On 12 Jan 2006 11:59:32 -0800, wrote:

You misunderstand the test and its purpose. I have said before several
times, the purpose is not to see if cables have an audible effect. It
is to see if a person who claims to hear a difference does in fact
hear it, or merely imagines he heard it.

We understand your purpose. What is under discussion is your proposed
protocol for proving the "reality" versus the "imagination"
No evidence exists that any of the proposed "tests" (ABX and its
cousins) do show differences between audio components to most members
of a properly randomised (ie. representative), statistically valid
listener group. (Basic research was never done even though there were
four decades to do it in) On the contrary such, often faulty, studies
as were reported in audio mags. all resulted in "no difference"
verdict- whatever is being studied (cables, preamps, amps, cdplayers ,
dacs and yes loudspeakers.)

You're here again with randomized listener groups. They are *not* what
I am dealing with. There is no reason to believe such groups would
hear a difference even when sighted. I am dealing with one person who
has identified a difference.

And your conclusion that such studies were faulty on the basis that
they yielded result of no difference is flatly ridiculous. Ever heard
of the fallacy of the begged question?

Agreed Mr. Pearce. There is no obligation on you to buy an
ABX switch, get someone to help you with double blinding etc. just to
get the pseudo-scientific confirmation for what you already believe
anyway.
I'd go further and say that there is no pleasure or
*profit* for *anyone* in embarking on a "test" that has never been
properly researched and validated as an instrument for showing
differences between audio components. Take it back : it may be good
teaching exercise for those who never learnt to *listen* to music as
more than wallpaper background noise.

So you think that listening is not a good way to determine what you
can hear? Interesting viewpoint, but not one that I suspect would find
much support among the sentient.

As of now the negative results of playing at ABX are just
a placebo confirming the passionate conviction that "it all sounds
the same" to those who are not interested in hearing differences
between anything and anything else in audio components; sighted, blind
or triple blind.

So you don't know what a placebo is? You think a placebo is something
that prevents the fake medicine having a therapeutic effect? I'm
starting to patience with you, I'm afraid.

I suppose it is a waste of breath to say once again that
a "test" either proving or disproving the perceptions of millions
of individual differences in the the brain cortex auditory receptors
does not exist as yet. ABX it is not.
Ludovic Mirabel

At last you have said something I agree with.

d

Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com