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RE: Couple of issues occur to me.

Hello, David. I've read your stuff with interest for some time now.

The points you raise are relevant, I think; in the tests of high-bit versus CD-quality audio (co-authored with David Moran and published in the September JAES) we did an informal test of the upper-frequency hearing limit of our subjects, in case there turned out to be a correlation between that parameter and their ability to spot the difference.

We found no correlation. We also tested subjects as young as 13, and it seems from our smallish sample that no one hears to 20k any more. Around 18 was the best anyone did; our subjects who were students at the UMass Lowell recording program were among the best in this regard, which encouraged me that they're not allowed to crank the monitors too heavily up there.

My limit is about the same as yours now, and I also suffer from tinnitus in both ears. Clearly *I* shouldn't be used as a criterion for this test, though I have spent years making recordings and learning to listen for subtle flaws like modulation noise and can still spot things that naive listeners can't.

But your conclusion that you would never take an ABX test is too cautious, I think. Your ability doesn't collapse that easily. The beauty of that box is that you can do a true double-blind test all by yourself, late at night when you're calm and centered. We did our best to allow our subjects to relax, but there's nothing like solitude for that. A man in your position might want to invest in the hardware. It's very easy to use, and you don't have to report anything you do alone . -- E. Brad


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