Blind fold hearing test

Before I got into the "high end" Hirsh Houck of Stereo Review was my Guru, and he couldn't tell the difference between high quality amps, so I assumed there was little or no difference, but later on I discovered his hearing wasn't the best, although his answers to questions was as honest as the day is long. Those who can hear well know there are many subtle differences.

What is left out of the equation here, is how well we hear, as well as how well we listen. The differences between high quality "mid-fi" and legitimate "high-end" amps are both large and small. The price difference is usually huge, and justified as well due to more expensive parts, but can you "hear" the difference. Since those differences, such as "sound stage holography", depend on how well you hear, are not worth it to everyone, and a good Yamaha, might be as good as an "ARC" amp.

Awhile back I had a small hearing deficiency in my left ear; that's worse than an equal deficiency in both ears because you can never get the sound stage right. Now that my hearing has come back somewhat, I realize how subtle that sound stage thing is, especially when the left channel of my hearing comes in.

Whether or not high end audio is worth the cost depends on how well we hear; if you can not hear it, it ain't worth it.

Maybe everyone should have the blindfold test before they buy.

Than you for setting the record straight in regard to the person, I referred to the lab, but I still have my Stereo Reviews where he stated he could not tell the difference between high quality amps.

I held Julian Hirsch in high esteem and doted on every word he wrote, but it was revealed that his hearing was not the very best, as knowledgeable as he was. I only know what I read in "Stereo Review".

To have had Julian Hirsch as an instructor certainly adds validity to what you write, but with all due respect to you and Mr. Hirsch, his hearing was not the best. I read him for many years, and believed what I read. Much later I discovered he was in error on some of his amp reviews. Since I'm positive he would not lie, his reviews meant he stated what he heard.

Out of the many years I read him, those were the only errors I discovered, and since he told the gospel truth in regard to what he heard, the only conclusion one can come to is, "his hearing was not the best".

Before continuing my discussion with Viridian, I'll answer the blindfold question. For a multitude of reasons it's irrelevant; one reason is that there would have to be a significant difference between the components, which would also be in price as well, in order to tell the difference in a short time blindfolded; why bother?

If you're going to make an intelligent purchase, which is the only reason to take the time for the test in the first place, too many factors must be known that can not be determined in a short time.