So if you wish to learn, then the standard academic science methods of
a literature search and doing your own experiments are yours to take
up. :-) Slainte, Jim

Yes, I'm well aware of all the above. Since I teach an MA course it's
my job to mark such research and oversee research methods.

I've often been curious about setting up proper listening tests, just
to test various hypotheses. I've never actually done so - HiFi is not
my "job" as a psychologist (performance and media health is my area) -
just a strong hobby interest. One day maybe, but it's a low priority.

What I try to do as much as possible is to involve several people in
listening tests. In the London Audiocircle Circle we have frequent
meets where we do comparative tests. We find this very helpful - first
we use our own ears in building, then we bring our various builds to
the common arena. Sometimes there's no conclusive preference,
sometimes a unanimous preference. On the few occasions we've done
blindfold tests it has also happened that we can't tell one thing from
another - one being a vinyl versus CD front end! There again, on other
occasions we can. Although we learn from these listening tests and the
results feed back into how we build, none of the above has been set up
scientifically - I don't think any of us is fanatical enough to need
to do so, and nobody is in the business of publishing such results. So
as of now we have nothing to contribute academically. Maybe one day
somebody will come along that is sufficiently motivated to do so, but
for now we're too busy building, plus most of us have other jobs that
take up time. Interesting thought, though.