do blind tests have any practical significance

As a tube guy I don't think you would be welcome on the magic island of Vacuum, you're living in the past!!! : )

MrTennis, People want reviews to be inviting, and so reviewers offer personnal anecdotes to pull the reader in, this is all IMNSHO Ms Kraft did in her review. I could be wrong, since I have not read the review, but I think the attacks on the writer are unwarranted. No one knows the experience or intention of the writer except the writer. To subject her to your prejudices is the worst type of STEREOtype... and to remove all value from this or any other review.

:o

hi nrchy:

personal anecdotes are ancillary to the review. all of the preliminary repartee has no bearing on the review.

in some of my articles, i use poetry and engage in expostulary philosophical remarks. my reviews are dsiapassionate. i try not to influence the reader.

you may read my reviews on audiophilia.com . currently you can peruse a write-up of the 2007 ces show.

MrTennis,

I'm surprised by your question and your assertions.

You should know that forced choice tests are the only scientifically valid kind of tests, even though it may be impractical for evaluating audio equipment. If you can't reliably distinguish among two or more conditions (amps, power cords, or whatever), I have no interest in hearing your subjective chat about how superior one is over another. But high-end audio is so full of mysticism the last thing that is wanted is objective evaluation. The emperor may in fact have no clothes.

So, yes, blind tests can be useful, but difficult to implement. I suspect most manufacturers do such testing to evaluate proposed improvements in their own products and to compare their products with a competitor's. I've certainly spent my time in labs doing blind listening tests -- worst of all is testing in a deep LF anechoic chamber, very uncomfortable feeling.

db

Nrchy; do you have a crush on Sue Kraft??????