While not particularly legal per se, results from a test of professional violinists' ability to identify music from a Stradivarius as opposed to other and newer, expensive violins, originally published in The Strad (Feb. 2007), were featured in a recent NPR segment (here). (The NPR segment includes two audio clips for anyone interested and desiring to test their own musical acumen.)
Notably (and certainly within the ELS Blog sweet-spot), the researchers employed a double-blind test. "Researchers gathered professional violinists in a hotel room in Indianapolis. They had six violins — two Strads, a Guarneri and three modern instruments. Everybody wore dark goggles so they couldn't see which violin was which." Ironically, "the only statistically obvious trend in the choices was that one of the Stradivarius violins was the least favorite, and one of the modern instruments was slightly favored."
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