double blind testing...

well, i just thought that the issue of dbt is interesting enough in its own right not to be polluted by mains issues.

to kick this off, for my own selfish reasons really:

(a) what IS double blind testing?

(b) has anyone got any documented evidence of where it has been used successfully and to draw important conclusions in the area of Hifi and music? what was the objective and what were the conclusions? please point me to a reference...

(c) has anyone got any documented evidence of where it has been used successfully and to draw important conclusions in other areas? again, please provide references.

(d) just to nail down things some more. if i wanted to use DBT to see if there is any difference between a live band and a recording, how would such a test be conducted? would i have to make sure that the live band played behind a screen? what other DBT type controls would i put in place?

(e) does anyone know if manufactures of hifi use this method to confirm actual differences between major designs? after all they have a vested interest in knowing that differences are really there and better still, that these differences are "improvements"...

well, i guess that will do for starters...

enjoy

ken