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What I would do is simple.

I would go about it this way.

If I were to conduct this test, I would have a FRIEND label the CD's and change them FOR ME without me seeing which disc was which.

I would then listen to each disc about 3 times to start. So I would write notes for three iterations of three discs or nine trials.

Then I would see if there was ANY similarities between my notes, and then ask my friend to reveal the sequence of which discs were played. This, of course, is if any differences were there to be heard.

If I DID hear any differences at all I would then try an ABX with two discs at a time. I would listen to two discs, one for say 2 minutes and then another for two minutes. Then I would have my friend play one OR the other, and I would try and tell him which one was which. I would try this for at LEAST 10 iterations and probably more like 20. I would want three different ABX tests, so that each disc would be part of at least ONE of the ABX tests. (aka 1-2, 2-3, 1-3)

This test method is one heck of a lot more thorough than just listening to the discs ONCE - not to mention SIGHTED!

The results of the reported method are still totally invalid. Statements about "trusting ears" and "try it yourself" etc etc do not change the fact that the method used is insufficient to prove ANYTHING more that people just don't know how to do listening tests so that any useful data whatsoever is generated.

Sure hearing is subjective - we can't tell what someone else is hearing. But we CAN test to see if the person is hearing the same thing in repeated iterations, and reduce psychological bias and the effect of the power of suggestion. People tend to hear differences when told they are going to hear a difference. The fact that they DO hear a difference in this case should not be automatically accepted and filed under "trust your ears". It should be filed under "test is suspect - did not compensate for human factors".

I'm done with this thread. Feel free to add any closing comments you have - and thank you for a cordial exchange. But I feel I have explained my point as well as I can. Arguing until we both agree is pointless. If that worked, everyone at the Asylum would be in total agreement by now!! lol

Cheers,

Presto

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