James Randi vs. Anjou Pear - once and for all

Shadorne

Well Winston, I think you might do well to investigate about a certain high end user on Agon with well over 1000's posts on his system and with the kind of SOTA gear and room design that everyone dreams about. Recently, this Gentleman underwent a Blind test and was unable to discern between two cables in his own system that he selected himself. (The reason he selected the cables was that he was utterly convinced he could hear a difference when conducting sighted tests and said so with such great conviction that a Blind test was a no brainer test he could pass with ease!)

I assume your referring to Mike, based on your description?

The only blind test with Mike was a copy of LP on digital and the actual LP compared, and he "failed" because he missed identifying the difference one time out of six (or so I read).

If my understanding of the numbers is correct, I would hardly consider that test a failure on Mike's part, or is there another blind event that I missed?

Shadorne, that's a test I did not know about, I have never visited that forum.

Personally, I would never do that kind of test, I only make decisions based on long term listening.

Based solely on long term listening, I've chosen cheaper components, cheaper footers and even cheaper tweaks, even though everything is based on sighted decisions in my system.

Once when discussions were on going about blind testing, I posted this here at Audiogon:

If your a true believer in double blind testing you will accept my challenge to kiss Boy George, Elton John and your wife and guess accurately 90% of the time who's lips belong to who.

Get it wrong and face the video of the whole affair being offered to Fox TV.

Ready?

(P.S. Boy George and Elton John will be wearing the SAME favorite lipstick and perfume favored by your wife).

Obviously there were no takers.

Mrtennis, regarding.

it certainly is helpful to be favorable inclined to the components in your stereo system. It is costly and emotionally draining to buy and sell after a short period of time.

If anyone has a "formula" for a longevity of satisfaction with a stereo system, please come forward.

I do pretty well, I begin by accepting what's practical and possible and aiming only for equipment that I know won't offend me or limit the music I want to listen to.

My system has changed over the years, going on "recent" history my Sound-Lab speakers lasted for 15 years and then I changed to Dali Megalines which I've enjoyed for 3.5 years with no desire to swap.

I've used Koetsu Cartridges for 9 years and just recently switched to Air Tight.

I've had my Walker Turntable for 8 years, Purist cable for 20 years and Aesthetix for nearly 10 years.

I guess amps have switched more than the rest. Between 1989 and 2007 I owned Atma-Sphere, Tube Research, Wolcott, Viva, VTL and Air Tight. Amps are difficult to match up perfectly to speakers (at least to my ears) requiring more than a little experimentation.

I'm sure there are Audiogon members who have swapped even fewer times than I, but I'm certainly not an equipment of the week guy even though I've listened to hundreds of pieces of gear I don't commit to buy all that often.