Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ulysses.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!smb From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: Re: nut.audio: The \"ear\" vs. \"the instrument\" Message-ID: <1113@ulysses.UUCP> Date: Sat, 28-Sep-85 18:18:06 EDT Article-I.D.: ulysses.1113 Posted: Sat Sep 28 18:18:06 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 29-Sep-85 08:31:34 EDT References: <568@decwrl.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 27 It's quite conceivable that there are audible differences between sound systems that we're not currently measuring. (That they are, if understood, measurable, is beyond debate, I'd say, though there's no guarantee that such a measurement could come up with a single number like THD.) The real question is whether or not the "golden ears" are actually hearing something. I'm dubious for several reasons: a) double-blind tests reveal little or no difference. I'm not insisting on rapid-switching tests a la abcd[12], but some sort of controlled test is essential. b) many golden-ears denigrate or deny the power of the placebo effect. It's been well-demonstrated; indeed, the purely physiological effects of inert pills has been demonstrated many times. The placebo effect is the main reason I insist on blind tests. c) nonsensical physical theories are often propounded to explain purported (or real) differences. The ad excerpt Andy Koenig posted a few days ago for "CD-compatible cables" is a good example. Before I give any credibility to a report of a new effect, I want one of three conditions: 1) an objectively-measureable difference; 2) a subjectively- demonstrated difference under well-controlled conditions; or 3) a plausible physical theory to explain the effect. Nonsense tends to put me off, and perhaps causes me to disregard subjective reports that deserve more credit. d) the rhetoric used in the debate is totally out of bounds. I trust that most of us would agree that we're arguing about a fairly small difference. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com