Audiophile press acclaim and high prices do not reliably predict speakers’ blind-tested performance rankings.

Evidence

This is all interesting technical talk, but how does it sound? Figure 2.14 shows the results of a subjective comparison between this and three other loudspeakers in the 8000 to 11,000 per pair price range. All four had been applauded by the audiophile press, with accolades like “editor’s choice”, “Class A”, “product of the year”, cover photographs, etc. Readers of these publications were led to believe that any one of these products would be a superb choice. The prices only enhance such a belief. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 243

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the broader ‘expert judgment fails blind testing’ pattern found across wine, music gear, and other experience goods markets.