Re: Help requested on blind cable test

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 06:37:51 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Nousaine) wrote:

> [EMAIL PROTECTED]  (Stewart Pinkerton) wrote:
>
>>On 28 Nov 2003 15:28:51 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Michael Mossey)
>>wrote:

>>>Since I suspect that cable quality is real and can be heard blind if
>>>the test is carried out properly (my theory is that quick switching is
>>>an improper way to seek out small changes in sound), I'm interested in
>>>results that would challenge the scientific field of psychoacoustics. 
>>
>>If that's your theory, then you are indeed challenging a century or
>>more of psychoacoustics! :-)
>>
>>>How small a difference in transfer function is considered inaudible?
>>
>>Typically, 0.5 to 1dB level difference is audible. Freequency droops
>>are less obvious, you might need as much as 2-3dB at 20kHz to be
>>audible.

>Interestingly my experience tells me that 2-dB is right on the 'threshold' of
>audibility with most music programs. With super-sensitive sources such as full
>band pink noise 0.2 dB (+/- 0.1 dB 100-10,000 Hz) seems to at be the edge of 
>audbility. 
>
>With 50-year old males -3 db at 20 kHz is still a wildly optimistic guess. 

Sadly, I suspect that this is true! :-(

Of course, we must assume young and undamaged ears if we are not to be
accused of excessive 'lowest common denominator' thinking.
-- 

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering