fhw,
You've got it right when you say:
In reply to:
a double-blinded study, but that would involve another person trying to objectively evaluate your reactions to the two components
I agree with your idea of the hard to do double blind test especially if you are auditioning components in your own home. It is not 100% necessary to obtain an objective result but you do at least need 2 people to help with the cable switching/ component switching and the 'switcher' cannot be biased in telling you the results afterwards (unless of course you have a switch box of some kind which most people do not although someone would still have to setup the speakers to begin with), hence the point of the double-blind. If the person at least knows what the 2 brands are while they are switching cables, then here is where it becomes important to ensure a less biased attitude based on their lack of enthusiasm for a/v auditioning. A person who is less inclined to be emotionally moved by a subject is more likely to be more objective in reviewing it and this is about as close as you will get to a double blind test.
(e.g. your wife gets behind the speakers you brought home to audition, to switch the cables, while you sit on the couch listening for your preference between the brands. However, the wife likes speaker B b/c of the great rosewood finish and once your testing is done she tells you that the one
you liked best by sound was speaker B...how much do you believe them?).
However, you can do a relatively simple and only mildly flawed, double blind test by finding that friend who really does not care about your home stereo or what you buy because they are more into hang gliding and windsurfing. Go into an a/v store, have someone setup say 2 sets of speakers you want to hear (on the same equipment) but allow this uncaring friend to do the switching of plugs. The listener would have to honestly keep their eyes closed during the tests and perhaps even before you sit down just so you can't try to isolate by eye and ear (or by watching woofer vibrations) which speakers are on and off.
Of course, if the store clerk would not allow your companion to do the switching or likes to yap alot then this method is moot since the employee will most likely tell you what was
allegedly plugged in when you heard the best sound.
You can do this at home but getting speakers to bring back for auditioning can sometimes be troublesome.
As long as you have the friend who couldn't care less and a decent and patient a/v store around, you should be good, but i know this is usually asking for alot.