124 wrote:
wrote:

124 wrote:

Mr. John Atkinson and _Stereophile_ want you to believe in the
golden-ears myth.

Mr. John Atkinson and _Stereophile_'s credibility:
http://www.randi.org/jr/112604yes.html#4
http://www.high-endaudio.com/RR-STEREOPHILE.html#Lies

The golden-ears myth (PDF file):
http://www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf

The myth that golden ears can hear the difference in wires:
http://www.vxm.com/21R.64.html

More evidence against the myth (PDF file):
http://bruce.coppola.name/audio/Amp_Sound.pdf

More evidence against the myth:
http://www.bostonaudiosociety.org/ba...bx_testing.htm

More evidence against the myth:
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/ampin...subjectv.htm#4

We already know that when ABXing everything sounds the same.

Good. I am glad that we all agree on this point. But why do many
audiophiles refuse to accept the idea that when measurements
predict that components will sound identical, it is almost a
certainty that they will sound identical? It is because their ego
will not allow it. If an audiophile spends more than $200 000 US
for a power amplifier and is presented with evidence that it sounds
identical to a $200 receiver, to accept the evidence would mean a
devastating blow to that audiophile's ego . If I spent that kind of
money on a power amplifier and was presented with the evidence,
there is a very good chance that I would never accept the evidence.

In an unrelated matter, sorry for the double post.

--124
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No, regretfully (though not to the point of hot tears) we do not
agree. This may be due to my inability to explain myself or to your
inability (?wilful unwillingness?) to comprehend .
Indeed everything does sound the same: to an average listening
panel *trying to ABX*.any audio components whatsoever.
But, as in S.Olive loudspeaker test it no longer does so if they
concentrate on "Which one do I like better?" instead of listening to A
then to B then trying to recollect them while listening to X to find
out if it sounds more like A or like B. This is not how we humans
listen to music. Granted, things are different in the cyber universe.
Nor is it what a pianist does when deciding if he likes a
Bluethner better than a Yamaha.

The point remains. Do you or anyone else know what
differences can be heard when ABXing, by what kind of audience, with
what limitations. Where are the reports of POSITIVE listening tests by
a representative panel? Listening to ANY audio component category
whatsoever. Such reports are called validation. Translation: without
them the "test" is junk journalism. For instance: it was an article of
faith in the ABX chapel that there was no point in comparinng
loudspeakers by ABX because differences were so glaring. Well, Olive's
panelists failed to hear the differences between four very different
speakers - just single blinded. Imagine the outcome with full ABX.! You
do it- my imagination staggers.
You're right- there are no golden ears. Nor is there a
"test" for them. There are only individuals who hear a little more or a
little less than the average. Just like in every other walk of life.
And judging by their products many recording engineers are not at the
upper end of this scale.
Ludovic Mirabel