Bob_bundus: Double-blind testing is useful only if you want to know what is truly audible. If your main interest is nameplates, model numbers, and prices, it's not useful because it might at times show a non-existant or even inverse relationship between price and performance. But rest assured, if you fear ever having to judge audio gear solely on how it sounds and not on knowing or being told beforehand what you're listening to, there's little chance you'll ever be put to that test.
But this controversy reminds me of this joke: The drummer stepped outside before the recording session and was surprised to see the guitar player outside already, but sobbing. "What's wrong?" the drummer asked. "Here we've got this important session to play, and the bass player detuned one of my strings!" the weeping guitarist answered. The drummer then asked, "So why don't you just tune it up again?" Protested the guitarist, "But he won't tell me which string it was!"
But this controversy reminds me of this joke: The drummer stepped outside before the recording session and was surprised to see the guitar player outside already, but sobbing. "What's wrong?" the drummer asked. "Here we've got this important session to play, and the bass player detuned one of my strings!" the weeping guitarist answered. The drummer then asked, "So why don't you just tune it up again?" Protested the guitarist, "But he won't tell me which string it was!"