Stereophile Article - Holt telling it like it is.

Here's what I would like to see happen. At the next major audio show have attendees sign up for a 45 minute listening session. This way, 20 or so people could get in and out of the room, with 15 minutes between for the change over and a short break for those running the A/B/x blind testing.

Data is collected over all sessions, collated and made available to attendees at the session's conclusion. A black audio friendly sock or curtain hides the equipment being compared. Only after the sesssion is completed are the identities of components, be they amps, interconnects, speakers, whatever, are revealed. Settings for sound pressure levels are predetermined so that they are reproducible ahead of time so that when switched, there is no difference in soudn level in the A/B/X testing.

Let's put this to rest once and for all. I's not about preference, it's whether real people with a real interest and with real ears can tell the difference. And lets do this a number of times at different shows to negate the independent variables associated with venue, rooms, associated equipment, climate, barometric pressure and quality of local drinking water.

What will it tell us? It will tell us that people can discern small differences that are real in some, but not all, components, tweaks, settings. BUt those that are discerabel and those are not will be the main subject of the next debate, and this in itself will help fuel the fire to keep this hobby alive. It will be educational and will help manufacturers get some of the market research they should have for future product development and innovation.

I miss the days of JGH, HP, irregular issues, no (few) photos and expensive subscriptions. Now the trains run on time and a year cost you $12. It does feel like we lost something. But you know, some internet sites are filling the void to some extent.

Blind testing would be great but will NEVER happen, the powers that be have many well crafted arguements against the blind test to save their jobs and the hobby as a whole.
If people bought with their ears and not their eyes the house of cards would crumble so it remains a case of if you want to THINK it sounds better it will, and in the end I suppose there are no real victims but it is a bit pathetic that so many smart people can be so taken.

All you youngins'... talkin' 'bout my ge-generation... can eat scat.And Mr.Holt can as well.On a tangent here I know,but the truth,unvarnished,is that in America each successive generation has, and continues to, become the 'most spoiled' generation ever.And save your flamethrowers as I don't give a rat's arse about you comments to the contrary.I feel much better now.