Tazuser, I was the one who did many tests on equipment blindfolded, and had a good success record. I simply listen to the equipment, and determine if I can hear something different. Sometimes I can, and sometimes I cannot. Sometimes I may hear bloated or weak bass, or too hot or rolled off highs, or midrange anomalies, or detail masking, or soundstaging differences, etc, etc. Or sometimes I just hear more natural sounding music. I can't say what I will hear until I hear it.
Regarding the methodology, we used a reference audio system in a high end showroom, with only one set of speakers in the room at one time. Equipment, or cables, were replaced at random while the subject was out of the room. Then the subject is brought is blindfolded, and asked to identify what piece of equipment was changed, and to name it. We all did rather well at this, but we were very familiar with the sound of the various equipment in question. We did this for fun, to pass the time on slow days at the audio store. It was more of a game, than a "science experiment".
I don't really find alot of difference in price versus performance, as a general rule. It is more just differences in performance, but they don't seem to relate much to the price, until it gets pretty high. Above $600 for an interconnect pair, was a noticeable threshold for performance/price relationships. I had a DIY pair of interconnects that beat anything up to $600 in my system, but then I have heard several over-$600 sets since then that did better than my DIY. I don't say that the most costly is always the best. But it may be so in some cases.
I'm all for science, and have a strong science background. If differences are heard, then it's up to the scientists to determine what the reasons are. I don't really care what makes it so, as long as it sounds best in my system. What I do dislike, is when statements such as "wire is wire" are made, in an attempt to "scientifically" persuade people that they really don't hear any difference, when it is quite likely that they do hear them. If the science people want to discover all the inner secrets of why wires sound like they do, that's fine with me. Especially if it results in lower cost, good sounding wires. However, I part company with those who say that they cannot sound different because they are all measuring alike. Clearly, if they sound different, then other measurements must be in order to discover what is different. If these measurements are not existing, then they must be discovered to satisfy that curiosity. Personally, I find it alot easier to just listen and decide.
Regarding the methodology, we used a reference audio system in a high end showroom, with only one set of speakers in the room at one time. Equipment, or cables, were replaced at random while the subject was out of the room. Then the subject is brought is blindfolded, and asked to identify what piece of equipment was changed, and to name it. We all did rather well at this, but we were very familiar with the sound of the various equipment in question. We did this for fun, to pass the time on slow days at the audio store. It was more of a game, than a "science experiment".
I don't really find alot of difference in price versus performance, as a general rule. It is more just differences in performance, but they don't seem to relate much to the price, until it gets pretty high. Above $600 for an interconnect pair, was a noticeable threshold for performance/price relationships. I had a DIY pair of interconnects that beat anything up to $600 in my system, but then I have heard several over-$600 sets since then that did better than my DIY. I don't say that the most costly is always the best. But it may be so in some cases.
I'm all for science, and have a strong science background. If differences are heard, then it's up to the scientists to determine what the reasons are. I don't really care what makes it so, as long as it sounds best in my system. What I do dislike, is when statements such as "wire is wire" are made, in an attempt to "scientifically" persuade people that they really don't hear any difference, when it is quite likely that they do hear them. If the science people want to discover all the inner secrets of why wires sound like they do, that's fine with me. Especially if it results in lower cost, good sounding wires. However, I part company with those who say that they cannot sound different because they are all measuring alike. Clearly, if they sound different, then other measurements must be in order to discover what is different. If these measurements are not existing, then they must be discovered to satisfy that curiosity. Personally, I find it alot easier to just listen and decide.