not go away. Changed back to the old cables and there was shrinkage. Cannot explain this. Mabe its really a case of those solder joints! But then jitter would not influence soudstage, would it?
Just got four minuses more for my second last post. Someone must have taken it personally. Good!