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RE: Thanks for your editorials on SS

> > Before I go on, let me ask you this: Do you believe that McGill is going the right thing by conducting these listening tests? < <

I do--can't deny it, because I just wrote something much like that (but much broader). Won't be published for a while though.

> > If yes, then answer this as well: Why hasn't anyone come close to doing the same thing before? < <

Answer to this is a bit more involved.

It's still fairly early in the game. It's good that this test is independent. Such things typically take time. But you're probably asking, "Why didn't MQA do it themselves?" I can only speculate, and pass along impressions formed in conversations, with MQA folks and with others.

First, what I THINK you mean when you ask this is, why didn't they--MQA people--do it themselves?

1. Because convincing audiophile critics is not near the top of their list of priorities. The people they want to convince listen for themselves and draw their own conclusions at events you and I aren't invited to.

Why? The answer is simple and obvious: When was the last time music listeners, and specifically audiophiles, had a major say in how music was produced and distributed?

2. Because conducting serious, rigorous, statistically valid tests simply isn't how things are done in this world. The people who matter can hear for themselves (see 1). I was at the AES meeting two weeks ago, and at a session on the recording, mixing and mastering chain--this is pro audio--the subject of listening tests came up. Some results were presented. I actually asked whether they had done, or considered doing, any scientifically rigorous tests. The answer, in effect, was, it isn't necessary and it's a lot of trouble. That's more or less a consensus view I think.

I'm in favor of rigor, but I can't help pointing out that probably the last time serious scientific testing was done on a serious codec, we got mp3 (and the rest).

jca

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