With respect to the talk on old and new violins, I'm surprised no one has mentioned these two studies:
Is A Stradivarius Violin Easier To Hear? Science Says Nope
Double-Blind Violin Test: Can You Pick The Strad?
Is A Stradivarius Violin Easier To Hear? Science Says Nope
Double-Blind Violin Test: Can You Pick The Strad?