The Absolute Sound vs Pleasing Sound

Seems the issues are not clear cut even when listening live to unamplified instruments. 
Nice review of some blind listening to 3 modern violins and 3 classics (strads, etc). https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/05/million-dollar-strads-fall-modern-violins-blind-sound-check

The modern violins were preferred. 
Here’s the kicker though. When asked if this would affect the values of the Strads the study lead said:

 "If you know it's a Strad, you will hear it differently," Fritz says. "And you can't turn off that effect."

Here we go again!

As I posted the violin link I ought to explain why I thought it was useful - I did only to contribute to the debate whether a concept of “absolute” was conceivable at all. Those newer and older violins sounded more or less pleasing to the listeners - and the age or presumed quality or “signature” sound of the violin seemed to have little influence over that pleasure. The comment I picked out - that knowing it is a Strad is part of the pleasure - was meant to reinforce that. 

I had the enormous pleasure of sitting a couple of metres from Nigel Kennedy in a small gathering where he played for 3 hours in support of our charity. He played his Guarneri “Lafont” and I know I will never hear anything more pleasing. I’m sure if he had played a £1000 violin it would have sounded magnificent. But knowing something of the history of the instrument actually in front of us undeniably added to the pleasure. What a night that was.