# There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation…

> Most likely: There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation shapes judgement.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGR1M7TYY/there-is-no-general-audible-superiority-individual  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Stradivari "secret"](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret)[Do Stradivari violins sound or play better than the best new violins?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new)Answer

Answer · Stradivari "secret"

# There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation…

There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation shapes judgement.

**Most likely** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Most likely** Its tests supported it: one piece of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Blind preference varies by instrument and player, not by age; sighted tests favour old violins.

## What would rule it out

- A large pre-registered blind study with many instruments showing a consistent old-violin advantage.

## Evidence 1 for · 1 against

[Three independent blind studies with players and listeners found no old-violin advantage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/evidence/EVD0CQAGR9E6PMD/three-independent-blind-studies-with-players-and-listeners)

Supported

FOR

[Each study used few instruments (six to twelve), limiting generalisation to all Stradivaris.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/evidence/EVD0CQAGRH84QSN/each-study-used-few-instruments-six-to-twelve-limiting)

Suggestive

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[Do Stradivari violins sound or play better than the best new violins?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGNVA2FZ6/do-stradivari-violins-sound-or-play-better-than-the-best-new)

AnsweredNo answer ahead

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). There is no general audible superiority; individual instruments differ more than old from new, and reputation… [Answer ANS0CQAGR1M7TYY]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CQAGR1M7TYY
```

Key

**ANS** 0CQAGR1M7TYY

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

Added by

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