This is a good example of how being scientific about music often makes you totally wrong.

ThePrettyDamned

Wait, so both tests, the old ones came out worst?

Who'da thunk it?

ICBM

ThePrettyDamned said:

Wait, so both tests, the old ones came out worst?

More accurately there wasn't much in it and the new ones were marginally ahead on average. The 'best' was a new one and the 'worst' was an old one though, that is true - and the old (O12) was the only one which was universally rejected. None was universally picked as better, even the 'best' (N5) was rejected by two players in each test.

That in itself is a pretty damning conclusion given the reputation of the old ones though.

Jaycee

Great thread. 

Unfortunately we live in a world of "brands" and one that is driven by money.   We are told that Strads' etc are the best violins on the planet and when we prefer a newer one, the implication is, that there is something wrong with our hearing or us.

I think most people would rather listen to an instrument that sounds nice to them irrespective of the price.

There is no better or worse, that's because everyone hears things differently.

Phil_aka_Pip

Isn't this another example of what happens when experts assess hi fi equipment? They tell you the bandwidth is wider & flatter, the distortion is lower, and the s/n is way dB better with product x, but they preferred the sound of product y? 

chrispy108

I don't see it like that Phil. The nature of measuring anything is that it only tells you how good the thing is at that measurement.

So it's perfectly possible for an amp to 'outscore' an amp at the things you've mentioned, but still be worse overall. Those things clearly don't fully define an amp, there are lots of other things going on. There is clearly a link between the stats you've mentioned and amp quality, but there are lots of other indicators going on.

It's like saying to an estate agent you only want houses with x, y and z features. If you pick the measures that closely align with what makes a house 'good' for you, then they'll find you the best house for you, if you pick irrelevant things, then they won't.

ToneControl

placebo effect seems to work on our hearing too

chrispy108

Massively @tonecontrol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacoustics

ToneControl

I like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glissando_illusion