Blind Testing... down a blind alley?
The subject of Blind Listening Tests came up again recently (it has raised its head regularly since the 1950s at least) so rather than simply reply to the questioner, I will make my view public (again).
In the process I will recommend a magazine you should be reading. Stereophile is brilliantly edited by John Atkinson, onetime Editor of Hi-Fi News. I want you to read a piece by John Iverson in the 'As We See It' column of August 2005. Go to http://Stereophile.com/asweseeit/805awsi/
I fully agree with John's argument.
posted by Russ Andrews @ 12:03 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I am not sure it is fair to say all advocates of blind listening tests have it upside down and backwards, people are entitled to opinion.
Does what the person with the untrained ear enjoy make him or her backward ? Or is it taking the negative view when regarding the acuity of your own hearing after being told you may not know what your listening for.
I have read reviewers opinions for a number of years, and feel that in the uk in particular their own personal taste, the system used, room, and mains quality affect the outcome of the review.
I have also heard and read the opinions of some dealers and reviewers regarding brands and quality, at times the stagnant narrow minded attitude galls me.
Blind listening tests or A-B comparisons are just another way of listening for differences in any two pieces of equipment one is interested in, I hear a difference when switching between two digital cables, without knowing what one is what I can still decide what I find more accurate or preferable.
It didnt matter whether I knew I was looking at an apple or an orange, one sounded different from the other.
I am sure most of us are aware of lab performance versus musical performance and that one doesnt always mean the other, that build quality and looks affects sales also. That the opinion of a reviewer can affect the consumers choice, and that magazines and advertising go hand in hand.
A recent comment in a review mentioned a reference product, with the reviewers comment reference to what,I liked that, can we ask this of reviewers ? Usualy we decide on a reviewers opinion regardless, we dont always see different opinions or conflict in the same magazine, certain brands seem to be be reviewed by the same reviewer with consistent results.
Yet the larger percentage does not have the same system, room, layout, mains, musical taste or acuity as the reviewer, all of which influence the performance and perception of equipment.
Can we validate the accuracy of the single reviewer versus blind listening tests, and what do we have as a reference, and will it make any difference to the end user ?
Or are we all just upside down and backward in negativeland, being led blindfold down a blind alley by the self righteous ?
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