Nut, a comment on your reply discussing the Stereo Review double-blind amplifier listening tests. There was an open listening session before the blind tests and it's amusing to read some of the rather extravagant language describing the differences they claimed to hear when they knew the identity of the units they were listening to, so this increased the interest of the tests. Of course, the identities were concealed during the blind tests and the sound differences disappeared when the name plates and price tags did.
These tests still stand unchallenged(unchallenged by solid evidence to the contrary, that is, not simply by stubborn disagreement).
Yes, I did notice that they had an open listening session first, but I felt that having the participants just knowing which amps were included in the blind tests would still influence them in what they think they hear.
I say send them in blind, don't tell them who or what they're listening to, don't even tell them we're comparing different amps, just tell them what to listen for (detail, brightness, warmth, imaging, soundstage, etc), and see what they say.
