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James Randi Million US$ Challenge To Well-Known Golden Ears!
http://www.randi.org/jr/080504string.html#8
This ABX Comparator is the ideal setup to test audio devices and systems. It generates a random "A or B" switching signal, so that the user does not know whether the item or variable being examined is in or out of the circuit, and it accepts the user's decisions and stores them. When the Moment of Truth arrives, the user sees the results of a proper double-blind test. This is a setup that the audio quacks strenuously avoid, in fear that their fakery will be exposed. Today I sent out the following e-mail letter to eleven audio reviewers who showed up on the web pages of the Shakti Stones and P.W.B. Electronics, as endorsers of some audio nonsense mentioned here last week, and to both manufacturers of the devices as well. The letter explains itself: My name is James Randi. I am the president of the James Randi Educational Foundation (address and contacts listed below) and I am an investigator of unusual claims. This Foundation has a prize of one million dollars that we offer, details of which are to be found at www.randi.org/research/index.html and www.randi.org/research/challenge.html. As a reviewer for a major audio publication, I'm sure that you will find the following offer of great interest, both from the point of view of validating your expert judgment, and adding substantially to your net worth. Please refer to www.randi.org/jr/073004an.html#3 and go to the item "THE JREF MILLION IS SURELY WON" to learn of the items - the "Shakti Stones" and P.W.B. Electronics' "Electret Foil" and "Red X Pen" - that I am referring to here. In my opinion - and I have none of your expertise, I freely admit - these are farcical in nature. Yet experts such as yourself have endorsed these products, and that support indicates that the JREF million-dollar prize should surely be offered, either to you personally, or to the manufacturers of these products - who have been similarly informed on this date. If you require further information concerning details of this endeavor, please contact me at and inquire. This is a valid offer, a serious offer, and a sincere offer. Should any of these products prove to work as advertised, the first person who is able to demonstrate the efficacy of any of them, will be the winner of the JREF prize as described in the rules and details to be found at the above references. I await your response with great interest. The above e-mail message was sent to: Frank Doris, at The Absolute Sound: Clay Swartz, Clark Johnson, and David Robinson at Positive Feedback: , , and Larry Kaye, Wayne Donnelly, and Bill Brassington at fi: , , and Bascom King at Audio: Wes Phillips at SoundStage: Jim Merod at Jazz Times: Dick Olsher at Enjoy The Music: Peter and May Belt at "P.W.B. Electronics": Benjamin Piazza at "Shakti Innovations": Let's see what reaction is received - if any - to this clearly-outlined challenge. Remember, all we're doing here is asking the reviewers - the trained, experienced experts, the responsible endorsers of these products - to repeat their tests of the items, but this time under double-blind, secure, conditions. And we're making the same offer to the manufacturers, who we would expect to be even more sensitive and capable of performing such tests. WE ARE OFFERING ONE MILLION DOLLARS IF THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN DO, WHAT THEY DO PROFESSIONALLY, IN A FIELD WHERE THEY CLAIM EXPERTISE FAR BEYOND THAT OF MERE MORTALS. WE ASK FOR NO INVESTMENT FROM THEM, WE DO NOT CHARGE THEM FOR PARTICIPATING - AND WE STAND TO GAIN NOTHING BUT WE DO RISK THE LOSS OF THE MILLION DOLLARS PRIZE MONEY. I am a mere mortal, unencumbered by academic degrees or claims of audio expertise. Show me, and win a million dollars... (Sylvia Browne just called and offered refuge and professional evasion advice to all the above-listed.) |
#2
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Arny Krueger wrote:
http://www.randi.org/jr/080504string.html#8 snip The Randi site was down for several days and it just came up this morning so I could read the article. I'd often thought golden ears should be included with the paranormal and the results of this challenge, if ever accepted, should be interesting. There is one problem I see with the challenge. Randi is well equipped to handle paranormal type claims as these involve typical magicians tricks. He is not equipped to handle the requirements for dropper audio testing, far as I can tell. Perhaps a certain unnamed audio group should offer it's expertise. |
#3
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Robert Gault wrote in news:KnpVc.484419
: Arny Krueger wrote: http://www.randi.org/jr/080504string.html#8 snip The Randi site was down for several days and it just came up this morning so I could read the article. I'd often thought golden ears should be included with the paranormal and the results of this challenge, if ever accepted, should be interesting. There is one problem I see with the challenge. Randi is well equipped to handle paranormal type claims as these involve typical magicians tricks. He is not equipped to handle the requirements for dropper audio testing, far as I can tell. Perhaps a certain unnamed audio group should offer it's expertise. I can see no fault with Randi's challenge whatsoever. He even leaves the details of the test to be mutually agreed upon. Roger Russell has written about the challenge on his web pages. http://www.roger-russell.com/truth/truth.htm http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#house r -- Nothing beats the bandwidth of a station wagon filled with DLT tapes. |
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