audiophiles get mention in today's WSJournal

Michael Fremer's article in the February issue Stereophile talks about these types of comparison tests. What the reporters and skeptics fail to take into consideration is that we are listening to MUSIC over a SYSTEM, in a listening ENVIRONMENT, which means there is a world of interacting emotions, thoughts, physical/technological factors and other tangible and intangible variables (e.g, our own personal histories with a particular piece of music) simultaneously interacting that result in a gestalt experience when listenting to music reproduction. Change the variables and you've changed the experience.
In business we talk about findings that are statistically significant and that are managerially significant. Some finding might not reach the point of being statistically significant, but managers might still act on it because it is "meaningful" to them. Conversely, some finding might be statistically significant, but it is not managerially significant, and lacks "meaning". It is the same with listening tests. We can, and do, extract "meaning" from music that goes beyond conscious thought, and certainly beyond statistical results from listenting to unfamimlar music through unfamiliar equipment in an unfamiliar setting where "meaning" is non-existent.
All in all, I learn nothing surprising or of value from the article.

I thought it was an entertaining, light-hearted read. To a great extent, I agree with the premise of the article that this hobby is a bit crazy & self indulgent. I don't care what others think of my hobby or if they think I'm wasting my money. I like the feeling that being an audiophile brings.... one of uniqueness and being part of a small following that few understand.

I was at THE Show last week, and the word on the street (from even a pseudoaudiophile friend) was that the test was really a sham.

I did not take part in the test, so I have no personal opinion as to whether the test was valid or not. Hopefully, some of the people I met there were involved, and can comment

Hodu,

Sorry to offend and maybe I should have stated dying as news print is continuing to loose readers on a yearly basis. I just don't enjoy my hobbies being the pointless/needless sarcasm of someone who doesn't understand why we love what we do.

Gee, I wasn't the least bit offended. The results were about what I would expect, if not even a bit better. Considering, as has already been commented on, the brevity, and unfamiliarity with room (which as we all know is extremely important), all in all, I think the writter was fair and did a good job.