Blind tests show little measurable superiority of famous old violins

Evidence

Many books have been written on the physics of the violin. Scholarly papers still frequently appear. Clever experiments and listening tests have been conducted for hundreds of years. Yet there is no consensus on the subtleties of the violin, or even whether the reputed superiority of a Stradivarius or Guarneri will ever be quantifiable. Blind tests are famously inconclusive, or tend to show there is no important difference between an excellent modern instrument and a famous old one. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1739

Categorization

• QUESTION: Why does the Stradivarius mystique persist if blind tests find no difference? Worth chasing the perceptual and market explanations.