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We are all very fortunate....

Posted by Soundmind on April 28, 2006 at 14:26:56:
...that where the difference between the scientific approach to getting at the truth and the evidence of testimonial endorsements is sufficient is a matter of life and death, nothing less than double blind tests are accepted. Once upon a time, the medicine show came to town and guys would get up in front of an audience and proclaim the cures their tonics offered for everything from baldness to rheumatism, cancer to kidney stones. Lots of people died because the cures didn't work, sometimes they were even dangerous by themselves. In audio equipment, all that's at stake is money. The FTC hasn't gotten involved because high end audio equipment is still far below their radar screen and will probably remain there, much to the relief of those who derive a profit out of it one way or another. What's most unusual and surprising to me is that those who buy most of this equipment whom you'd think would demand much better information, better measurements which correlate to subjective performance, objective proof that what they are considering purchasing actually does sound better, work better, seem the most adamant about not forcing or even urging manufacturers and reviewers to conduct such tests. Personally, I sit on the sidelines and just gawk in awe at such willingness to constantly swap, trade, upgrade, change, and each time lose money in search of a nebulous goal which cannot be achieved. Absolutely fascinating this obsession some people have. It takes all kinds. I don't applaud your role in all this but I recognize it as an inevitable factor. If you don't do it, someone else will.